Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/304

296 his affairs become desperate by the success of a superior enemy, the prince atones severely for his evasions, by a total defection of his army, or by suffering such outrages as the Nabob Mahomed-ally would in all probability have been exposed to, had he not been rescued in the manner we have described. As soon as the Nabob arrived in the camp, major Lawrence began his march, and in order to avoid the enemy's cavalry struck into the thick woods, which skirt the plain of Tritchinopoly to the south: the approach of the army seemed to determine the king of Tanjore to furnish the assistance they were coming to demand; and not to give him any unnecessary umbrage by proceeding abruptly to his capital, the Major resolved to halt for some time at a distance, and encamped at Conandercoil, a town in the woods half-way between Tritchinopoly and Tanjore; where, at the expiration of ten days, he received advice from Mr. Palk, who had been deputed to the king, that he had prevailed upon him to declare openly, and that orders were given to Monac-gee the general to assemble the Tanjorine troops. On which the English army proceeded to Tanjore, where it was determined to remain until they were joined by the reinforcement expected from Fort St. David.

Of all the Nabob's cavalry, no more than fifty accompanied him, the rest remained encamped under the walls of Tritchinopoly, and a few days after the departure of the English army went in a body, and informed captain Dalton that they intended to go over to the enemy, with whom they had made their terms, desiring at the same time that he would not fire upon them as they were marching off. This, as he was very glad to get rid of such a dangerous incumbrance, he readily promised, and they went away unmolested at noon-day. The enemy, having now no other immediate object, gave their whole attention to blocade the city, which they were in a condition to effect without much difficulty; for their superiority in Europeans deterred the garrison from venturing without the walls to interrupt their night patroles, as was their custom when they had only the Mysoreans and Morattoes to encounter. However captain Dalton took the precaution of undermining in a dark night the posts of Warriore and Weycondah, to the west of the city; the defences of Warriore were ruined, but the explosion failed at Weycondah.