Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/693

Book XIII. of day, which was the time destined for the attack of the Valdore redoubt, judiciously determined to risque it with the van division of his brigade alone. They defiled out of the sand hill exactly right, whilst it was still dark, at an opening directly on a line with the western side of the bound-hedge and the redoubt, up to which, the road, when near, leads in a lane between two enclosures towards the flank of the redoubt. Two field-pieces were in the front of the line, followed by the grenadiers of the two regiments of Draper and Coote, after whom came the rest of the Europeans, and then the Sepoys of the division. Colonel Monson knew the ground, and intended that the line, instead of advancing through the lane between the enclosures, should pass through the enclosure on the right, which being a coco-nut garden, was surrounded by a ditch and hedge of little interruption; and the ground within was not only firm, but free from underwood, and the trees themselves have no branches. When past the garden, they were to proceed straight on to the Valdore avenue, which was not far distant, and, having crossed it, were to file down on the other side, to gain the left flank of the Valdore redoubt; where, if not discovered, they could not be expected, and the bound-hedge hereabouts was not so strong as on the other side. The redoubt had a dry ditch, with palisadoes at the bottom, and six embrasures, of which the parapet was fraized. The grenadiers were to rush on, and escalade the redoubt without firing, whilst the rest of the line were, part to support them, and part to spread along the bound-hedge, and to force their way through wherever they could find openings, or at least to continue the fire until they had driven away the enemy, who were expected to line and defend the other side; the two field-pieces were likewise to assist in this service after the grenadiers had passed them to the escalade. The day had begun to dawn, when the head of the line arrived at the two enclosures, and Major Robert Gordon, who, excepting Monson, only knew the course of march, and was to lead the grenadiers to the assault, was not present: and the grenadiers, wanting orders, naturally entered the lane which lay before them. Officers were