ort fired, during the siege, 26,554 rounds from their cannon,
7502 shells, threw 1990 hand grenades, and expended 200,000 musketry
cartridges. Thirty pieces of cannon and five mortars had been
dismounted during the siege. Of the Europeans, the loss in killed,
wounded, and prisoners was five hundred and seventy-nine. Three
hundred and twenty-two Sepoys were killed and wounded, and four
hundred and forty deserted during the siege.

In spite of the resolution with which the French had pushed the siege,
it was, from the first, destined to failure. The garrison were well
provisioned, had great stores of ammunition, and plenty of spare
cannon to replace those disabled or dismounted. The works were strong,
and the garrison not greatly inferior in number to the besiegers. The
French, on the other hand, had to bring their artillery, ammunition,
and stores by water from Pondicherry; and the activity of the English
parties in their rear rendered it extremely difficult for them to
receive supplies of food, by land. Lally had disgusted even the French
officers and soldiers by his arrogance, and passionate temper; while
by the Sepoys he was absolutely hated.

During the siege, Charlie had been most active in the defence. Colonel
Lawrence had assigned no special post to him, but used him as what
would now be called his chief of the staff. He was ever where the fire
was thickest, encouraging the men; and, during the intervals of
comparative cessation of fire, he went about the fort, seeing to the
comforts of the men in their quarters, to the issue of stores, and
other matters.

Upon the very morning after the French had withdrawn, he asked to be
allowed to rejoin his troop, which was with Major Calliaud, and at
once started to rejoin Colonel Forde. He wished to take the whole of
his corps with him; but Colonel Lawrence considered that these would
be of extreme use in following up the French, and in subsequent
operations, as cavalry was an arm in which the English were greatly
deficient.

Colonel Forde had been terribly delayed by the conduct of Rajah
Anandraz, and the delay enabled the French again to recover heart. He
was not able to move forward until the 1st of March. On the 6th he
arrived before Masulipatam, and the following day Charlie joined him,
with his troop.

The fort of Masulipatam stood in an extremely defensible position. It
was surrounded by a swamp, on three sides. The other face rested on
the river. From the lan