Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/290

282 The enemy's troops at the Facquire's Tope were commanded by Virana, the same general who led the van of the army, when the Mysoreans first joined the English detachment at Kistnavaram, where captain Dalton had an opportunity of discovering the little reach of his military capacity, and knowing him to be a very timorous man, particularly in the night, he did not doubt that if frequent alarms were given to the camp, the Mysorean would, out of regard to his own security, send no more detachments abroad to intercept provisions coming to the city. For this purpose, he erected a redoubt, within random cannon shot of the enemy's camp, but much nearer to the city; and when this post was well secured, and two pieces of heavy cannon mounted on it, the guard frequently advanced with two field pieces, and fired into the camp; in the day time taking care to return to the redoubt, as soon as the enemy began to move, which they were apprized of by signals from the rock in Tritchinopoly; but in the night they proceeded with less caution, and advanced near enough to throw grape shot into the camp, the Mysoreans never once venturing to send out a detachment to cut off their retreat. Encouraged by this proof of their imbecillity, the party, under favour of a very dark night, approached the 15th of April much nearer, and fired 30 rounds of grape shot into the camp, from each of the field pieces; which created no small confusion, as appeared by the number of lights the enemy raised, and the great uproar they made: next day the party had scarce recommenced their fire from the usual station, before they perceived the enemy decamping in a great hurry; but suspecting this to be a feint to draw them nearer in order to cut off their retreat, they continued firing very briskly without advancing: and before noon the enemy struck all their tents, and abandoned the camp, which the party then took possession of, and found in it a large quantity of rice and other provisions, as also several wounded men, who informed them, that the cannonade of the preceding night having killed an elephant, two camels, and several horses, had struck Virana with such terror, that he determined not to stand the risk of another attack. He however remained to the south of the Caveri two or three days longer; but on receiving certain intelligence of major