Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/299

Book IV. obliged the Major to halt, and consider what was most adviseable to be done in this critical conjuncture, on which the fate of the whole war seemed to depend. There was little time for deliberation: for the French battalion were now arrived behind the rock, and their artillery from the right and left of it, were firing upon the English troops; the rock itself was covered by their Sepoys supported by their grenadiers; the whole Mysore army was drawn up in one great body at the distance of cannon-shot in the rear; the Morattoes were, as usual, flying about in small detachments, and making charges on the flanks and rear of the English battalion in order to intimidate and create confusion.

In such circumstances the officers unanimously agreed in opinion with their general, that it was safer to make a gallant push, than to retreat before such numbers of enemies: and the soldiers seeming much delighted at this opportunity of having what they called a fair knock at the French men on the plain, major Lawrence took advantage of the good disposition of the whole, and giving due commendations to their spirit, ordered the grenadiers to attack the rock with fixed bayonets, whilst he himself with the rest of the troops, wheeled round the foot of it to engage the French battalion. The soldiers received the orders with three huzzas, and the grenadiers setting out at a great rate, though at the same time keeping their ranks, paid no attention to the scattered fire they received from the rock, nor made a halt until they got to the top of it; whilst the enemy terrified at their intrepidity, descended as they were mounting, without daring to stand the shock of their onset. Some of the best Sepoys followed the grenadiers, and all together began a strong fire upon the French troops, drawn up within pistol shot below. In the mean time Mr. Astruc, perceiving that the left flank of his battalion would, if it remained drawn up facing the north, be exposed to the English troops, wheeling round the foot of the rock, changed his position, and drew up facing the west, in order to oppose them in front. But this movement exposed his right flank to the fire of the grenadiers and Sepoys from the rock; by which his troops had already suffered considerably, when the English battalion executing their evolution with great address