A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' WarFortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
History
A History of the British Army, Vol. 2: First Part—to the Close of the Seven Years' War
Fortescue, J. W. (John William), Sir
Great Britain -- History, Military; Great Britain. Army -- History
left crowding upon its centre, and a second deadly volley from
the British centre and left completed the discomfiture of the
whole line. Astruc strove in vain to rally his men; the grenadiers
pressing on with the bayonet gave them no respite. Meanwhile also
the British Sepoys on the left had pushed on against the Sugar-loaf
Rock and dispersed the French Sepoys there, and the whole of the
French army fled scattered and in disorder towards Seringham. Had
the Tanjorine horse done its duty, the enemy would have suffered
past recovery, but as usual it was far too busy with plunder to
give a thought to pursuit. None the less the losses of the French
were heavy. Of their Europeans a hundred were killed and wounded,
and two hundred more, together with Astruc and ten of his officers,
were taken prisoners; while the whole of their tents, baggage and
ammunition, and eleven guns remained in Lawrence's hands. The loss
of the British amounted to no more than forty killed and wounded,
Lawrence himself being slightly hurt in the arm. So ended his third
and most important victory before Trichinopoly.
[Sidenote: Sept. 22/Oct. 3.]
[Sidenote: Oct., end.]
On the very same evening Lawrence moved westward to besiege the
fortified post of Weycondah, which was assaulted next day without
orders by the Sepoys and carried by the resolution of an English
sergeant belonging to one of their companies. Such was the spirit
which Lawrence had infused into them that they emulated the
exploits of King Harry's army after Agincourt. Being assured of
abundance of supplies by his victory, Lawrence now put his troops
into cantonments at Coilady for the rainy season, detaching four
hundred Sepoys and one hundred and fifty Europeans to strengthen
the garrison of Trichinopoly. At about the same time Captain Dalton
returned to Europe, resigning the command of the city to Lieutenant
Harrison.
[Sidenote: Nov., beginning.]
[Sidenote: Nov. 28/Dec. 9.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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