Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/742

718 the support of the battery, if attacked. All this work, comprehending 800 yards, sheltered on the left by gabions, fascines, and sand-bags, was executed by the European soldiery, divided into companies, all working at the same time according to the trace, on the different ground allotted to each division; whilst the 400 lascars, and the 200 coolies, were employed in bringing the materials, not only to them, but to the battery, where the pioneers were at work, as requiring more knowledge and exactness; who before morning had finished six embrasures in the battery; to which, likewise, the oxen had brought the cannon from the artillery-park, which had been formed near the sea-shore, just without the boundhedge. It was scarcely possible for the same number of hands to have done more work in the same time. Colonel Coote, and the principal officers, passed the night in the trenches, and were accompanied by Mr. Pigot and Mr. Dupré. The town, to their great surprize, although blue lights often appeared on the walls, did not fire a single shot to interrupt the work Care had been taken to lessen the usual noise, by not driving the picquets of the gabions into the earth with the entrenching tools; nevertheless, so many persons continually busy, the sound of the carriages and oxen, and the call of their drivers could scarcely remain unheard; as the battery was within 450 yards of the walls. Just before day-light all the workmen were withdrawn, and 100 Europeans, with 300 Sepoys, were posted in the parallel, and another party of the same number in the cover of the village at the tail of the trenches, in order to support the foremost guard. The embrasures that were finished were left masked; because there had not been time to lay down the platforms for the guns. Nevertheless, it was expected, that the garrison would fire hotly the ensuing day, were it only to damage the parapet of the battery. They were doubtless astonished at the work they saw done; but only fired now and then, and only single shot at a time; observing which, the chief engineer sent carpenters, who laid down the platforms, without receiving any hurt. The Hanover battery fired throughout the day, with all its artillery and redoubled vivacity,