Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/285

Book IV. different skirmishes of the day, they did not venture to attack the troops as they were returning to the camp with the convoy.

Supported as the French were by this excellent cavalry, they might without much risque have ventured on a general engagement; but Mr. Dupleix, whose eye was always on Tritchinopoly, determined to protract the war on the sea coast as long as possible, that the Mysoreans might not be interrupted from blockading the city. He therefore ordered his troops on the Pannar to act intirely on the defensive, and to strengthen their entrenchments; which, with the usual dexterity of that nation in works of this kind, were soon compleated and rendered little inferior to the defences of a regular fortress. The English presidency, sensible of the great risque of storming such works without a sufficient body of horse to cover the flanks of their infantry during the attack, sollicited the king of Tanjore to send his cavalry to their assistance: he promised fair, and a detachment of Europeans with two field pieces marched from Trivadi to favour the junction; but they had not proceeded far, before they heard that the king had recalled his troops to the capital, on a report that the Morattoes intended to enter his country.

Disappointed of this assistance, Major Lawrence was obliged to remain inactive in his camp, contemplating every day the situation of the enemy, which he had in sight, and fretting at his incapacity to attack them. The Morattoes in the mean time were not idle; their parties were seen now at Trinomalee, then at Arcot, then at Chillambrum, that is, in every part of the province between the river Paliar, and the Coleroon. In the middle of February, one of their detachments appeared, flourishing their sabres, and caracolling within musket shot of Chimundelum, the western redoubt of the bound-hedge of St. David: their insolence irritated the guard, and the Serjeant, a brave but blundering man, thinking this an opportunity of distinguishing himself and of getting promotion, marched into the plain with his whole force, 25 Europeans, and 50 Sepoys. The enemy retreated, until the party was advanced half a mile from the redoubt; when they turned on a sudden, and galloping up surrounded them in an instant; the Serjeant, not doubting that the first fire would disperse