Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/471

Book X. always succeeded; and it became fortunate that so many had quitted, for even the best who remained could not be restrained from firing on every motion, although in vain. But by 5 o'clock in the afternoon, the perseverence of the enemy's cannonade obliged them likewise to diminish it, for fear of ruining their own guns, and at sunset it ceased totally, and they were seen yoking, and soon after drew off all their artillery, moving to the eastward: the eighteen-pounder ceased and drew off at the same time. The sight was more joyful than they suspected to the troops in the village, for Calliaud had just before received information, that the musket ammunition was expended to six cartridges a man, and only three balls, besides the grapeshot, left for each of the field-pieces; so that no retreat could have been made, if pressed by the enemy in the open plain. Spies followed them until they had crossed the river of St. Thomé, and began to take up their quarters in the village of Marmelong; and immediately on the return of the spies at eight at night, Calliaud marched away with all that remained of his force, in silence, for fear of the enemy's cavalry, and left fires to deceive them. Before the morning, they arrived at Vendaloor. The fugitive cavalry of the morning had run away with so much hurry, that they reached Chinglapet before noon. To rejoin them, as well as to get a supply of ammunition, Calliaud continued his march the next day, and arrived there in the evening, where all the Sepoys, who had not entirely deserted, were likewise assembled. Of the Europeans, seven were killed, and 13 wounded. It was not so easy to ascertain the loss sustained by the Sepoys; but by the reports of those who held out through the action, it was computed that fifty were killed on the spot, and about 150 were brought away wounded. The loss of the enemy was not known, but supposed to be 50 Europeans, and most in proportion of the cavalry. The firing of the action was heard in the fort, and several parties at different times of the day were seen going towards the Mount, and not a few palankins and doolies returning from it with the wounded. Notwithstanding the draughts which had been made for this attack, the enemy's fire on the fort continued with more vivacity than might have been expected, although not so frequent as the day before,