Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/362

354 million of rupees; but the regent having never refused to supply him with money whenever he demanded it, thought he had already overpaid him. This occasioned some sharp altercations and Morari-row, as the shortest way to bring the regent to his terms, took all his Morattoes from Seringham, and encamped with them on the 11th of May to the north of the Coleroon, declaring that he would not return before the money was paid.

The next day, the 12th of May, a party of 120 Europeans, 500 Sepoys, and two field pieces, under the command of captain Calliaud, marched from the camp at four in the morning, intending to wait about two miles to the south of the sugar loaf rock, for a convoy of provisions which was ordered to advance out of the woods. The post in which the party intended to halt, had formerly been one of those reservoirs of water called tanks, which occur so frequently in the arid plains of this country, where that element is procured with so much difficulty. These tanks are generally dug square, the sides of some being 500 feet long, and of others not more than 100; with the earth taken out is formed a mound, which encloses the tank at the distance of forty feet from the margin of the water. The tank in which the party intended to take post was, through age and neglect, choaked up, but the mound remained. Mahomed lssoof riding at some distance before the advanced guard, was surprized as he ascended a little eminence by the neighing of his horse, who was immediately answered by the neighing of several others; proceeding, nevertheless, to reconnoitre, he discovered the French troopers posted behind a bank on the other side of the eminence, who immediately discharged their carbines at him, and then mounted. Captain Calliaud, on hearing the firing, formed his party, and rode up to the advanced guard, where he met Mahomed lssoof, who told him that the enemy were lying in wait to intercept the convoy, and that he believed a body of French troops had taken post in the tank where they themselves intended to halt; it was immediately determined to attack them. The day was just beginning to dawn; the troops were formed in one line, the Sepoys on the right, and the Europeans on the left; and Captain Calliaud concluding that the enemy would expect the attack in front,