Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/75

Book VI. the fort, because unflanked by any bastion; and at midnight the enemy were heard approaching to escalade the terrasses of these warehouses. On which the governor ordered the drums to beat the general alarm; but although this summons was thrice repeated, not a man appeared in obedience to it, excepting those who were on duty; but the enemy, supposing the garrison prepared, retreated.

At two in the morning, a general council of war was held, to which all the English, excepting the common soldiers, were admitted: and after debating two hours, whether they should immediately escape to the ships, or defer the retreat until the next night, the council broke up without any regular determination: but, as of the two proposals, the first was not carried into execution, it was by many believed that the other was adopted. The enemy renewed their attacks as soon as the morning appeared, by which time they had mounted three guns near the south-west angle of the park, from whence, as well as from the eastern battery, they now cannonaded the fort, whilst their matchlock men from several houses, and behind the walls of inclosures, fired upon the several houses in which parties were remaining, as well as upon the bastions and ramparts. They had not, however, ventured to take possession of the governor's house to the south, notwithstanding it' had been evacuated so many hours; and another party, under the command of Ensign Pischard, was sent thither early in the morning. Ever and anon some one of the defenders was killed or wounded: but, although ten times the number of the enemy fell, their loss in so great a multitude was scarcely felt, and immediately supplied. Before nine, Ensign Pischard returned to the fort, wounded, and was followed by his party; on which the detachments in the church and the two other houses were likewise recalled, and the posts they quitted were immediately taken possession of by the enemy, whose courage and activity increased with their success, whilst terror and confusion prevailed more and more in the garrison.

Many of the boats had deserted in the night; and in the morning, when it was intended to ship off the Portuguese women and children