Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/270

262 risque it by taking the command of them; but captain Clive whose military life had been a continued option of difficulties, voluntarily offered his service on this occasion, notwithstanding that his health was at this time much impaired by the excess of his former fatigues.

The troops, with four 24 pounders, marched on the 10th of September against Cobelong. This fort, called by the Moors Saudet Bundar, and situated twenty miles south of Madrass, and within musket shot of the sea, was built by An'war-odean Khan, near the ruins of another belonging to the Ostend company. The French got possession of it in the beginning of the year 1750 by a stratagem. A ship anchored in the road, making signals of distress, and the Moors who repaired on board were told, that most of the crew had died of the scurvy, and that the rest would perish likewise, if they were not permitted to come ashore immediately, since they were no longer able to navigate the vessel. The Nabob's officer, in hopes of being well paid, granted their request; on which thirty Frenchmen of lean and yellow physiognomies, counterfeiting various kinds of infirmities, were admitted, and having arms concealed under their cloaths, overpowered the garrison in the night. The fort had no ditch, but a strong wall flanked by round towers, on which were mounted thirty pieces of cannon, and it was garrisoned by 50 Europeans and 300 Sepoys. The English troops arrived in the evening at an eminence about two miles to the westward, from whence half of them marched in the night under the command of lieutenant Cooper, to take possession of a garden, situated about 600 yards to the south of the fort. At break of day the garrison detached 30 Europeans and 100 Sepoys, who advancing to the garden unobserved, began to fire through several large crevices in the gate, which was in a ruinous condition, and a shot killed lieutenant Cooper. The troops were so terrified by this alarm, and by the death of their officer, that they fled precipitately out of the garden, and would probably have run back to Madrass, had they not been met by captain Clive advancing with the rest of his force, who obliged them, not without difficulty, and even violence, to rally, and return with him to the garden, which the enemy abandoned on his approach.