Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/684

660 Europeans, with some Sepoys, were allotted to guard the redoubts in the bound-hedge, that all the regular European military might serve in the intended attacks, excepting the artillery men, who were distributed on the rampar's of the town, and in the out-posts which mounted cannon. By the detachments lately sent abroad, the whole force that could march on the present service were 1100 European infantry, 100 European horse, and 900 Sepoys. The battalion of India and the volunteers of Bourbon, amounting to 300 rank and file, had for some days been encamped under the fort of Ariancopang; the Portugueze company, which was likewise called the company of Jesus, and had a Jesuit at their head, with some Sepoys, were quartered in the Company's gardens, situated within. the bound-hedge in the road towards the Valdore redoubt; the regiments of Lorrain and Lally, 500 men, the marines of the squadron, 200, and 500 Sepoys, were in the town; the horse were distributed in different patroles. The gates of the town were shut early, and opened again at ten at night; and although Colonel Coote entertained spies and correspondents in the town, not one of them acquired the least surmise of Mr. Lally 's intentions, or suspected any unusual operation.

The marines and Sepoys marched out of the town in two parties, told off in equal numbers of each. They proceeded to the Valdore redoubt, and in the way the Portugueze company, with the Sepoys at the garden, fell into the rear and formed the third subdivision of this line. Continuing in the avenues from the Valdore redoubt, the first party soon turned to the right, to gain the Red-hill, and proceed in it to the attack of the Tamarind redoubt; in which, if they succeeded, they were to march across to the left and join the second; which followed them, and quitting the avenue likewise, were to advance along the foot of the outward ridge of the Red-hill, until they had gained the flank of the English redoubt on the hillock in the plain, which they were then to bear down upon, and attack. The Portugueze and Sepoys, which were the third sub-division, were to proceed quite through the three