Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/149

Book VII. founded, of being attacked by M. Bussy; and landed ninety of the Company's troops, to reinforce their garrison. From hence as the currents still continued strong from the Norward, he sailed for intelligence to Madrass, where, at the request of the presidency, he landed the rest, one hundred more, and received the same number of sailors belonging to the squadron, which had recovered in the hospital. There still remained on board 90 rank and file, who were of Adlereron's regiment, and they returned with the ship to Ingelee, where the report from Calcutta signified, that the three other men of war with Admiral Watson were proceeding from thence to Chandernagore, of which the attack might be expected every day. There was no time to carry the ship up the river; for the pilotage at this season requires several; nor were any boats sent down to convey the troops with their accoutrements; on which Mr. Pocock, with a spirit worthy of an English admiral, took the Cumberland's barge, and rowing night and day, joined Mr. Watson a few hours before the morning of the attack, and immediately hoisted his flag in the Tiger.

This ship was appointed to attack the N. E. bastion of the fort, the Kent against the ravelin before the middle of the curtain, the Salisbury against the s. E. bastion. At sun-rise the two batteries on shore began to fire, the one against the S. E. bastion with twenty-four pounders, the other against the N. E. with three: to which the, enemy's fire was much superior until seven o'clock; when the Tiger coming opposite to the ravelin, before the gateway, her first broadside obliged the enemy to abandon that defence; after which she proceeded, and anchored at the distance of 50 yards, directly opposite to the N. E. bastion. The Kent soon after let go her anchor opposite to the ravelin, but in this instant, the fire from the fort killed and wounded several of the sailors appointed to manage the ship, and a shot unfortunately disabled the commander, Captain Speke; who not being able to continue the directions he intended to give, so much confusion ensued, that the cable, not stopped in time, ran out to its end; and the ship, instead of anchoring opposite to the ravelin, fell back so far, that her poop appeared beyond the S. E. bastion, exposed