Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/521

 Chap. VI.] SIEGE OF TRICHINOPOLY. 487

maintained their post and kept up a cannonade till evening, when Major Law- ad. 1:53. rence deemed it prudent to repass tlie Cauvery. The operations of the day had convinced liim that M. Astruc would prove a more formidable opponent than M. Law, and that instead of attempting to dislodge the enemy from the island, his most important business was to replenish the magazines of the city with provisions. This task was attended with the greatest difficulty, and kept him inactive for five weeks.

In the meantime Dupleix, fully alive to the important struggle about to be French waged, kept his eye fixed on Seringham, and continiied to urge forward rein- inforce.! at forcements, till the whole army within the island amounted to 450 Europeans, ^""'^^ 1500 sepoys, 3500 Mahrattas, 8000 Mysore horse, and above 10,000 Mysore infantry of an heterogeneous and worthless description. To this anny Major Lawrence had nothing to oppose but his 500 Em-opeans and 2000 sepoys. Even of the latter 700 were constantly employed in escoiting provisions. Tiie enemy, confident in superiority of numbers, was now emboldened to quit the island, and began to form a chain of positions with the view of cutting off" the communications of the city with the smTOunding country. In this they were so successful that provisions again began to fail, and even the most sanguine ceased to hope that the city could be saved. To add to the general despon- dency, Major Lawrence was suffering from a severe illness, which tln-eatened to withdraw him entirely from duty.

While the enemy were steadily pursuing their plan of gaining their object Briuiant

• -» r • T 1 • T I'ffair with

by starvation, Major Lawrence was most reluctant to quit any commanding the French, position which it seemed possible to maintain, and kept a guard of 200 sepoys posted on a rock about a mile south-west from his camp and north-east from that of the enemy. Being thus equidistant from both, the possession of the rock was soon contested. M. Astruc, determined to have it, attacked it with a select body, and supported them at a distance by his whole force. Major Lawi'ence at first endeavoured to support the sepoy guard by a platoon of only forty Euro- peans, but, on percei ng all the army of the enemy in motion, took the bold resolution of leaving only 100 Europeans to guard the cam^i, and risking a general action with the remainder of his troops, amounting in all to 300 Em*o- peans, eighty artillerymen, with eight field-pieces, and 500 sepoys. The great contention now was, which of the two armies should first reach the rock. M. Astruc was successful, and carried it by a vigorous effort when Major Lawi-ence was only half way. What was now to be done ? Advance and retreat seemed equally desperate. In such circumstances the boldest course is usually the safest. The order to advance was received by the soldiers with three cheers, and while the grenadiers attacked the rock with fixed b.aj-onets, the rest wheeled roimd it to engage the French battalion. The grenadiers earned aU before them, and, with some sepoys who had followed in their track, commenced a deadl}' fii'e from the top of the rock upon the French drawn up below within pistol-shot ;