xteen hundred
Sepoys. The Mahrattas, three thousand strong, remained in their own
camp, and did not advance to the assistance of their allies.

The English army consisted of nineteen hundred Europeans, of whom
eighty were cavalry, two thousand one hundred Sepoys, twelve hundred
and fifty irregular horse, and twenty-six field guns. The Sepoys were
on the flanks, the Company's two battalions in the centre, with
Coote's regiment on their right and Draper's on their left. The four
grenadier companies of the white regiments were withdrawn from the
fighting line; and, with two hundred Sepoys on each flank, were held
as a reserve. Ten field pieces were in line with the troops; two, with
two companies of Sepoys, were posted a little on the left; the rest
were in reserve. The English line was placed somewhat obliquely across
that of the French, their left being the nearest to the enemy.

As the English took up their position, Lally led out his cavalry, made
a wide sweep round the plain, and then advanced against the English
horse, who were drawn up some little distance behind the reserve. Upon
seeing their approach, the whole of the irregular horse fled at once,
leaving only Charlie's troop remaining. The Sepoys with the two guns
on the left were ordered to turn these round, so as to take the
advancing French in flank; but the flight of their horse had shaken
the natives, and the French cavalry would have fallen, unchecked, on
Charlie's little troop, which was already moving forward to meet them,
had not Captain Barlow, who commanded the British artillery, turned
two of his guns and opened fire upon them.

Fifteen men and horses fell at the first discharge, throwing the rest
into some confusion; and at the next deadly discharge, the whole
turned and rode off. Seeing the enemy retreating, many of the
irregular horse rode back, and, joining Charlie's troop, pursued them
round to the rear of their own camp.

For a short time a cannonade was kept up by the guns on both sides,
the English fire, being better directed, causing some damage. Upon
Lally's return to his camp with the cavalry, he at once gave the order
to advance. Coote ordered the Europeans of his force to do the same,
the Sepoys to remain on their ground.

The musketry fire began at one o'clock. The English, according to
Coote's orders, retained theirs until the enemy came close at hand.
Following the tactics which were afterwards repeated many times in the
Peninsul