Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/163

Book II. The summons from the Pitan Nabobs arrived at Gingee before the ratification of the treaty at Pondicherry.

It was on the 4th of December that Mr. de la Tonche, who now commanded the troops, began his march from Gingee with 800 Europeans, 3,000 Sepoys, and ten field pieces. Some hints were given sufficient to inspire the soldiers with confidence, but Mr. de la Touche communicated the whole plan only to Mr. Bussy and three or four of the principal officers. A guide sent by the confederates conducted the army towards the quarter where the troops immediately commanded by Nazir-jing encamped, which, after a march of sixteen miles, the French came in sight of at four o'clock the next morning. The whole camp extended eighteen miles, every Nabob and Rajah having a separate quarter. Some cavalry going the rounds discovered the French battalion, and alarmed the advanced posts, which were very soon dispersed: the French then came up to the line of Nazir-jing's artillery, behind which were drawn up 25,000 foot. Here the conflict became sharper; for the first firing having spread the alarm, most of the generals devoted to Nazir-jing sent their troops to the place of action; so that one body was no sooner repulsed than another succeeded, and even many of the fugitives rallied, and formed again in their rear. The French never experienced with more success the advantage of field pieces managed with the dexterity of quick firing; for this alone preserved the troops in many a repeated charge from being broken by the cavalry. Thus surrounded, they gained then-way very slowly, and after passing the line of cannon, were three hours advancing three miles into the camp. They had already dispersed one half of the army, when they descried at some distance a vast body of horse and foot drawn up in order, which extended as far as the eye could reach; and the French troops were on the point of losing courage at the idea of having this formidable host still to encounter, when they perceived in the center of it an elephant bearing a large white flag. This was the signal of the confederates: it was immediately known by Mr. de la Touche, and explained to the troops, who expressed their joy by repeated shouts: they were ordered to halt, until some intelligence should be received from the Pitan Nabobs whose ensigns were now discerned approaching.