Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/317

Book IV. joined the camp in the evening. The whole consisted of 237 Europeans, with the captains Ridge and Calliaud, lately arrived from Europe, and 300 Sepoys. The junction of these troops inspired the army with as much joy as the doubtful expectation of their arrival had caused anxiety and solicitude; and to retaliate on the enemy the same marks of exultation which they had lately employed on a like occasion, the tidings were announced to them by a discharge of all the artillery in the camp and city.

There being now no more reinforcements to expect, and the vicinity of the enemy having greatly augmented the difficulties of getting provisions and fuel, major Lawrence, as soon as the troops just arrived were refreshed, determined to bring on a general battle, which if the enemy declined he resolved to attack them in their camp.

The tents and baggage were sent at night to remain under cover of the artillery of the city; from whence at the same time 100 Europeans, all who could be spared from the garrison, marched out and joined the army. Every thing being prepared, major Lawrence quitted the ground near the French rock, and at day break, the 20th of September, the army appeared at the Facquire's Tope, and remained for some hours drawn up, offering the enemy battle; but they shewing no inclination to accept the defiance, the Major sent for his tents again, and encamped on the spot on which he was drawn up, resolving to attack their camp the next day: as the success of this hardy enterprize depended greatly on preventing the enemy from entertaining any suspicion of his intention, he cannonaded their camp, with an eighteen pounder, at different intervals during the rest of the day; hoping to make them believe that he purposed nothing more than to harrass and incommode them. At night the tents were struck, and sent back again towards the city, and the whole army was ordered, after taking their rest in the open field, to be under arms at four in the morning. The enemy's camp extended on each side of the sugar-loaf rock, but much farther to the west than to the east: most of the Morattoes were encamped on the east, the French quarters were close to the west of the rock, and beyond these the Mysoreans extended almost as far as the golden rock, occupying the ground for a considerable way behind the two rocks. The rear of the camp was covered with