Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/323

Book IV beaten down, within 12 feet of the ground. Early the next morning some of the garrison endeavoured to make their escape, through a sally-port on the north, to a large body of horse, who were waiting at a distance to receive them: these fugitives were discovered by some of the English Sepoys on the right, who immediately ran to prevent any more from getting out; and at the same time 600 other Sepoys who were under arms in the watercourse, set out of their own accord, without well knowing what was the matter, and ran directly to the breach, regardless of the commands of their officers, who assured them that it was not yet practicable; but nothing could stop the tumult: they made several ineffectual attempts to mount the breach, notwithstanding they were warmly fired upon by the enemy from above. At length, finding it impracticable to succeed this way, they all ran to the gate, which some endeavoured to force, whilst others fired up, to drive the defenders from the ramparts: but this attempt likewise proving ineffectual, a resolute Englishman, serjeant to a company of Sepoys, mounted on the shoulders of one of them, and getting hold of some of the carved work of the gateway, clambered up to the top; and those below handing up to him the colours of his company, he planted them singly on the parapet: here he was soon joined by about 20 of his company, who followed his example; and whilst some of these were engaged with the enemy, others went down on the inside of the rampart, and opened the gate. Those without instantly rushed in like a torrent; which the enemy perceiving, they hurried down from the rampart, and ran up the steps, to gain the choultry and pagoda at the top of the rock: but the English Sepoys followed them so closely, that they had not time to make any dispositions to defend themselves there before they were attacked at the push of bayonet: in the first fury several were killed; but the rest, about 400, flinging down their arms and calling for quarter, were spared.

From Weycondah the army removed, and encamped at the French Rock, where they now abounded in as much plenty as they had hitherto suffered distress; for none of the enemy's parties ventured on the plain, and the country people, no longer terrified by the apprehension of losing their noses, brought in provisions in such abundance, that rice, which three days before was sold at four measures for the rupee