Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/547

Book XI gateway, but seeing it open, marched out into the plain, quickening their pace at every step. Major Calliaud, who was near, instead of calling alter them, followed, and running beyond, stopped suddenly before them, and cried, "Halt." The instinct of discipline prevailed. They obeyed, and forming as he ordered, faced, and, luckily for themselves, followed him into the pettah. Major Monson met him at the gate, and, in the midst of much vexation, thanked him with much cordiality; but said that the whole body, still closely pressed by the enemy, were faultering too fast to be trusted any longer; and that it was better to lead them off in order, than risk their going off in confusion of their own accord. The exhortations of their commanders encouraged them to keep their ranks; the Sepoys marched in front, helping to carry off the wounded, and fifteen prisoners. The enemy, by unaccountable oversight, did not follow them into the plain; but were contented with firing from the wall; about half a mile from which, the line halted in a grove, and in a little while perceived Major Brereton's and Gordon's divisions with the European and black horse, the Sepoys, and two field-pieces, advancing rouna to join them; at the same time, they saw the whole body of the enemy's European cavalry, 300 riders, approaching from the eastern pettah, where they had remained in expectation of an opportunity of cutting off their retreat, which, from want of alertness, they lost, and could not venture to attack after Brereton appeared. The whole returned to the bank, where Brereton's division had taken post, and in the afternoon from thence to the camp, without molestation or alarm. The loss, on the immediate review, appeared to be 12 officers, and 195 rank and file, killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. The Lieutenants Minns and Latour were the only officers; but, it was supposed, that 70 rank and file were killed; and that of this number, 50 fell in the pettah. The eagerness of performing some distinguished service before Colonel Coote should arrive, and supersede him in the command of the army, urged Colonel Brereton to make this attack, which was much more hardy than judicious, even if the enemy had not been reinforced.