Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/106

100 Cingoram, about a mile from the thickets, and drew up on the other side. The cavalry, with Candagla, followed the French troops as they marched towards the river, the approach to which on both sides was a descent. All the field-pieces were ordered to remain on the hither bank, until the rest of the troops had passed; and this service was likewise committed to D'Arambure, who judiciously divided their fire against the enemy on the other side, and those in his rear, which kept both at a distance, until the whole of rank and file had crossed and formed, and were able to defend themselves against the enemy on that side; when the cannon were sent over one by one, during which the remaining continued to awe the enemy on the side they stood, against whom every piece, as soon as it landed on the other side, was likewise pointed; and parties of the battalion likewise waded into the stream ready to rescue the last pieces. But the cavalry had already suffered too much at a distance, to venture this nearer risque, and all the loss which the French line sustained, after leaving the thickets until they had passed the river, was by the caytocks and other fire-arms of the enemy, sheltered whenever they found safe cover. The country forward from the river, although not plain, was open, and the French troops were animated with new alacrity by the view of the spires of Hyderabad, which now appeared in sight. The whole of the enemy's cavalry moved on as they, and surrounded them on all sides, but made no effectual attacks; for those who were willing, were dispirited by the backwardness of the great body of Morattoes commanded by Rumchundar and Janogee Nimbulcar, who acted faintly according to their engagements with Mr. Bussy. At length, at five in the afternoon, the reinforcement arrived at the town of Aydnagur, situated six miles from the river Cingoram, and the same distance from Hyderabad. They had been 18 hours without respite in march and action; during which 25 Europeans, of whom two were officers, were killed, and 65 wounded. The Sepoys suffered more. The enemy, it was said, lost 800 horses and more than 2000 men: the French fired 40,000 musket-cartridges, besides their field-pieces.