Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/541

Book XI. During the delay between the first resolution, and the present motion of the English army to attack Vandiwash, the government of Pondicherry obtained some uncertain intelligence of the intention, and again reinforced he main body there with 400 men from the adjacent garrisons.. They likewise again recalled Fumel, and more than half his detachment were arrived at Pondicherry, from whence they were at this time advancing towards Vandiwash, and, as it was reported, under the command of Mr. Bussy. Major Brereton received intelligence of the approach of this party, but no information that the troops from the other garrisons were arrived at Vandiwash; and thus computing the whole number assembled there, including the cavalry, instead of 1300, to be only 900 Europeans, to which his own force was nearly double, thought no time should be lost before the arrival of the detachment they expected from Pondicherry, and determined to attack them in their quarters on the night of the 29th, which was the next after that of his arrival before Vandiwash. There were three pettahs under the fort, lying to the w., the s., and the E.; the w. at 150, the s. at 220, and the E. at the distance of 170 yards. The south pettah contained the houses of the more opulent inhabitants, and was inclosed on the E. S. and w. by a mud rampart, which on the s. side had circular projections to serve as bastions; but the north side next the esplanade was left open, that the guns of the fort might preserve their command on the streets and houses. The pettah to the east commenced opposite to the n. e. angle, and extending 650 yards, covered the east side of the fort, of the esplanade, and of the pettah to the south. The western pettah extended only along the breadth of the esplanade to the south; it had for some time been abandoned, and was in ruins, and most of the natives, on the approach of the English army, had quitted their habitations in the other two. The French cavalry lay in the eastern pettah. Their infantry were under sheds and tents in the covered way and on the esplanade to the south, and they kept guards on the ramparts of the south pettah; but none as they ought, in the ruined pettah to the west.