the captured post, proceeded to move in a, direction which he expected to bring him to the spot marked out for him; but the occurrence of rice-swamps compelled him to make a larger circuit than had been anticipated, and thus the track of the central column was missed. No firing being heard, it was conceived that all was past; and that, whether the other columns had gained a victory or sustained a defeat, it was too late to render them any assistance.
The central column, the advance of which has already been noticed, was subdivided into three parts. The leading subdivision, after forcing the enemy's line, was to pass into the island with the fugitives. Orders were issued to the captains of the leading companies not to suffer themselves to be delayed in the camp, but to push with all possible expedition to the great ford near the north-east angle of the fort. Each captain was held responsible for his own company; as success was more dependent on the celerity than the solidity of the movement. The second, or central subdivision, after clearing the right of the camp, was to follow into the island. The third, in the rear, formed a reserve under Lord Cornwallis, who took up a position where he might support the other parts of the column, and wait the co-operation of the right and left divisions under General Meadows and Colonel Maxwell.
The front subdivision, having forced the bound-hedge under a heavy but ill-directed fire of cannon and musketry, advanced steadily, the enemy receding before them. The leading companies pushed for the river, passing the Sultan's tent, which appeared to have been abandoned with much precipitation. The advanced companies, partly from the badness of the ground, partly from the nature of the duty they had to execute, were soon separated into two bodies. The first that reached the river crossed under the very walls of the fort without opposition, and Captain Lindsay even pushed into the sortie, in the hope of entering the gates with the
