Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/737

Book XIII. the bound-hedge, and on the same side of the river, marched down after it was dark under the bank, which was steep and skirted by a sand. The redoubt stood at the opening, but on the farther side, of a channel, which strikes to the north from the main body of the river, and carries water into the ditches of the town. A French officer, with three troopers of his nation, who had taken service in the English army, crossed first, whilst Colonel Coote himself, with the rest of the detachment, halted on the nether side of the channel. The officer was challenged, and answered that he came from the town with a party, which Mr. Lally had sent off in haste, on intelligence that the English intended to attack the redoubt this very night. He was believed, and admitted; and Colonel Coote hearing no bustle or firing, immediately sent over the front of his party, who, as soon as their numbers were sufficient, declared themselves, and threatened to put the whole guard to death, if a single man made the least noise, or attempted to escape. All obeyed, excepting one Caffre, who stole away unperceived. They consisted of a serjeant, five gunners, five Caffres, and some Sepoys. The chief engineer, Mr. Call, followed with the pioneer company of 50 Europeans, and 100 Lascars, carrying gabions, fascines, and tools, with which they immediately set to work to close and ratrench the gorge; over which it was intended when necessary to turn the guns against the town. At one in the morning blue lights appeared over the ramparts along the south front, as if the garrison apprehended some attack on their walls. Soon after they began to fire single shot upon the redoubt, which came with such good aim, that the party at work threw the guns out of their carriages on the ground, to preserve them. At two, every thing was quiet in the town, and the work forward, when Colonel Coote went away to get rest at his head quarters at Oulgarry, leaving a Lieutenant, of artillery, with the 40 Europeans, and 100 Sepoys, in the redoubt, which the officer was ordered to defend to the last extremity. The workmen had finished, and were withdrawn at four o'clock. At five, the redoubt was attacked by the four companies of grenadiers from the garrison: they assaulted on every