Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/543

Book XI. with the uncertainty and delay of their effect in the dark, determined Colonel Monson to try the wall at once. It had neither ditch nor palisade before it, and the first grenadiers lighted upon a part, which, for want of repair, permitted them to scramble up, and being followed by more, they drove the enemy before them, opened the gate, and let in the main body of the division. The gate entered upon the principal street of the three which leads through the pettah to the esplanade and the other two are about 50 yards on each hand. The troops, as they came in, first ranged along the ground between the wall and the habitations, which was broad; and then formed into three columns, one in each of the street; but the two field-pieces moved at the head of the center column. All the three advanced very deliberately, keeping as nearly as possible on the same parallel, the two outer columns sending small parties into the cross streets on their outward flanks to dislodge the enemy from whatsoever posts their fire came, which, although not strong from any, was frequent and from several; but the greatest annoyance was from two field-pieces at the edge of the esplanade, firing down the center street. However, they were at length silenced by the two field-pieces, with the center column. Firing had been heard on the ground allotted to Gordon's division, but soon ceased. In an hour and a half the three columns arrived at the openings on the esplanade, where to their surprize they met no farther resistance; and disappointed of the assistance they expected from Gordon's division, it was resolved to wait for day-light, and in the mean time to throw up a barricade at the head of the center street, which for want of proper tools was very insufficiently performed. Their loss hitherto was not ten killed and wounded.

A sky rocket was the signal for Gordon's division to advance from the western pettah, and it was fired as soon as Monson's had entered the southern. The troops of Gordon's had, for fear of discovery, kept on the side of the pettah farthest from the esplanade, but Preston and two or three more officers had examined the streets, which were very narrow, and beyond on the esplanade, where they found