Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/544

the ground rugged, and interrupted with sloughs and standing water. But Gordon not having acquired any distinct ideas from their report, boggled, and was confused in the orders he gave. At length it was understood, that the troops, as soon as they had passed through the pettah, were to form on the esplanade in divisions, which would be 15 in front. The select picquet of 40 picked men, commanded by Lieutenant Dela Douespe, who were to lead the attack, were soon through, and formed, and advancing. Gordon himself was to march at the head of the main body, but he was not to be found when it was ranging on the esplanade; and Preston, his second, not knowing the motives of his absence, would not venture to take his post; and thus the whole were stopped, waiting his return. The picquet marched with recovered arms, and without dropping a shot, until they came to the angle of the southern pettah, where the rampart had a shoulder, on which were mounted two pieces of cannon, which by the direction of the streets could not be turned to any service in the fight behind them; and it should seem that the enemy had discovered the situation and intention of Gordon's attack, for a considerable body of infantry were waiting at the angle, some on the rampart, and others at the edge of the houses below; who, as soon as the picquet were within a few yards, suddenly threw a number of blue lights, which discovered them intirely, and were instantly followed by a strong running fire of musketry, and the discharge of the two pieces of cannon; but the whole of the execution was from the musketry, for as the picquet was almost under the rampart, the cannon could not point low enough, and fired over their heads. Douespe returned the fire with disparity of situation, and greater of numbers, but would not retreat without orders, and was not without hopes of being immediately joined by the main body of the division, especially as the two pieces which accompanied it, began to answer the two guns on the rampart. But his expectations of farther support were vain. The shot of the two guns from the rampart fell near the main body whilst forming, and some musketry fired upon them from the covered way of the fort, on which the 80 Coffrees all ran