Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/272

264 that all the effects of the commandant consisted of a great number of turkies, and a great quantity of snuff, commodities in which he dealt. Besides the cannon mounted on the walls, there were found 50 other pieces of the largest calibres, which proved to be part of the artillery that the company had lost at Madrass, when taken by Mr. De la Bourdonnais.

The next morning ensign Joseph Smith, walking out at day break, discovered a large body of troops crossing a small river that runs about half a mile to the west of the Fort, and concluding that they were the reinforcement coming again from Chinglapet, immediately informed captain Clive, who instantly hastened from the fort to join the troops, which ensign Smith had already posted in ambuscade amongst the rocks and underwood, which commanded the high road. Ensign Smith was not deceived in his conjecture; for the commanding officer at Chinglapet having received the day before a letter from the officer at Cobelong, advising him that the place could not hold out 24 hours unless relieved, determined to make an effort more vigorous than the former, and being ignorant of the surrender, intended to surprize the English camp early in the morning. The Nabob's colours were hoisted in the fort, and these being white, skirted with green, were at a distance mistaken by the enemy for their own flag; which confirmed their notion that the place still held out; and they continued to advance with great security, until the whole party were within the reach of the troops in ambuscade, who then gave their fire from all sides with great vivacity. It fell heavy, and in a few minutes struck down 100 men; the rest were so terrified that not more than half retained even presence of mind to provide for their safety by flight: the commanding officer, 25 Europeans, and 250 Sepoys, with two pieces of cannon, were taken: those who fled, flinging away their arms, hurried to Chinglapet, where they communicated no small consternation, of which captain Clive determined to take advantage by marching with the utmost expedition against the place. It is situated 30 miles west of Cobelong, 40 south west of Madrass, and within half a mile of the northern bank of the river Paliar. The