He determined, however, to attempt to surprise the camp.

He placed his deserters in front, and when the column, arriving near the Sepoy sentinel, was challenged, the officer in command of the deserters, an Irishman, stepped forward, and said that he had been sent by Major Lawrence to the support of Captain Clive.

As the other English-speaking soldiers now came up, the sentry and native officer with him were completely deceived, and the latter sent a soldier to guide the column to the English quarter of the camp.
Without interruption, the column marched on through lines of sleeping Sepoys and Mahrattas until they reached the heart of the village.

Here they were again challenged.

They replied with a volley of musketry into the caravansary, and another into the pagoda.