Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/263

Book IV. little loss to themselves, killed and wounded 40 of the English battalion, which suffered in this action more disgrace than in any other that had happened during the war: Major Kineer was so affected by it, that although he recovered of his wound, his vexation brought on an illness, of which he some time after died.

The troops retreated to Trivadi, and the enemy, quitting Vicravandi, retook the fort of Villaparum, which they demolished. Mr. Dupleix, animated by these successes, slight as they were, reinforced them with all the men he could send into the field; the whole, consisting of 450 Europeans, 1500 Sepoys, and 500 Moorish horse, marched and encamped to the north of Fort St. David, close to the bounds; upon which the English and the Nabob's troops quitted Trivadi, and encamped at Chimundelum, a redoubt in the bound hedge, three miles to the west of St. David; here they remained for some days inactive, waiting for more troops from Madrass, where the ships from England had brought a reinforcement, consisting principally of two companies of Swiss, each of 100 men, commanded by officers of that nation.

To avoid the risque and delay of a march by land, one of these companies was immediately embarked in Massoolas, the common and slightest boats of the country, and ordered to proceed to Fort St. David by sea; for it was not imagined that the French would venture to violate the English colours on this element; but the boats no sooner came in sight of Pondicherry than a ship in the road weighed anchor and seizing every one of the boats, carried the troops into the town; where Mr. Dupleix kept them prisoners, and insisted that the capture was as justifiable as that which had been made of his own troops at Seringham. As soon as the news of this loss reached Madrass, Major Lawrence embarked with the other company of Swiss, on board of one of the company's ships, and arrived the 16th of August at Fort St. David. The next day he took the command of the army, which consisted of 400 Europeans, 1700 Sepoys, and 4000 of the Nabob's troops, cavalry, and Peons, with eight field pieces. The enemy hearing of his arrival decamped in the night, and retreated to Bahoor, and finding themselves .