Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/618

594 batteries to the eastward, and, in case the bridge should be broke, the guard would be withdrawn into the fort, where their service if the breach should be assaulted, would be of more detriment than their continuance in the ravelin; and the battery was employed only because it was ready. On the 3d and 4th, whilst the batteries were constructing, the garrison threw many shells to interrupt the work, but no men were hurt by them. On the 5th, all the three batteries opened; and the garrison still continuing their shells, returned likewise on all sides with more cannon than fired upon them; and a soldier was killed on the N. E. attack, and four artillery-men to the south. On the 6th, the enemy dismounted two guns in the battery of three to the east, in which two Europeans were killed and two wounded, and two were likewise wounded at the south battery. This day, 200 cohorn-shells arrived from Madrass, instead of eight-inch shells for the howitz, which was the only piece of bombarding artillery with the army; no powder came with the shells; and from the defence, the stock in camp seemed likewise to be exhausted before the place could be opened to assault; and shot grew equally scarce. Four hundred bullocks were therefore sent off to bring a supply of both from Madrass, with two eighteen-pounders to replace the two which had been dismounted. In the night between the 6th and the 7th, the army began their approaches from both attacks. On the 7th, two eighteen-pounders arrived from Chinglapett; but from the want of serviceable bullocks they were accompanied by only 50 shot, and 50 barrels of powder expected with them were still lagging on the road. From the preceding to the present evening, only one man was killed, and two wounded. The approaches were pushed on all night; and the next day, which was the eighth of the month, arrived the powder from Chinglapett, and a quantity was discovered buried in one of the houses of the town; but all the shot were so nearly expended, that, at four in the afternoon, Colonel Coote beat a parley, in order to get time to pick up what the enemy had fired. The French officer, Captain Hussy, accepted the message, which was a summons to surrender, as he could expect no succours: