Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/470

446 the ridge. However some of them fell; but all the loss they had suffered was much less than the havock they had made; for they had killed or cut down more than a hundred, but mostly Sepoys. The right division of the enemy's infantry with their field-pieces immediately took possession of the deserted post; their left likewise advanced something nearer the inclosures on their side, and both began a hot cannonade against the garden walls, which being slight, but of brick, were easily perforated. The Sepoys within took shelter behind the houses, ready to man the walls on a closer attack; but ever and anon, one or other of those, obliged to move to and fro, was killed; and these casualties, although few, dispirited many, who took every opportunity to quit their stations, and steal into the back inclosures, from whence they escaped round the Mount, and hastened far from the field. Of the black cavalry not more than a hundred had returned since the rout in the morning, and kept both the rows of enclosures between themselves and the enemy's shot. At noon a party was discerned advancing from the St. Thomé river, with a piece of cannon drawn by many oxen. It was a heavy iron eighteen-pounder. The field-pieces at Carvalho's fired upon them at random shot, which frightened the cattle, and obliged the drivers several times to unyoke the restive, and at last to throw them all off, when the Lascars alone dragged the gun; but when arrived at the ridge, where the Sepoys had taken post, it could not be made use of behind it; and whilst they were drawing it further forward into the plain, several shot which took place amongst them interrupted their attempt. At length it was brought to a proper station, and at 2 o'clock began to fire at point blank; it was opposed as before by the 4 three-pounders, which could not with the same certainty reach so far, and several of the men serving them were killed by the shot, and wounded by fragments of the house. Mean while the enemy to the south, besides their cannonade, which continued hotter than in the forenoon, advanced at different intervals several parties, as well from the division on the left, as the swamy-house, with the appearance of assault, but only to draw the unnecessary fire of the Sepoys which