Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/635

Book XII. the river and the Red-hill, being here scarcely more than a mile, whereas farther back it is three. The plain as far as the boundhedge was occupied by country houses, enclosures, avenues, and arable ground. The market of the French troops was in the village under Villenore. Temporary barracks for the European cavalry had been raised on the hill of Perimbé. Their foot and artillery were dispersed in the houses and enclosures which occupied the space between. Colonel Coote proceeded with the cavalry from Trichimungalum, not in the high road which passeth by Valdore, but across the country to the left, and came in about the middle of the Red-hill, and passing through its dales appeared on the outward ridge between Perimbé and the bound-hedge. The enemy had gained notice of his approach, but not of the force which accompanied him; and, imagining that it consisted of foot as well as horse, suspected likewise that the main body of both might be marching to get between them and the boundhedge, and impede their retreat into the limits. In this persuasion, all their infantry got into march with much hurry and confusion, to gain the avenue nearest the Redhill, which, as well as another on its right, leads to the bound-hedge: they moved with all their field-pieces in front, to oppose the supposed danger, which if real would have been the greatest: but the European horse, which were 250 in three squadrons, remained on the hill of Perimbé to observe and protect their rear. Colonel Coote suspected the error which occasioned the disorder he observed in the infantry, and as fast as his troops came up ordered the European horse, which were only 80, with three squadrons of the blacks, to advance, and keep the enemy's cavalry in check, whilst he himself, with the main body, crossed over to the avenue, in which the last of their infantry were entering; in whose rear he hung, having thus separated them from their cavalry, who, seeing their danger, retreated before the division advancing against them, to gain the other side of the avenue on the right of their infantry, whose flanks were already protected from the cavalry with Colonel Coote by the ditch on each side. Colonel Coote following the infantry, often advanced within