The enemy now galling them extremely by flanking fires from two batteries on the opposite side of the river, a retreat was made after the loss of 150 men killed and wounded, and amongst them some of our best officers. The fall of Major Goodere of the Artillery, upon this occasion, was peculiarly lamented, and from his high professional talents, was considered as an event inauspicious to the future operations of the army. The detachment being repulsed, retired towards the sea, in order to preserve a communication with the ships, and thus to disembark the cannon and stores. Here they slept all night upon their arms, and on the following day, the 13th of August, were joined by the army. In the afternoon the 1100 Seamen were landed under Captain Lloyd. It was now determined to carry on approaches in regular form. Upon the 17th a battery of four guns was opened, but being injudiciously placed it produced no effect. The Artillery Officers having volunteered to construct another, it began on the following morning with such success, that a desperate attempt was made by the enemy to destroy it. This at first succeeded, but our men soon rallying from a temporary panic, the French were beat back and their Commanding Officer taken prisoner. Major Lawrence, however, and some officers scorning to participate in the early terror which seized the troops, became captives. Upon the 20th some gunpowder taking fire within the Fort, the principal Battery blew up, by which explosion upwards of 100 of the enemy perished. They then, by putting matches to the different mines, demolished all the fortifications, and the remains retreated to Pondicherry. The ruins were soon occupied by our troops, who were employed, until the 25th in rendering this post tenable. They afterwards crossed the river of Arian-Coupan, and got possession of a strong situation within a mile of the place, without a shew of contest. This being to the north west of the town, a communication was from thence maintained with the ships to the northward of it, and all the implements necessary for the siege were now landed. Early in the morning of the 1st of September the Advanced Guard of 100 men, consisting principally of Marines, was attacked by very superior forces, which were headed by Mons. Portalis, the principal Engineer of the enemy; who was mortally wounded, besides four other Officers, and the whole were repulsed with a loss of upwards of 120 soldiers.