guard of the artillerymen alone, who being few, the garrison detached 60 Sepoys and some Europeans at 11 the next day, to attack them; but the sally only produced a little skirmishing.
By this time, all the black artificers and menials had quitted the fort; and of the whole body of Sepoys, only 200 remained; the want of them laid the strain of duty much heavier on the Europeans; of whom little service was derived from the seamen, as not being subject to the same controul as the soldiery. On the 22d, an English ship anchored, and for want of boatmen to carry a letter to her, the fort warned her danger by firing shot at her, on which she sailed out of the road. The enemy continued until the 26th, employed in constructing four batteries, and in pushing on their trenches, which they carried from the hill of Thevenapatam obliquely towards the north-east angle of the glacis; during which, the five mortars to the west, and the guns from Cuddalore continued the only annoyance. The fort continued to lavish away their fire night and day on every thing they saw, heard or suspected; by which 20 carriages of their own guns were disabled, and the works themselves shaken. About midnight of the 26th, a battery of seven guns, added to that of the five mortars to the west, was opened and kept up a constant fire. The next night some of the sailors broke open the treasury, not to take the money, but some arrack, with which they got exceedingly drunk, and, according to their regulations, could only be punished by confinement.
By the 30th, the enemy had advanced their trenches to within 200 yards of the glacis; and in the same day finished and opened the three other batteries; one of three guns, with five mortars, against the angle of the north-west bastion; another of six guns and four mortars on the hill of Thevenapatam, facing the front of the hornwork; the third of four guns, about 300 yards to the south-east of Thevenapatam, and nearly opposite to the angle of the north-east bastion. The former battery to the west continued to enfilade the north face; and the defences on this side had already suffered so much, as well from the shock of their own firing, as from the shot
