CiiAr. VI.]
CLIVE CAPTURES CHINGLEPUT.
485
Fort of CuiNiiLEi-LT.— From Watl.en's Voyage to Madrat^ .iiid t'liina.
crossing a stream about a mile west of the fort. They proved to be a new and stronger reinforcement sent by the governor of Chingleput to make a vigorous effort for the relief of Covelong. Tln-y had no idea of the surrender, and were advancing in secur- ity, when, from an ambuscade which had been laid for them, a sudden fire was opened. In a few minutes 100 men were struck down, and more than half of the rest stood as if rivetted to the spot, till they were
taken prisoners. The few who escaped carried back their consternation to Chingleput.
This fort, situated about twenty miles south-west of the other, near the northern or left bank of the Paliar, was much stronger both by nature and art. Allowing for some irregularities, it was nearly in the form of a parallelogram, about 400 yards long from north to south, and 320 broad from east to west, and was nearly inaccessible on three sides, being surroimded by a lake on the west and north-west, and by swampy rice-fields on the east and north-east. It was natm-ally weak only on the south, where higher ground commanded it; but to compensate for this defect, the fortifications were much stronger here than elsewhere ; for while the parts wsished by the lake were inclosed only by a slender wall, and those opposite to the rice-fields were but feebly defended, the south side had first a deep ditch faced with stone, and then a stone wall 1 8 feet high, flanked with towers. Within these works another wall, continued parallel to them, formed a second similar inclosure. The cannon mounted were fifteen pieces, and the garrison consisted of forty Eiu-opeans and 500 sepoys. Clive made his aj)pearance before the consternation caused by the defeat at Covelong had subsided, and bj' means of a battery of four twenty-four pounders, placed at first at the distance of 500. and afterwards of only 200 yards, a breach was in four days eflected in both the outer and the interior walls. Much remained to be done, and a .stout defence might still have been made, but the oflicer in command had no heart to continue a resistance which he was satisfied nuist be ineffectual, and sun-endered on condition of being permitted to march away with the honours of war. With these services Clive closed the first part of his career. His liealth had suffered severely, and made a visit to England absolutely necessary.
The nabob's affairs, while thus flouri.shing in the north, were becoming more
. D. 1752.
Clive's siege and capture of Cliiiigle- put.
