Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/671

Book XII. spot where it is joined by the two others, and raised another across the Villenore avenue. Both retrenchments, and the redoubt on the hillock, lay nearly in the same line in front of the camp, which the hill of Perimbé defended on the left; on the right, the plain on the other side of the Villenore avenue was open and passable to cannon and cavalry, even to the rear of the camp. But this approach would now be protected, by the troops stationed in the villages under Villenore, and employed in the attack of this fort. All the three works were finished between the night of the 17th and the morning of the 19th. This disposition was devised with much science; for every thing was obviated which might produce a general disaster, if the troops should be compelled to quit the attack of Villenore, of which the success was scarcely probable, if the enemy, as might be expected, risqued boldly for its safety.

A thirteen-inch mortar, sent from Madrass, and landed at Cuddalore, arrived in camp on the 19th, and was immediately planted to bombard the fort; but the shells sent with it were too small, and would not take any certain range, and heavy rains prevented any work at the batteries during the night.

The next morning the French army, not yet joined by the whole body of Mysoreans, appeared advancing along the river of Ariancopong, as if they intended to attack the detachments stationed to guard the batteries; on which Colonel Coote marched from the right of the camp with the two battalions of the company's troops, and half the horse and Sepoys to meet the enemy, who halted, and began to cannonade; during which Draper's and Coote's regiments with the rest of the black troops, by previous disposition, marched from the left of the camp along the foot of the Red-hill., as if they intended to storm the redoubts of the boundhedge, and get into the rear of the enemy's army. Mr. Lally believed this feigned intention to be real, and immediately retreated to his former stations; a few of the English cavalry and Sepoys were wounded. In the evening the Mysoreans arrived from Trivadi with 3000 bullocks, carrying their baggage, and drawing their artillery, and 3000 more laden with rice, and other provisions; the