of the
approaching squadron loomed upon us out of the mist, the word was
given to fire. The whole line delivered a volley at a distance of
about thirty paces, whereupon the phantom horsemen at once turned and
fled back, uttering loud cries as they were swallowed up again in the
darkness.

By this time it was evident that our position had become extremely
perilous. We resumed our march, as nearly as we could keep it in the
former direction, and continued groping our way in the mist through
the heart of the enemy's camp, firing volleys by platoons to right and
left, but without knowing where our bullets went, while the men with
the guns discharged single shots from time to time along the sides of
the column into the darkness ahead.

After we had gone on in this fashion for some time, not receiving much
interruption from the enemy, but greatly troubled by the increasing
obscurity, which rendered it difficult to see so much as a yard in
front, there suddenly arose a murmur from amongst the Sepoys at the
head of the column. Colonel Clive sent to demand the meaning of this,
and the messenger returned with the intelligence that the men had
stumbled upon a causeway, crossing our line of march, and leading to
the Morattoe ditch on our right. He at once gave the order that the
troops should mount upon this causeway and march towards the ditch.
Unfortunately, however, no notice of this change in the direction was
given to the artillerymen in the rear, who continued to fire, as they
supposed, to the side of the column. A cannon ball came among the
Sepoys on the causeway, killing several of them. Thereupon the rest
sought shelter by leaping down on the other side of the causeway, and
the whole forward part of the troops was huddled together in
confusion.

The darkness made it difficult to ascertain at first what had
happened, but as soon as Mr. Clive understood he gave the order to
cease firing, and brought the whole force across the causeway, where
he strove to restore their formation. It was his intention to have
advanced along the causeway, driven away the Moors stationed to defend
it, and forced his way through to the English side of the ditch. But
while he was engaged in restoring order among the troops, the enemy,
no doubt overhearing our movements, commenced a discharge on us from
some cannon loaded with langrain, which they seemed to have brought
up within a few hundred yards of us. The shot striking the troops
while s