Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/631

Book XII close by Carty's company, and they by Colonel Coote with the other, that tho fugitives made no stand at the gateway, but continued their flight, still pursued, through the pettah, to the foot of the rock at the farther end, where steps were cut winding up to the upper fort, by which they escaped into it; but Colonel O'Kennedy, the commander, who was at the steps, and lame with old wounds, had very nearly been taken. Here were lying two twenty-four pounders, of which the garrison had burnt the carriages, because there was no path to draw, and no means to raise them, into fort. As soon as the pettah was cleared of the enemy's guards, Colonel Coote posted the Sepoys in the best shelter the houses afforded against the fire of the cannon in the upper fort, and the musketry from the lower, which recommenced immediately, and continued through the day. The horse were distributed, some under the walls of the pettah, ready to dismount and assist, if any descent should be made; and the rest in different guards round the hills. In the evening came up six companies of Sepoys, with the French Volunteers, and an eight-inch howitz, from Tondivanum: the enemy continued their fire through the night, and small parties came down the side of the rocks, who threw grenades, and fired musketry, by which a Sepoy was killed, and nine, with three Europeans, wounded before the morning; no loss had been sustained in the day. All the return was from the howitz, which did no damage in either of the forts. Before morning pioneers and tools arrived, and sufficient cover for the whole was formed with earth thrown up and houses broken down; during which some were employed in raising and fixing the two pieces of cannon, one after the other, to transporting carriages, in order to carry them off, which was not executed without difficulty and time; during which, the enemy fired down grenades and musketry, but did no mischief.

In the afternoon Colonel Coote summoned O'Kennedy, who sent down one of his men to receive the letter, and answered it with a temperate negative; on which Colonel Coote resolved to surprize the lower fort. Two guides belonging to the Kellidar offered to