Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/297

Book IV. to reinforce the army at Seringham, prevailed on him to detach 3000 of his Morattoes under the command of Innis Khan, and joined to them 300 Europeans and 1000 Sepoys.

As soon as these troops arrived, the enemy quitted Seringham, and crossing the Caveri, encamped on the plain three miles to the north of Facquire's Tope. Their force now consisted of 450 Europeans, 1500 well-trained Sepoys, 8000 Mysore horse, 3500 Morattoes, and two companies of Topasses with 1000 Sepoys in the service of the regent; the rest of whose infantry was 15,000 Peons, armed with matchlocks, swords, bows and arrows, pikes, clubs, and rockets; imperfect weapons worthy the rabble that bore them. Major Lawrence had only the 500 Europeans, and the 2000 Sepoys he brought with him from the coast; but 700 of these Sepoys were continually employed in the Polygar's country, to escort the convoys; his artillery were eight excellent six-pounders; of the Nabob's horse only 100 encamped with the English, the rest remaining under the walls, and peremptorily refusing to march until they were paid their arrears.

There are, about a mile to the south of the Facquire's Tope, some high mountains called the five rocks, on the summit of which the Major always kept a strong guard of Sepoys: but he being obliged to go into the city for the recovery of his health, the officer who commanded during his absence neglected to continue this detachment. The enemy reconnoitring, and finding this post without defence, detached in the night a strong party to take possession of it; and early the next morning their whole army was discovered in motion, assembling under shelter of the five rocks, whilst their advanced cannon plunged into the English camp; whither the Major immediately returned, but found it impossible to regain the post: he however kept his ground until night, and then encamped about a quarter of a mile nearer the city, behind a small eminence which sheltered the troops from the enemy's artillery; they the next day quitted the camp to the north of the Facquire's Tope, and encamped at the five rocks. Here they had it in their power intirely to cut off the supplies of provisions coming from the Polygar's country, and to intercept the