moment, each concealed from the view of the other, though in a very short space of time their meeting was inevitable.
When this took place, the surprise was reciprocal; but the first struggle was for the possession of the hill. It was secured for the English by the exertions of Captain Cooke; and some detached rocks, forming a position of considerable strength, were wrested from a large body of the enemy's infantry. When the troops were drawn up in order of battle, the contrast between the numbers was striking. The English force consisted of fourteen hundred European infantry, thirty European cavalry, nine thousand Sepoys, and fifteen hundred exceedingly bad native cavalry belonging to Mahomed Ali. The numbers of the enemy cannot be ascertained with equal accuracy, but they have been computed at seventy thousand, of which more than half were cavalry; these were drawn up in a crescent, half encircling the British force, and seemingly sufficient to overwhelm them.
The enemy had about one hundred pieces of cannon, but not more than thirty could be brought into action. The English had about the latter number, which, being steadily and skilfully served, nearly silenced those opposed to them. The guns were then turned upon the dense and frowning masses of the enemy's cavalry. For a few minutes the fire was sustained with sullen calmness, and the horsemen appeared to be in expectation of orders to charge. None were given, however; and as to sit inactive and unmoved amidst the deadly havoc produced by the well-directed fire of the English was beyond the power of endurance, myriads of flying cavalry soon covered the field in every direction. Hyder, who had for some time perceived that all was lost, now drew off his cannon, and urged Nizam Ali to take the same course, which he accordingly did on the advance of the British army in line.[1] On the following day the confederate
- ↑ The elephants bearing the women of his establishment were in the rear, and these, too, were ordered to turn, when a soft voice from the covered vehicle borne by one of them exclaimed, "This elephant has not been taught so to turn: he follows the standard of the empire." The English shot fell thick and heavy
