Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/602

578 All the Morattoes were returned, and lying with their plunder under the foot of the mountain, extending along it towards the N. E. end. their scouts brought intelligence of the approach of Colonel Coote's division, on which all mounted, as did the European cavalry in the French camp, and the whole spread in different bodies across the plain to tho east of the mountain. Colonel Coote, with 200 of the black cavalry, followed by the two companies of Sepoys, was advancing a mile in front of the rest of the cavalry, which composed the division he was leading; and the Morattoes sent forward 200 of their horse, on which he halted, called up the Sepoys, and interspersed them in platoons between the troops of horse.

The advanced body of the Morattoes nevertheless pushed on, but were stopped by the fire of the Sepoys, before they came to the use of the sword. Nevertheless, they recovered after their wheel, stood till within reach of the Sepoys again, then turned again, and in this manner fell back to their main body, which with the French cavalry had gathered, and were drawn up, extending in a line to the east, from the end of the mountain; the French on the right of the Morattoes. Colonel Coote, whilst halting for the Sepoys, had sent off a messenger, ordering up the body of cavalry, which were a mile behind, and the first five companies of Sepoys with two of the field-pieces from the head of the line of infantry, to come on likewise as fast as they could march: the cavalry soon joined him, but more time was requisite for the Sepoys and guns, as the line was three miles off. During which, Colonol Coote, by continual halts, advanced very slowly; and the enemy's cavalry continued on the ground they had chosen. At eight o'clock the detachment of Sepoys, with the guns, came up, when the division with Coote were at an ascent, which intercepted them from the sight of the enemy, who, although they had perceived the cloud of march, had not distinguished the two guns which accompanied the Sepoys, who, joined by the other two companies, formed in a line in the rear of the cavalry, with the guns in the center; the two troops of European horse were in the center of the cavalry in the fist line. In this order the two lines advanced