Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/483

 Chap. IV.] SUCCESSES OF THE FRENCH. 44-9

not for itself but for ulterior objects, took alarm and resolved to make an effort a d. ksj.

to regain it. With this view he raised an army, half of it di-awn from the sou- bahdar's camp at Ai'cot, and by engaging to defray all expenses, induced Major Lawrence, who was acting at Fort St. David as temporary governor, to send him a detachment of 400 Europeans and 1500 sepoys. His whole force mustered 20,000 men, with whom, after encamping for a short time in the plain of Tri- vandiparam, a little west of Fort St. David, from which he was to receive two 24-pounders and military stores, he marched along the south bank of the Pennar, and found the French posted on the opposite bank, about eight miles east of Trivadi. The French were entrenched; and Mahomed All, though strongly urged by Captain Cope, who commanded the Briti.sh detachment, to take up a position which would force an engagement, was too cowardly to comply, and Manome.) contented himself with skirmishes and a distant cannonade. After some time cowaniioe. wasted in this way, Mahomed Ali proposed marching off to the west, but Cajitain Cope refused to accompany him ; and on being refused payment of the expenses which had been promised, was ordered by Major Lawrence to return with his troo})s to Fort St. David. They amved there on the 1 5th of August, and the French lost not a moment in taking advantage of their absence. Mus- tering a force which amounted in all to 1800 Europeans, 2500 sepoys, and 1000 horse, levied by Chunda Sahib, they brought the enemy to action, and gained a complete victory without the loss of a single man. Mahomed Ali escaped with difficulty, and reached Arcot with only two or three attendants.

Notwithstanding the consternation produced by this defeat, Nazir Jung still Biu-sv cip

tiire.** tlie

remained inactive ; and the French, left at full liberty to pursue their victorious foi-t of career, were emboldened to attack Gingee. This celebrated fortress, in which "'"^'*' we have ab-eady seen the Mahrattas resisting, for many years, the whole power of the Mogul empire under Aurungzebe, is situated among the Eastern Ghauts, about thirty-five miles north-west of Pondicheiry, and eighty-five miles south- west of Madras. It consisted of three steep and craggy hills, with an inter- 'vening hollow, the whole suiTOunded by a lofty wall flanked with towers, and inclosing an area nearly three miles in circuit. The town lay in the hollow, and the hills were both crowned on their summits, and along their declivities, with forts and other works, rendering the whole place so strong, at least according to Indian ideas, as to be deemed impregnable. How little it was really so wjis soon made apparent. The main body of the French army was commanded by M. d'Auteuil, but was preceded by a detachment of 250 EuropeaiLs and 1 200 sepoys, with four field-pieces, under M. Bussy, who wa^i rapidly establi.shing the reputation which he ultimately acquired of being the ablest French officer in India. His object probably wiis to take the place by surprise ; but on coming in sight of it he found 5000 of the fugitives from Trivadi encamped under the walls. He waited, therefore, till the main body came in sight, and then attack- ing, drove off the enemy with little difficulty. One of the gates of the outei- Vol. I. 67