Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/754

730 through the intervals of some houses, which adjoined to it and brought them opposite to the middle of that part of the wall of the valley which extends between the royal battery and the English mountain. They crossed the ditch, placed their ladders, and got over the wall unchallenged: the object was now to get possession of the gate on the other side of the royal battery; but the rocks on which it stood extended backwards to the first houses of the town, and it was necessary to go through the first street leading across, in order to pass beyond the rear of the rocks and gain an avenue of trees, which led down to the gateway: they proceeded even quite through the street unperceived; but, as they were coming down the avenue, were challenged and discovered by the guard of the gateway, who fired; which alarmed the other stations in the town, but with so much confusion, that Captain Smith gave no attention to it, but hastened to the gateway, from which he dispersed the guard at the push of bayonet, and opening the gate let in the other division of 400 Sepoys, who were halting not far off in the nearest shelter, and with them took possession of the royal battery. It was now three in the morning, and Smith waited for day light to drive the enemy out of the town, who retired before; some to St. George's, others to the English mountain, but most of them into the enclosure next the town towards the great mountain, where they continued firing from the adjacent rampart throughout the next day upon the guards which were advanced and stationed in the houses of the town and cannon from all the hills continually plunged down, wheresoever they saw or suspected any of the English troops; but with little effect. In the ensuing night the enemy's troops, who had retired to the second enclosure, left it, and retreated to the higher defences of the great mountain.

On intelligence of this success 1000 more Sepoys were sent to Smith, who as the town was very unhealthy, continued more than one half of his force in the encampment on the plain. The desertion continued, and amongst them came a very experienced Jemautdar of the Sepoys, who proffered to lead a party by a path he knew to surprise the forts on St. George's mountain: he was trusted, and