1 844.] and final subjugation of the Southern Poligars. 23 



through the perils of the night. It was at times so closely 

 pressed, that infinite vigilance was called for from every 

 officer present. As the day dawned the assailants fell off, 

 and the detachment reached Palamcottah only to prepare for 

 a renewal of the contest on a more extended scale. 



When the expected reinforcements were on the advance 

 from Trichinopoly, Major Macaulay moved the detachment 

 forward to Kytaur, and when all had joined in March, it 

 moved again towards Panjahlumcoorchey, arriving before that 

 place on the last day of that month. In our progress thither, 

 an affair occurred that deserves to be noticed for the credit 

 of all parties. A considerable body of the Poligars stood 

 firmly on the open plain, a charge of our cavalry under 

 Lieutenant James Grant of the Body Guard, and though the 

 Poligars were mostly destroyed, they yet inflicted severe re- 

 taliation on our men, and Lieutenant James Grant was dan- 

 gerously wounded. The battering at that point of the fort 

 that it was proposed to attack, continued from early in the day 

 till the afternoon, but it was soon found that two 9 pounders 

 were of little avail for this purpose against solid earth walls, 

 and it was naturally enough apprehended, that whatever 

 might be the damage of the day, it would be deligently re- 

 paired during the night. Under this impression, the storm of 

 the place was ordered before the afternoon was much advanc- 

 ed, and it was persevered in for a very long time. The 

 storming party consisted of two very fine but weak compa- 

 nies of H. M. 74th regiment, followed by the 3d regiment 

 N. L, and some other native details under the immediate di- 

 rection of Major Sheppard. The animation and gallantry of 

 all, was indeed most conspicuous and beyond all praise. The 

 breach (so considered by the Artillery officer) was in fact no 

 breach at all, and all attempts to carry the place proved ut- 

 terly unavailing, so daring and determined was the Garrison, 

 and so difficult of access the point of attack. Our loss was 

 severe in the extreme; two Officers of H. M. 74th, one of 

 some other corps, and one of the 8d regiment N. I. of the 

 name, I think of Eagan were killed, with men in proportion. 



