Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/690

666 doubt, as being at the fartherst distance from the English camp, was trusted to the Sepoys. The horse, still only 100 riders, were dispersed in different posts round the limits. The rest of the army, which, exclusive of the garrison of Gingee and its out-posts, consisted of 500 European foot, 150 European horse, and 500 Sepoys, were abroad, most of them waiting to escort the provisions collected at Gingee. At midnight the whole of the English army were under arms; a proportional number from each of the different bodies were left to defend the camp; and the main body appointed to march was divided into two brigades, of which the principal officers had the day before reconnoitered the ground of their respective attacks as near as the enemy's out-posts would admit. The regiments of Draper and Coote, comprizing both together 1000 men, 200 of the marines, the 150 highlanders, with 500 Sepoys, and four field-pieces, marched off their ground from the left of the camp at three in the morning, and entered into the Red-hill, in which they were to take a large circuit round the tamarind-grove, and, coming out where nearest, were to attack the Valdore redoubt, and the west side of the hedge adjoining. This brigade was formed into two divisions; the grenadiers of the two regiments led the first, under the command of major Robert Gordon; major William Gordon commanded the rear division, and colonel Monson the whole of this attack. The other brigade was composed of the Coromandel battalion 800, the two French companies 120, the Bombay detachment of 350 Europeans and Topasses, 600 Sepoys, and four field-pieces. They were to march from the right and attack the enemy's troops posted in Oulgarry, and after routing them, to proceed and seize the Villenore redoubt. Joseph Smith, who since the departure of Calliaud to Bengal was the first officer on the coast of the Companie's troops, and a few days before had been appointed by the Presidency of Madrass to the rank of major, commanded this brigade. The cavalry, black as well as white, were intended to appear before the Ariancopang redoubt during the two other attacks, in order to prevent the troops there from sending detachments to support them.