Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/658

634 beyond Fort St. David; where the enemy abandoned the fieldpiece they had taken. It was said, that the commander was killed, three other officers wounded, and 32 of the common soldiers killed and wounded. Of the English troops a Jemidar with 20 Sepoys were wounded, and a Subadhar was killed. From this earnestness, other attempts were expected, and diligence was used to render the place more desensible, and the Sepoys were augmented to 700. On the 20th, information was received, that the enemy intended another attack, with a much greater force than the last; on which, Colonel Coote detached an officer, with 30 Europeans, and 300 black horse, to interrupt their parties, or succour the place. The officer went with the Europeans into the town, and stationed the horse at a distance without; between one and two in the morning, the expected attack was made by 700 Europeans, 400 Sepoys, 150 of the French horse, which were half this body: and they had four field-pieces. They divided into five different assaults; all entered the town, but were stopped at the traverses which had been thrown up in the streets leading to the hospital, which resisted the direct fire of their field-pieces, and commanded their musketry; They however persisted, until two of their officers were killed, and 60 private men killed and wounded. The English officer followed them, with the black horse and some Sepoys, to the Panar: but their cavalry and field-pieces keeping in order in the rear, deterred any effectual attempt to interrupt their retreat.

On the 23d, the Salisbury joined the squadron from Bombay, and brought from thence to the assistance of the army three companies of the royal artillery, which the King had sent for the defence of that island; and the government there, very judiciously to the coast, where they were more immediately wanted. They were 178 men, exclusive of officers, all sound, and joined the army a few days after from Cuddalore, where they landed. After the retreat of the French troops to the bound-hedge, the two camps were at too great a distance to afford such continual occasions of skirmish as before.