ainst Draper's troops in
the plain. A heavy musketry fire was kept up on both sides, until the
two guns, posted by Draper's regiment, and left behind when they
attacked the intrenchment, came up and opened on the French. These
began to waver. Bussy, as the only chance of gaining the day, put
himself at their head, and endeavoured to lead them forward to attack
the English with the bayonet. His horse, however, was struck with a
ball and soon fell; the English fire was redoubled, and but twenty of
Lally's men kept round him.

Two companies of the English rushed forward and surrounded the little
party, who at once surrendered. Bussy was led a prisoner to the rear,
and as he went was surprised at the sight of the three hundred
grenadiers, the best troops in the English army, remaining quietly in
reserve.

While on either flank the French were now beaten, the fight in the
centre, between the European troops of the English and French
Companies, had continued, but had been confined to a hot musketry and
artillery fire. But upon seeing the defeat of their flanks, the
enemy's centre likewise fell back to their camp.

From the moment when the Lorraine regiment had been routed, four field
pieces kept up an incessant fire into their camp, to prevent them from
rallying. The three English regiments now advanced in line, and
entered the enemy's camp without the least opposition. The Lorraine
regiment had passed through it, a mass of fugitives. The India
regiment and Lally's went through rapidly, but in good order.

Lally had, in vain, endeavoured to bring the Sepoys forward to the
attack, to restore the day. The French cavalry, seeing the defeat of
Lorraine's regiment, advanced to cover it, their appearance completely
intimidating the English irregular horse. Charlie's troop were too
weak to charge them single handed.

Reanimated by the attitude of their cavalry, the men of the Lorraine
regiment rallied, yoked up four field pieces which were standing in
the rear of the camp, and moved off in fair order. They were joined in
the plain by Lally's regiment and the India battalion, and the whole,
setting fire to their tents, moved off in good order. The four field
pieces kept in the rear, and behind these moved the cavalry. As they
retired, they were joined by the four hundred and fifty men from the
batteries opposite Vandivash.

Colonel Coote sent orders to his cavalry to harass the enemy. These
followed them for five miles, but a