Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/310

302 for they fired continually from the main body to deter the enemy's cavalry from attacking the flanks of the party as they marched. The officer appointed to lead the attack, instead of following his orders, which directed him to come to the push of bayonet without hesitation, sent word that he could not execute them without artillery, and that he was halted, waiting for it. Upon this major Lawrence instantly quitted the main body, and galloping up, put himself at the head of the party, and led them on. The troops, animated by his example, marched on with great spirit, keeping their order, notwithstanding they were galled by a very smart fire from the enemy's artillery, which killed several men, and amongst them, captain Kirk, at the head of the grenadiers: these brave fellows, whom nothing during the war had ever staggered, could not see the death of the officer they loved without emotion. Captain Kilpatrick seeing them at a stand, immediately put himself at their head, and desired them, if they loved their captain as much as he valued his friend, to follow him, and revenge his death: roused in an instant by this spirited exhortation and example, they swore in their manner, that they would follow him to hell. In this temper they pushed on; and in order to prevent the enemy from retreating to their main body, marched to gain their right flank: the enemy had not courage to stand the shock, but quitted the bank in great precipitation, and leaving three field pieces behind, them, ran away towards Weycondah, exposed great part of the way to the fire of the two field pieces which captain Dalton had brought out of the city, every shot of which, for several discharges, took off two or three men. The enemy's main body now, when too late, began to move to the assistance of their party, but seeing them irretrievably defeated, and perceiving at the same time the main body of the English advancing from the golden rock, they lost courage, and without waiting to give or receive a fire, ran off in great confusion towards the five rocks, exposed to a severe cannonade from the rear division of the English artillery which had been left at the golden rock with the baggage; the Tanjore horse remained spectators of their flight without taking advantage of it, by falling on them sword in hand, which if they had done, few would have escaped; so that the loss which they sustained in Europeans did not exceed 100 men killed