a line of intrenchments. The whole of his cavalry had accompanied Lord Lake on his réconnoissance; and that being completed, he sent orders for the infantry and artillery to join. This could not be effected in less than an hour; during which the British cavalry, which were two miles in advance, were exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, which occasioned many casualties. During this interval the horse of General Lake was shot under him.
But though the British commander had determined on hazarding an action, he felt that to attack the enemy in the position which had been taken up would yield but a feeble chance of success. He therefore ordered his cavalry to fall back, partly to cover the advance of the infantry, but principally with a view to allure the enemy from their advantageous post by the appearance of a retreat. This feint had the desired effect. No sooner were the British cavalry in motion than the enemy rushed forward with wild manifestations of triumph and delight, the vivacity of the French leaders having communicated itself to those whom they commanded. But their exultation was soon checked. The cavalry continued their retrograde movement till the infantry came up; the former then opened from their centre and allowed the latter to pass to the front. Preparations having been made for guarding the flanks of the British force, one of which was threatened by some native cavalry, the whole line moved forward.
A tremendous fire from nearly one hundred pieces of cannon, some of them of large calibre, fell around them; but the British troops, unmoved by it, advanced steadily, with arms shouldered, till within a hundred paces of the enemy. The whole line then fired a volley, the word "charge" was given, and, headed by the Commander-in-Chief, the troops rushed forward with the bayonet, and the fate of the day was decided: when the word "halt" was given, the enemy were flying in all directions. The victorious infantry immediately broke into columns of companies,
