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280 ran away with the utmost precipitation, leaving the English to finish their march without farther molestation. As soon as the troops were recovered from their fatigue, Major Lawrence approached nearer the enemy's camp, within a mile of which they had an advanced party, at the village of Caryamungalum; the grenadiers and 100 men of the battalion were ordered to attack this post, and soon get possession of it; after which a battery of two eighteen pounders was erected against their entrenchments, at the distance of 700 yards: it was not before this time that the English perfectly discovered the strength of their works, which consisted of a rampart cannon proof, with redoubts at proper distances, a broad and deep ditch, and a good glacis, defended by 30 pieces of cannon. The battery fired for some time, but made no impression, and the difficulty of getting provisions increasing with the distance from St. David, it was thought proper to desist from the attempt, and the army returned to Trivadi. In the mean time, the Morattoes were indefatigable, and being joined by a small party from Pondicherry, surprized a fort near Chillambrum, called Bonagerry, from whence Fort St. David drew large supplies of grain: captain Kilpatrick marched with a detachment to retake the place; and upon his approach they abandoned it in the night.

Three months ineffectually employed to bring the enemy to a general engagement, convinced Major Lawrence of the necessity of altering his plan of operations. He consulted with the Nabob on removing the war to some other part of the country, in order to draw the French battalion from their present impregnable situation; but it was not easy to determine where they should carry their arms; and whilst they were deliberating on the choice, sudden and unexpected news from Tritchinopoly resolved the difficulty, and left them without an option. Captain Dalton, foreseeing the distresses to which the city would be reduced after the defeat of his party at the Choultry, had often questioned Kiroodin Khan the governor, on the quantity of provisions he had in store; who always assured him, with great confidence, that he had sufficient to supply the garrison for four months. For some