struck down many of the enemy, but did not stop their rapid advance. In another moment these two gallant bodies were indiscriminately mingled in deadly conflict with the bayonet; but the regiment of Lorraine, which had hitherto manifested a high degree of daring, at length gave way, and fell back in disorder to the camp. An accident contributed to increase the alarm caused by the repulse of Lorraine's regiment. A shot from one of the English guns struck a tumbril laden with powder, which was placed in a tank to the left of Lally's regiment, and about eighty men were killed or wounded by the explosion. All who were near and uninjured fled to the camp; and four hundred Sepoys at some distance, who were in no danger, took the same course.
Major Brereton immediately advanced to take possession of the tank before the enemy had time to recover from their confusion. Bussy, however, had succeeded in rallying a few of the fugitives, who were again posted in the tank with some additional force. Major Brereton and his men advanced at a rapid pace, suffering little from the enemy till they came close to the tank, which they forthwith Assaulted and carried, under a heavy fire, which did great execution. Among its victims was the gallant leader of the party, Major Brereton; and when some of his men, on seeing him fall, rushed to render him assistance, he told them with his dying breath not to think of him, but to follow on to victory.
The battle was still maintained by a brisk fire of musketry; but two field-pieces being brought to bear on the flank of the French, their line began to give way; while Bussy, making a forward movement in the hope of retrieving the fortune of the day, was surrounded by an English party and made prisoner, together with twenty of his adventurous followers.[1] The French troops in other parts of the field now retreated, and the British entered the enemy's camp without opposition; they also obtained
- ↑ Bussy was admitted to parole on the field, and furnished with a passport to Pondicherry.
