Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/271

Book IV. The next day he sent a summons to the French officer, who answered, that the Fort belonged to the king of France, and that if the English committed any hostilities, his nation would deem it a declaration of war: he therefore expected that they should immediately withdraw; but if they persisted, and attacked the place, he and his garrison were determined to die in the breach. This blustering language proceeded from his reliance on a reinforcement of 700 Sepoys and 40 Europeans, which Mr. Dupleix had detached from Pondicherry to Chinglapet, with orders to the officer commanding there to introduce them at all events into Cobelong. The English the next day began to erect a battery between the garden and the Fort, at the distance of 300 yards from the walls, and at the same time placed a strong guard on a rock about 100 yards to the left of the battery. The enemy brought many of their guns to bear upon the face of the attack, and fired smartly; whilst it was with the greatest difficulty the English troops could be kept to their posts, both Europeans and Sepoys taking flight on every alarm: an unlucky shot, which struck the rock, and with the splinters it made, killed and wounded fourteen men, frightened the whole so much, that it was some time before they would venture to expose themselves again, and one of the advanced centries was found several hours after concealed in the bottom of a well. Captain Clive judging that shame would avail more than severity to reclaim them from their cowardice, exposed himself continually to the hottest of the enemy's fire, and his example brought them in two days to do their duty with some firmness. On the third, intelligence was received that the party from Chinglapet were advanced within four miles, on which he immediately marched with half his force to give them battle; but they, on hearing of his approach, retreated with great precipitation. On the fourth at noon, the battery was finished, and just as the English were preparing to fire, to his great surprize, he received a message from the commanding officer, offering to surrender at discretion, on condition that he might carry away his own effects: these terms were immediately accepted, and the English before the evening received into the place, where it was found