Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/564

540 the companies, which they displayed at proper distances to resemble, whilst the main body of the detachment filed unseen under the bank, two miles on to the right, when quitting the river, they continued their march in the bed of a water-course then dry, which led to the north, and brought them on two miles, still undiscovered, until they were in a line with Munsurpet, when the water-course turning another way the troops came out of it; and as they were ascending a rising ground just before them, within a mile and a half of Munsurpet, were for the first time perceived by the enemy there; whose confusion was much less than might have been expected from the surprize. They got, although in hurry, their line into order, and began to retreat fast in order to gain Samiaveram. The Nabob's horse were detached to harass and impede their front, and by hard driving four of the field-pieces were brought near enough to fire upon their line of march, when they very imprudently unlimbered their guns to return this fire. Nevertheless the pursuit lasted four miles, when they halted in a village, to stand the brunt; but were soon beat from their guns, and the whole broke, and every man begged quarter. One officer, 15 Europeans, and 30 Coffrees, were made prisoners; most of the rest of these troops were killed during the pursuit and fight. Some of the Sepoys were cut down in the beginning of the rout by the Nabob's horse, who were immediately ordered to spare all who flung down their arms. The two guns, two tumbrils, a great quantity of ammunition, all the baggage, and an elephant, were taken. Captain Richard Smith conversing with one of the prisoners, obtained information from him of the force with Mr. Crillon, and, to his great surprize, that it would encamp this very evening at Utatore, and advance on the morrow. Fatiguing as the service of the day had been, no time was to be lost. The whole detachment, with their prisoners and spoils, returned that night to the bank of the Coleroon, and slept on their arms, and early the next morning began to cross the river, in which a sudden fresh was coming down, which obliged the latter part of the detachment to pass in boats, and the last boat in which was one of the guns, was driven on a sand, from whence it took four hours to release it, and four men were drowned in the