Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/351

Book V. The number of French prisoners in Tritchinopoly, obliged major Lawrence to augment the garrison to 300 Europeans, and 1500 Sepoys; 150 of the battalion likewise remained sick in the hospital; so that the whole force with which he kept the field was no more than 600 Europeans, including the artillery men, and 1800 Sepoys; the French battalion, reinforced in December with 200 men, was now equal to the English, and they had moreover four companies of Topasses, each of 100 men, distinct from their battalion; they had also 6000 Sepoys, and the Mysoreans and Morattoes remained as before, with little alteration in their numbers. Notwithstanding this superiority, the enemy did not venture to quit the island and encamp to the south of the Caveri. The plain of Tritchinopoly having been so long the seat of war, scarce a tree was left standing for several miles round the city; and the English detachments were obliged to march five or six miles to get firewood. Their provisions came chiefly from the Tanjore country; but the merchants would not venture nearer than Tricatapoly, a fort eighteen miles east of Tritchinopoly, from whence, when a sufficient quantity was collected, they were escorted to the camp. What came from Tondiman's country was brought at appointed times to the skirts of his woods, within six or seven miles of the camp. The detachments sent on these services were seldom less than 150 Europeans, and 500 Sepoys, a force which the enemy's cavalry, unsupported by Europeans, were always afraid to attack; and seven convoys were safely escorted from the beginning of January to the middle of February; at which time a convoy was in readiness, much larger than any of the former, for it consisted of a great quantity of military stores, as well as provisions, the carriage of which required no less than 3000 oxen: the escort was therefore made stronger than usual, being composed of the grenadier company of 100 men, 80 other Europeans, 800 Sepoys, and four pieces of cannon; this force, although more than one third of the army, was scarcely adequate to the convoy; and, what was still more unfortunate, the command of the party fell, by the rotation of military duty, to an officer of little experience, and less ability: however, as the enemy had lately exerted themselves