Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/223

Book VIII. but of the English, only two or three had failed Mr. D'Autueil could scarcely credit what it was intended he should understand by the report of the cannon; but was soon convinced by some prisoners picked up by his hussars. The very same evening he recrossed the Caveri with his whole army, into the island of Seringham, and the next day passing the Coleroon, proceeded towards Pondicherry.

Intelligence of the French army marching from Arielore to Tritchinopoly, was brought to Madrass on the 15th of May, just after the presidency had heard of the repulse of their own troops in the assaults of Nelore and Madura. Howsoever averse the presidency had hitherto been to encounter the French troops, until they knew what reinforcements they might expect from Bengal and Europe; the importance of Tritchinopoly, and conviction of the danger to which it was exposed, now superseded this reluctance: and they resolved to enter the French territories, as the most probable means of drawing their army back; or even to follow it to Tritchinopoly; but as the troops from Nelore were not yet arrived, those in Madrass, waiting for them, did not take the field until the 26th of May, when 300 men, being the whole of Adlercron's regiment, and 30 of the King's artillery, four field-pieces, and 500 Sepoys, marched under the command of Colonel Adlercron himself: but by various delays arising from attention to the modes of warfare in Europe, they did not reach Chinglapet until the 31st, although the distance was only 30 miles: Captain Polier joined them here from the garrison, with his own company of 100 Swiss, and 300 Sepoys: but two days after came the welcome news that Tritchinopoly was relieved.

Whilst the enemy was approaching, Ensign Banatyne, who commanded in Carangoly, marched from thence with 300 Sepoys, and took the fort of Outramalore by escalade, in which he left 40 of his Sepoys; but two days after, the fugitive garrison, which likewise consisted only of Sepoys, returned, with 500 more, sent by the Kellidar of Vandiwash; on whose appearance, the English Sepoys evacuated the fort. This declaration in favour of the French de-