Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/307

Book IV. were stronger than any where else. A black fellow undertook to carry the letter for eight rupees, and Mr. Brenier, giving him twenty, sent him back with a letter to De Cattans, promising to put his plan into execution, and desiring him to write frequently. In vain did the garrison watch several nights successively, hoping that the enemy would make the assault; but the various reports which they received of major Lawrence's arrival, kept them in such a continual bustle and alarm, that they could not spare a night for the execution of this enterprize, notwithstanding they appeared convinced of its practicability. The Mysoreans fiuding that the explosion made at Weycondah, had done little damage, took possession of this post, and mounting two small pieces of cannon on the rampart, encamped 300 horse and some Peons under the walls; and as the garrison of Tritchinopoly had not lately ventured into the field, those troops slept in perfect security without a single centinel. Captain Dalton receiving intelligence of their negligence, resolved to beat up their quarters, and husing a time when it was very dark, a party of 400 men, mostly Sepoys, marched up close to the tents, and made a general discharge amongst them before they were once challenged. The Sepoys got some horses and arms, and the whole party retreated out of reach before the enemy were sufficiently rouzed to do more than fire a few shot at random.

At length, after remaining a month closely blockaded, and obliged to be continually on their guard, the garrison received advice that the Major was approaching; he was joined by the Tanjorine army, consisting of 3000 horse, and 2000 matchlocks, under the command of Monac-gee, as also by the expected reinforcement from Fort St. David, of 170 Europeans and 300 Sepoys. On the 7th of August, the army arrived at Dalaway's choultry, situated close to the southern bank of the Caveri, six miles east of Tritchinopoly, where they were defined the next day by the falling of a heavy rain, which rendered the country between the choultry and city impassable. This obliged them to strike to the south-west, and the 9th in the morning they continued their march, escorting a convoy of several thousand bullocks provided by the Nabob, and said to be laden with provisions; signals