Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/530

 4^f) IIISTOKV OK INDIA. [Book ill

..u. Kw single platoon in lii.s front and rear, while the rest of the trooj).s were distriljuted

in small bodies along the line of IjuUocks and carts. Most imprudent as thi.s

arrangement was, he made no attempt to alter it, and left his troops exposed bj

Disaster 8118- the sudden and impetuous onset of 12,000 Mysorean and Mahratta horse, the

taiiioil l>v 111 -» r • I

the uritisii latter commanded by Moran Row and Yoonas Khan, and the former by an ofticer of the name of Heiri Sing, and another, destined to future celebrity under the name of Hyder All. These cavalry formed only part of a detachment which had been lying in wait for the convoy, and was composed, in addition to the cavalry, of 400 Europeans and GOOO sepoys, with seven pieces of cannon. The issue was not for a moment doubtful. The sepoys at once flung down their arms and fled. The gi'enadiers, who had gained so many laurels in previous fights, still distinguished themselves, and, with the other eighty Europeans, were selling tlieir lives as deai'ly as pos.sible, when the French amved, and much to their credit, obliged the Mahrattas to grant quarter. This was the severest loss wdiich the British had yet sustained dm-ing the war. The whole of these Europeans were either killed, or wounded and taken prisoners. The loss of the convoy scarcely deserves to be mentioned along with that of the troops, and yet must have been severely felt. Besides the whole of the provisions and militarj- stores, £7000 in money fell into the enemj'-'s hands.

Attempts to The presidency of Madras, on hearing of the disaster, made an exertion to

repair it. .

repair it, and sent a detachment of 1 80 men by sea to Devicotta. Tliere, how^- ever, they were obliged to remain till an opportunity should be foimd of joining the camp in safety. Major Lavrence, though his Europeans had been reduced to 400, still kept his position in the plain. It was now impossible, however, to draw supplies from Tanjore, both on account of the distance, and because the rajah, again disposed to league with the enemy, discouraged his merchants fi'om furnishing them. Tondeman's Country being thus the only resource, 400 sepoys were detached to collect them at Killanore, a village in the woods about twelve miles distant. The want of a body of horse was now severely felt, and the presidency, on the suggestion of Major Lawrence, sent a deputy to the Rajah of Tanjore, for the purpose of inducing him to send a contingent. He was too irresolute and crafty to comply ; and without declaring for any party, resumed his old game of neutrality. While the nabob and British were thus left vithout an ally, a new danger w^as discovered. Treachery was at work in the city and the camp. Though it was frustrated, the details are not unworthy of being recorded, ji iiiomed Mahomed Issoof, who had enlisted into the British serace under Clive, ex-

Issoof.

celled alike in valom- and stratagem, and gradually raised himself bj' merit to the chief command of all the sepoys. In this position he rendered essential ser- vice to Major Lawrence.. Not onl}^ did he possess a perfect knowledge of the country, and constantly procure intelligence of the enemy's movements, but he planned all the marches of the convoys, choosing his times and his routes with so