Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/652

628 other battery was completed and opened. It faced the tower in the s. w. angle, and the fire from both continued through the day as hot as it could be safely kept up. The whole of the French troops had assembled at Villenore during the night, and pushed on advanced posts, which, in the morning, began to skirmish with those of the camp; where all, excepting the men at the batteries, were kept in readiness to turn out the line, but the enemy's main body did not advance. Intelligence was repeated of their intentions to attack the camp this night, as the night before: on which Colonel Coote struck the tents at sunset, as if he meant to change his ground, but pitched them again in the same place after dark; but half the troops lay on their arms until day-light. The howitz continued through the night; and in the morning the batteries which had been much impaired renewed their fire. The skirmishes likewise recommenced between the outguards of both armies. At two in the afternoon, both breaches appeared practicable; and a deserter from the fort reported, that the garrison had nearly expended their ammunition, and were inclined, if not immediately relieved, to surrender; on which Colonel Coote ordered Major Gordon, who commanded the attack, to summons the commandant at four o'clock, at which hour he should proceed himself with the main body from the camp, and offer battle to the enemy's; which if they refused, and the garrison to surrender, Major Gordon was to storm the breaches, and Colonel Coote would send assistance; but, if the enemy's army came to an engagement, Gordon was to march from the batteries with his division, and form the third line in the order of battle. Accordingly the main body advanced a mile and a half from the camp, and halted in sight of the enemy, who only sent forward their European cavalry and some Sepoys, which were met by parties of the English cavalry, European and black, supported likewise by Sepoys, and some were wounded on both sides by fire-arms, but no charges made hand to hand. At six o'clock, Colonel Coote received word, that the garrison of Valdore had consented to surrender without terms the next morning, and had given up the outer gate, on which