Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/378

370 Seringham to take possession of the French rock, which being per ceived by captain Kilpatrick, he sallied with a part of his garrison and cannonaded them so briskly that they retreated in great confusion to the island. Some time was spent in re-assembling the scattered bullocks and coolies: after which the army continued their march and encamped near the walls to the south of the city. Eight Europeans were killed by the cannonade, and amongst them captain Pigou an officer of promising hopes, whose death was much lamented; near 100 of the French battalion were killed and wounded; but the irresolution and faintness of their behaviour this day was not imputed so much to want of courage, as to orders, which it was supposed their commander Mr. Massin had received, to avoid a general engagement,

The stock of provisions brought with the army were deposited in the city for the use of the garrison, and major Lawrence determined to get supplies for his camp as usual from Tanjore and Tondiman's country; but as it was necessary to drive the enemy from the plain before this could be effected with facility, he moved on the 20th of August to the Facquire's Tope, hoping to provoke them to fight. This motion produced a different but a better effect, for at noon they set fire to their camp, and retreated to Moota Chellinour, opposite to the head of the island. In the evening Monac-gee, with the Tanjorines, invested Elimiserum, where the enemy had a guard of 150 Sepoys, and thirteen Europeans, with one piece of cannon; which after very little resistance surrendered on the 22d; and a garrison of 100 English Sepoys, with a few artillery men were left to secure it.

Major Lawrence finding that the enemy shewed no inclination to quit Moota Chellinoor, marched from the Facquire's Tope on the 1st of September, and encamped nearer to them, to the north-west of Warriore pagodas. They had made an inundation on each flank of their camp; the Caveri was in their rear; and they had flung up works and mounted cannon to defend their front, which was accessible only by one road leading through rice fields covered with water. Notwithstanding the advantages of this situation, they had not courage to continue in it; but suspecting that the English intended to attack them they crossed the river in the night, and retreated to Seringham. The English took possession of the post they had abandoned,