Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/377

Book V. rear guard of 100 Europeans, and 400 Sepoys: in this order they waited for the enemy, who were drawn up in a line parallel to them, at about the distance of a mile: their battalion having been reinforced the night before with 200 men, consisted of 900 Europeans, and 400 Topasses, who with their Sepoys were on the right near the sugar-loaf rock: the Mysore cavalry, about 10,000, extended so far to the left, that many of them were drawn up to the westward of the city: as their line approached the French advanced three field pieces, which cannonaded the left of the English line, but were soon silenced by a superior fire; however, the enemy continued to advance until they came within cannon shot, when they were fired upon from ten pieces of cannon, which they answered with eight. The English fire was much hotter and better directed than the enemy's, and in a few rounds struck down more than fifty of the French battalion; upon which the whole went suddenly to the right about, and marched away towards their camp at the five rocks, in the same order as they had advanced. Major Lawrence preparing to follow them received intelligence that his convoy was exposed to a danger which demanded his whole attention: the rear guard by some mistake quitted their station during the cannonade, and formed upon the right of the first line, and Monac-gee likewise quitted the convoy, and drew up the Tanjorine cavalry in a separate body at a distance, in order to prevent the Mysoreans from falling upon the right flank of the army and baggage. Hidernaig, the best officer of the Mysoreans, happened to be in this part of the plain, and seeing the baggage left without protection, ordered some of his troops to amuse the Tanjorines in front, whilst he himself with another body galloped round the French rock, and fell upon the rear of the convoy, amongst which they created no small confusion, and seized thirty-five carts, some of them laden with arms and ammunition, and others with baggage belonging to the English officers. Major Lawrence, as soon as he discovered the mistakes which had given rise to this disorder, directed the rear guard to march back to their station; but before they arrived the enemy were gone off with their booty towards Chuckly-pollam. A party of 500 Topasses and Sepoys, with two guns, had crossed the Caveri, and were advancing at this time from .