Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/432

408 nor could the officers recal them to any order, before the fire of Preston's division, led by his two field-pieces loaded with grape, scoured through the camp, and his musketry was augmented by the return of the best of Mahomed Issoof's Sepoys. Nevertheless, some of the enemy in different parties endeavoured to rally; but, having no strong or collected fire to return, they fell, the more they ventured to make resistance, and all at length broke in confusion; but, when at some distance, the officers prevailed on them to stop, and they marched off in order. They had got possession of the two field-pieces, of Mahomed Issoof's division, but did not tarry to draw them off. Thirty-six of their Europeans were counted dead; of whom one was a captain, and another a lieutenant. Of the English troops in both actions two Europeans were killed and six wounded; of the Sepoys 60, and 121: but only three of the black cavalry, and five horses were killed. On a review at three o'clock in the afternoon, only 700 of Mahomed Issoof's Sepoys were numbered; all the rest of his troops, cavalry, Colleries, and Sepoys, on a supposition that Preston's division had been as easily routed as themselves, fled across the country, nor thought themselves safe before they got under the guns of Chinglapet; and, according to their example, the market-people ran away with their bullocks and provisions, of which there was not sufficient for one meal left in the camp; and this want obliged the troops which remained to march away the same evening with the appearance of defeat, as far as Vendaloor, in order to meet a supply from Chinglapet.

The superior fire of the fort in the morning determined the enemy to wait until they could renew the attack with less disproportion. On the 4th a small sloop laden with stores and ammunition worked through the road and anchored near the Harlem, and massoolas had every day passed between St. Thomé, and the black town. At day-break on the 6th, a volley of six mortars were thrown from Lally's battery, as a signal of preparation, and they were the first, either shot or shell, which the enemy had fired since their mortars ceased on the evening of the 2d, although the fort had constantly fired both to interrupt their work. At sun-rise they commenced a regular cannonade