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gooly, battle was offered to the enemy encamped at a short distance, but declined.

The following General Order on the occasion was issued, dated 7th February.

"Alteration in the order of battle,-that the Madras European regiment, with two 12-pounders from the 1st brigade, is to be considered the centre of the second line as soon as the army encamps tomorrow, but to move in the morning as usual with the 1st brigade."

The following General Order was issued on the 15th February, from Wandiwash, after the enemy refused to fight.

"It is supposed that the enemy, who would not stand to fight, will endeavour in a cowardly manner to annoy the army in the next march; perhaps they may throw some distant cannon-shot, and rockets as usual. The General will give five pagodahs for every rocket-boy taken by the flanking parties."

During the month of March, the army was employed in collecting and throwing provisions into Vellore; all the non-commissioned rank and file of the corps in that garrison, were, in General Orders of 10th March, directed to be trained to the gun exercise, and as soon as reported fit, their pay was made up to that of artillery.

On the 12th, a detachment, under Major Mackay, consisting of the grenadiers of H. M.'s 73rd, 78th, 101st, two grenadier companies of the corps, and two 6-pounders, with fifty empty carts and 200

bullocks, was sent to plunder Arcot, but were particularly ordered to respect private property. Arcot, and every post or fort in the Carnatic, but Arnee, had just been abandoned by Tippoo, who had been obliged to return for the defence of his own country, then invaded by the Bombay army from the

western coast.

The absence of the Mysore army determined the Government to attempt the reduction of Cuddalore, towards which place, on the 21st April, the army, 1660 Europeans, 8000 Sepoys, and 1000 Nabob's cavalry, commenced its march; but it was the 4th of June, before General Stewart reached the banks of the Panar, about fire miles west of the boundary hedge, within which the French were entrenched. The north and west face of Cuddalore appearing to have been much strengthened by the enemy, General Stewart crossed the Panar the following day, and on the 7th, passed over the Bandapollam hills, and encamped about one mile and three-quarters from the south face of Cuddalore. The British position was a strong one; its right flank resting on the sea, its left on the Bandapollam hills; the ground in front covered with Palmyra trees and low brushwood.

On the 7th, the Marquis Bussey withdrew his troops, 3000 European Infantry, 3500 Caffres and Sepoys, 3000 infantry, and 2000 cavalry of Tippoo's from the north side of the fort, and took up a position on the south, facing the British. Until the

12th, both armies remained within their encampments; the British landing stores and making preparations for the siege; the French strengthening their position with the strongest field-works. On the 11th, the grenadier companies of H. M.'s 73d, 78th, 101st, detachment of Hanoverians, and the 1st Madras Europeans, were formed into a grenadier corps, and placed under the command of the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Cathcart. The regiment furnished Captain (afterwards LieutenantGeneral) Daniel Burr, four Lieutenants, one of whom was Lieutenant (afterwards Lieut.-General) Robert Mackay, and fifty-seven rank and file; His Majesty's 73d, one Captain, three subalterns, and fifty men; His Majesty's 78th, and the 101st, the same, each one Captain, four subalterns, and seventy men,-making a total of five Captains, eighteen subalterns, and 297 men. Two 12-pounders were attached to the corps of grenadiers.

The next day, the following General Order appeared :

"Camp, South of Cuddalore, 12th June, 1783.

"In order to prevent mistakes of the fire from our front affectng the grenadiers, who will flank the enemy from the right, Lieutenant-Colonel Cathcart will place some camp colours upon the guns or posts as he advances, and send accounts to MajorGeneral Bruce of his situation."

The enemy's lines had been well reconnoitred on the 12th, particularly by Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly,

of the Madras Europeans, who penetrated through some thick jungle on the Bandapollam hills, and gained a complete view of the interior of all the entrenchments on the right. The attack on the French lines at Cuddalore was ordered to take place on the morning of the 13th. Major-General Bruce and Colonel Edmonston were directed to lead the right picket reinforced by H. M.'s 73d and a battalion of Sepoys; and Colonels Stewart, Cathcart, and Blane the left, with the corps of grenadiers, H. M.'s 73d, and two battalions of Sepoys. The centre picket, of one regiment of cavalry, and a battalion of natives, with H. M.'s 101st, the regiment of Hanoverians, and two battalions of Sepoys, were under Colonels Elphinstone and Wangenheim. The Madras European Regiment, the fourth brigade of natives, without artillery, and a party of pioneers, were under Colonel Kelly's orders. Colonel Gordon commanded the reserve, and Colonel Campbell the cavalry. Captain Montague commanded the artillery of the right wing; LieutenantColonel Elliot, a large battery erected during the night of the 12th, on a commanding hill in front of the left of the British position. Another battery, constructed at the same time, a little further to the left, was under charge of Major Mackay.

Early on the morning of the 13th, LieutenantColonel Kelly, with his brigade, set out from camp, and following exactly the route he had pursued in his reconnoisance of the previous day, gained the

right flank of the enemy by daylight, and gave the first alarm by a brisk attack upon a battery which flanked Tippoo's Sepoys on the enemy's right wing. The battery was quickly carried, the British flag hoisted on it, and the guns turned upon the enemy. The Mysore troops quickly fled, and left an opening for the British grenadiers, H. M.'s 73d, and battalions of Sepoys, which advanced under a severe cannonade, and occupied the position Tippoo's troops had abandoned; whilst the centre division, under Colonels Elphinstone and Wangenheim, attacked a large redoubt in their front; and the division on the right, under General Bruce, also made a forward movement. The attack of the centre division was repulsed, even after the flank company of the 101st and some of the Hanoverians had entered the works. The enemy, particularly the French regiment of D'Austrase, left their lines, and followed the British; but the right division, under Colonels Stewart and Cathcart, and Kelly's brigade, rapidly advanced and occupied it, and opened so severe a fire on the French, that they retired in great confusion and disorder towards their left. The British continued their advance along the line of intrenchments, driving the enemy before them, but sustaining a heavy loss from the fire of different batteries, that continually bore upon them. When they arrived within range of the guns on the ramparts of Cuddalore, they were halted, and eventually ordered to take possession of the large redoubt, which, being situated

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