Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/546

522 to take shelter under the sheds projecting before the walls of the houses in the enfilanded streets; the sheds, as in the other towns of Coromandel, were separated from each other by partitions of brick or mud: some withdrew into the cross streets immediately behind. Nevertheless, all who appeared were so excessively galled, that it was necessary to retreat; but from the continual hope of support from the two divisions without, Major Monson wished not to quit the contest until the last extremity. In the middle of the pettah is a continuation of streets leading quite across it, although not in a straight line, from the east to the west side, were the last ends upon the area of a pagoda, in which a party had been posted, and the wounded were sheltered and served. The colums were ordered to retire into this line of the cross streets, where all, according to the breadth of the main streets, might fire down them, and immediately disappear, until loaded and ready to fire again. This movement staggered the enemy for they could do no more, if they continued on the esplanade at the other extremity of the streets; and if they advanced along them, would be exposed in deep columns. Nevertheless, confident in their numbers, and pressing to decide before the English troops should be reinforced from without, they began and maintained this fight with great spirit and activity, until they were convinced it could not succeed; on which they sent off their rears, which brought two of their field-pieces from the esplanade, and with them marched along a street adjoining to the western wall of the pettah, which led them to the pagoda towards this end of the cross streets; which the guard immediately abandoned, leaving some of the wounded in the pagoda; having secured this station, the party advanced the field-pieces along the line of the cross streets, firing and taking in flank the whole of Monson's division, against which the attack in front likewise continued, and with encreasing vivacity: and in a very little while the remaining field-piece of the division was disabled; on which the men began to lose courage, and Monson consulting his second, Major Calliaud, they resolved to retreat and take post against the southern wall of the pettah. The grenadiers of one of the Company's battalions were to halt near the