Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/647

 Chap. XI.] EXPEDITION TO THE NORTHERN CIRCARS. 13

junction with the rajaii, wliose wliole army consisted of 500 paltry horse and ad. 1759. 5000 foot, most of them armed with pikes and bows. In fact, the only things of value which he furnished were four field-pieces, managed by forty Europeans whom he had collected.

Forde, having advanced to within four miles of the French camp, endea- Foniedefeats

., , . 1 1 • 1^ 1 the French

voured to bring them to action by threatenmg to place himself in their rear,

and thus cut off their communication with Rajahmundry. At last, by a series of ]

manoeuvres, he succeeded in convincing Conflans that he was afraid of him, and was preparing to retreat. Nothing more was necessary to induce this incom- petent commander to forego all the advantages of his position. Suddenly forming his line, he advanced to the attack in much haste and little order. The native troops on either side were quickly routed, and the decision of the day was left almost entirely to the European.s. The confused manner in which Conflans had formed his line gave Forde a decided advantage. After a murderous fire which broke the French ranks, he drove them back in disorder, and before they had time to rally ordered a charge, which resulted in the capture of all their guns. After the flight had become general, a stand might still liave been made at the camp, but those within it only waited till an assault was

threatened, and then liasteiied off in the utmost confusion. Among the fugitives i

none was more conspicuous than Conflans, who rode with such speed that he measured the distance of forty miles before midnight, and sought refuge in Rajahmundry. Here he was joined by the wrecks of his army, but his fears still pursued him, and Forde, on arriving next day, found the place evacuated. In the fort a large quantity of ammunition and militaiy stores was found.

This victory was gained on the 9th of December, and, had Anunderauz been "'■•' further t

less tardy in his movements, might have been immediately followed by more

brilliant successes. He did not make his appearance till the IGth, and even '

then only employed himself in endeavouring to evade the payments to which he |

had bound himself by express stipulation. To meet his wishes the treaty was •

modified to the effect that all the money furnished by him should be considered I

as a loan, and that all the countries which might be conquered beyond the |

Godavery, with the exception of those belonging to the French, should be

equally divided between him and the British. In the altercations caused by ';

his shuffling conduct, more time was wasted than might have sufficed to accom- ij

plish all the objects of the expedition. The army could not be again put in 1

motion till the 28th of January, 1750. Its destination was Masulipatam. The

first town of impoi-tance on the road was Yalore, or more properl}' Ellore, the I

capital of a province of the same name, one of the four ceded to the French. j

The British reached it on the 0th of February; Anunderauz, who had been levying contributions on the right and left, did not make his appearance till the 18th, and after his arrival wove so many pretexts for delay that a new start could not be made before the 1st of March. Colonel Forde had now more cau.se than ever j