Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/319

Book IV. could, in one line in front through the camp of the Mysoreans, in order to fall at once upon the left flank of the French quarters: the Sepoys were divided on each flank of the battalion, but at some distance in the rear. Had the camp, like those in Europe, been covered with tents, it would have been impossible to have penetrated through it in this order; but in an Indian army none but the men of rank can afford the expence of a tent, and the rest shelter themselves as they can in cabbins made of mats, so slight that they may be pushed down by the hand. The Tanjorine cavalry, intermixed with matchlocks and peons, had halted during the attack of the golden rock, on the plain nearly opposite to the front of the French intrenchment, and they were now instructed to move directly up to it, in order to create what confusion they could with their fire arms and rockets. The battalion received the orders for continuing the march with loud huzza's, and the whole proceeded with the greatest confidence, as to a victory of which they were sure; the drums of the three divisions beating the grenadiers march, the gunners with their portfires lighted on the flanks, and the Sepoys sounding with no little energy all their various instruments of military music. This did not a little contribute to augment the consternation which the fugitives from the rock had spread amongst the Mysoreans, who were already taking flight, when the English entered their camp. The Europeans marched with fixed bayonets, and recovered arms, but the Sepoys kept up a smart fire upon the swarms that were taking flight on all sides. The French discovered by the fugitives which way the attack would fall, and drew up to oppose it, facing the west; the left of their battalion was behind the finished but detached part of their intrenchment on this side; and the rest extended towards the intrenchment they had thrown up in front of their camp; which their line, however did not reach by 100 yards; but a bank running at this distance parallel to that intrenchment, served to defend the right flank of their battalion: in this position they derived no advantage from that part of their works on which they had most depended. To the left of their battalion was a body of 2000 Sepoys, who inclined to the left, intending to gain the flank of the English battalion, and the same number were designed to form their right wing; but these, by some mistake, in this scene of