Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/510

486 the French officer at the head of the Sepoys, bid him order them to lay down their arms and surrender; which they obeyed with little reluctance, and were sent up to the bastion. Yorke, having observed that the way below was free from interruption, and much broader than the rampart above, resolved to march along it, to get possession of the rest of the defences allotted to his attack; his division accordingly came down, excepting a few left with the prisoners, and the artillery-men with the gun. The guard of the next bastion, St. John's, had sheltered themselves within the angles, from the infilade of the gun; they were 20 Europeans, and more Sepoys, who, as soon as Yorke's division came under the bastion, advanced, to the edge of the rampart, fired down upon them, which killed several and wounded more, and then cried out, that they would surrender. Yorke generously spared the return of their fire: their arms were gathered, and they were conducted by a party to the Cameleon, where the Sepoys were in reserve, who reinforced the party, which was posted to secure the St. John's. The division then marched on, and when under the Dutch bastion, received the fire of the guard, scattered indeed, but with equal iniquity followed by the immediate offer of surrender, which was accepted with the same humanity as before, and the bastion and men secured by parties from the division, and the reserve. These interruptions had allowed the division time to think and expect more, and many shewed much unwillingness to go on; for darkness covers shame; however, they yielded to the threats and exhortations of Captain Yorke; but had not advanced many paces beyond the Dutch bastion, before they passed a small brick building close to the rampart, which fear or curiosity led some to examine. It was an extensive magazine of ammunition, and one unluckily cried out, a mine: this word struck the whole division with terror, and all instantly ran back to the Cameleon (the officers accompanying to reclaim them), and Captain Yorke, who marched at the head, was left alone, with only two drummers, who were black boys, beating the grenadiers' march, which they continued; but in vain, for none rejoined: on which Captain Yorke went back, and found all his men in much confusion