Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/707

Book XIII the post, and in this supposition retreated to the bleaching-house. Soon after came up a strong party of Europeans detached on the first firing by Major Smith from his poet to the north. In the different actions from the first assault, three private Europeans, besides ensign Macmahon, were killed, and 30 Sepoys killed and wounded. The enemy the next morning erected a battery of four pieces of cannon at the end of a lane, which joined the street of the Blancherie, leading as well as that in a straight line to the rear of the redoubt, on which they continued firing two days without killing any of the guard, and then having other occupations they desisted; some musketry still continued in the bleaching-house, but were driven out the next day, and abandoned the village.

The acquisition of the Madrass redoubt completed the entire, possession of the bound-hedge from the sea-shore to the north, as far as the river of Ariancopang to the S. E.; and turned against the town, with every advantage, the line of circumvallation intended for its defence. But the ground to the south along the course of the river, from the redoubt of Ariancopang to the sea, was still open, and the river spreading over sheets of sand, which were often dry, was all times, excepting in the rainy season, fordable; and to secure the passage, Mr. Lally had some months before erected a redoubt, which he called St. Thomas, in a small island of sand in the river, opposite to the center of this face of the town, and about 500 yards from the walls. The rains were now approaching, and the redoubt, if immediately taken possession of, could not be maintained by the English army after the river should fill, and as usual overflow the country; for which reason Colonel Coote deferred the reduction of it, until the rains were passed. In the mean time efforts were still to be apprehended to bring provisions into the town; for the French troops which had followed the last division of the Mysoreans to Thiagar, continued there; and although the main body of the Mysoreans had left Thiagar, no intelligence was yet received of their departure to their own country. The French force which had marched to Thiagar, was 400 European foot, 250 European horse, and 1000 Sepoys. The