BOOK XIII.
COLONEL Monson being now master of his own views, carried into execution an operation which he had proposed in the council of war a few days before, when Colonel Coote explained his intention of attacking the fort of Ariancopang.
The bound-hedge of Pondicherry, besides its natural defence of trees and thorns, is strengthened by four redoubts; one on the north, opposite to the north-west angle of the town, another nearly west of this angle, a third nearly west of the south-west angle, and the fourth stands directly south-west of the same point. All took their names from their situations; the north was called the Madrass repoubt, the next the Valdore, the third the Villenore, and that to the south-west the Ariancopang redoubt. From the Villenore redoubt led the road and avenue, which passed through the center of the English camp at Perimbe' and about a mile from the hedge this avenue leads through the village of Oulgarry, in which were several country-houses belonging to the French inhabitants of Pondicherry, and a church belonging to the Jesuits. The regiment of Lorrain and Lally, which at this time did not assemble both together more than 400 men, were remaining in this village since the late attack on the camp. The marines, 300 men, were within the hedge, to defend the redoubt of Valdore with the part of the hedge on each hand. The battalion of India, consisting of 500 men, were stationed at the Villenore and at the Ariancopang redoubts, and between them. The north side of the hedge, with the Madrass redoubt,
