Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/211

Book III. treaty by his oath, and the Dalaway determined to assist him with efficacy. In consequence of this negociation, a party of seventy horsemen arrived at Tritchinopoly in the beginning of October from Seringapatnam, the capital of Mysore. They brought five hundred thousand rupees: great respect was shewn to their officer; and the day after his arrival a skirmish happened, which, although inconsiderable, gave him a favourable opinion of the Nabob's European allies. A platoon, with two or three companies of Sepoys, were sent to cut down wood at a grove situated about a mile and a half south-east from the city. The enemy having intelligence of this detachment, sent a large body of cavalry to cut off their retreat: their march being discovered from the rock in the city, the grenadiers, with some Sepoys, and one field piece, were sent to support the first party, and the troop of Mysoreans accompanied them. Captain Dalton meeting the wood-carts loaded, ordered them to proceed to the town by a distant road, and forming the two parties into one column, with the field piece in front, marched towards the enemy, instead of returning directly to the city. He first met the French dragoons, who halted on a small eminence to reconnoitre, and waited there until they received the fire of a platoon, on which they retreated to bring up the body of Chunda-saheb's cavalry, who remained at some distance in the rear. These came up some time after at full speed, flourishing then swords, and made a halt within point blank shot, to draw the fire of the English troops before they charged; but captain Dalton ordered his men to preserve it, and wait with fixed bayonets in close order. The field piece alone was fired, and the first shot dismounted three Moors, and a few more discharges put the whole body to flight. They left 22 horses killed on the plain, and the Mysoreans took five prisoners, together with their horses; which at their return, a few days after, they carried in a kind of triumph to their own country.

The French continued to bombard the town without any change in their position; and in the latter end of November the king of Mysore's army began to assemble, at Caroor, situated about 50 miles from Tritchinopoly, and 5 miles to the south of the Caveri; he likewise took into his pay 6000 Morattoes, under the command of Morari-row, often mentioned in this history: 1000 of them were sent to second,