Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/560

536 embarked in two large boats, which served as ferries over the Coleroon, and thirteen of wicker, covered with leather, which are likewise used on the same river. Lieutenant Home, with 500 Sepoys, and two field-pieces, marched two days before to Tanjore, and the Nabob's horse, with the 200 Sepoys, advanced from Outatoor to the districts of Verdachelum; all the three parties were to join, and attack Chilambarum, if the attempt on Devi Cotah succeeded. It was expected, that the current would carry the boats down in 60 hours, although the distance by the course of the river is 200 miles. Heavy rains commenced as soon as the troops were embarked, and continued this and the succeeding day. At the noon of the 11th they landed in an unfrequented part covered with wood to dress their meal and clean their arms; in the ensuing night, one of the large boats, in which was Ensign Hunterman, with half the Europeans and Topasses, the scaling ladders and petards, and seven of the smaller boats, lost the main channel of the river, and entered into that which leads from it on the left toward Chilambarum, and soon after ran aground on a bank of sand; where seeing nothing of the other boats, and uncertain whether they were before or behind, or whether they might not likewise have struck on some sand, Hunterman resolved to remain where he was until day-light; before which, Captain Smith, with the rest of the boats, was arrived at the rendezvous, five miles from Devi Cotah, and waiting for those with Hunterman, which did not come up until the evening. This delay discovered the detachment. Nevertheless Captain Smith marched across the land, and took post on the 14th, intending to escalade in the ensuing night. Two broad and deep channels of the Coleroon pass along the north and south sides of the fort; the ground to the west was at this time a morass; the eastern face standing on dry sand, was the only part accessible; but had a dry ditch and glacis; both, however, slight. The boats carrying the troops dropt down the north channel to the strand, where all landed. The Europeans were to escalade, the Sepoys to sustain them, and no fire was to be given by any on any cause, before the Europeans had gained footing on the rampart. The