230 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1804. 



wliole front concealed by liigh grass, • 

 and protected by a powerful line of 

 artillery. L'jiaware of this change 

 in the enemj's di>pofition, General 

 Lake, therefore, proceeded in his 

 original intention, and directed the 

 advanced guard, and the 1st brigade 

 of cavalry, <ro move upon the point 

 ■where the enemy had been observed 

 in motion, but which proved to be 

 the left of their new position. The 

 remainder of the cavalry was order- 

 ed to attack in succession, as soon 

 as they could form after passing the 

 rivulet. 



In consequence of this order, 

 colonel ^ andelcur, and major Grif- 

 fiths, at the head of their corps, 

 jnade a charge with the utmost 

 gallantry and effect. The enemy's 

 line was forced, and the cavalry pe- 

 netrated into the village, and cap- 

 tured several guns ; the successive 

 attacks of the other brigades of ca- 

 valry, were conducted with the same 

 spirit and equal success. But, the 

 lire from the enemy's remaining ar- 

 tillery was so galling, that it was 

 found prudent to withdraw the ca- 

 valrj' out of its reach : which was 

 effected with perfect order and 

 steadiness, some of (he enemy's ord- 

 nance still remaining in its posses- 

 sion. The death of colonel Vande- 

 Icur, upon this occasion, was very 

 justly deplored, as that of a most 

 brave, accomplished, and merito- 

 rious officer. 



About noon on this ever-memo- 

 jablc day, the British infantry ar- 

 rived (after a dreadfully fatiguing 

 march of twenty-five miles) on the 

 banks of the rivulet. As rest and 

 refreshment was ab'^ohitely neces- 

 sary, during the time that they halt- 

 ed for this purpose, the enemy sent 

 a message to the commander-in- 

 tliiefj oii'ering to surrender their 



g«ns on certain conditions. Anx- 

 ious topreyent the effusion of blood, 

 general Lake directed a reply to be. 

 written, in \vhich he acquiesced to 

 the proposition, but limited them to 

 one hour to execute its terms. In 

 the mean while the following dispo- 

 sition of the whole force was made 

 for a general attack, should the ene- 

 my allow the prescribed time to 

 eJapse. 



The British infantry was formed 

 into two columns on the left ; the 

 first, composed of the right wing, 

 under major-general Ware, was des- 

 tined to assault the village of Mo- 

 hauJpore, and to tii.'n the enemy's 

 right flank, which, since the morn- 

 ing had been thrown back, leaving 

 a considerable space between it and 

 the rivulet. The second, under ma- 

 jor-general St. John, was ordered 

 to support the first Column. The 

 third brigade of cavalry, under co- 

 lonel Macan, was directed to sup- 

 port the infantry ; lieutenant-colo- 

 nel Vaudeleur, with the second, 

 was detached to the right of the Bri- 

 tish army, to watch the enemy's 

 left, to avail himself of any confu- 

 sion in their line, and to attack them 

 should they retreat. The first bri- 

 gade of cavalry, under lieutenant- 

 colonel Gordon, composed the re- 

 serve, and was formed between the 

 second and third brigades. As ma- 

 ny of the field- pieces as could be 

 brought U)), and the galloper guns, 

 formed four different batteries to 

 support the attack. It must here 

 be observed, that since the morning 

 the enemy had formed their infantry 

 into two lines, with their right 

 thrown back, the first line <o the 

 eastward, and covering Mcvhaul- 

 poor, and the second to the West- 

 ward of that village. 



At the expiration of the time 



which 



