Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/255

Book VIII on Carangoly and Arcot, and flight skirmishes ensued with various success. The harvest ripening in the beginning of November, Murzafabeg took post with 300 Sepoys levied by himself, and other force, in the fort of Trivatore, which, standing midway between Outramalore and Arcot, was the most central situation to protect the districts under his own management: the fort being strong enough to resist a sudden assault, parties detached from it frequently beat away those of the enemy, sent to levy money from the villages for the redemption of their grain in the field, until the enemy invested the fort with 800 Sepoys, joined by some Europeans, with three field-pieces. Captain Richard Smith commanding at this time in Arcot, on notice of the danger, detached five companies of Sepoys with a platoon of Europeans, under the command of Lieutenant Wood, who, halting near Trivatore during the night of the 13th of December, fell upon the besiegers at day-break the next morning, beat up all their posts, and took their field-pieces, with which he returned the day after to Arcot; but left one of his companies of Sepoys to reinforce Trivatore. On the 28th, 500 Sepoys came again and took possession of the pettah, but were driven away by the garrison on the last day of the year. At the same time another party from Outramalore blocked up two companies of Sepoys, placed in the mud fort of Cavantandelum, which stands about 10 miles to the N. of Outramalore, and about midway between Salawauk and Conjeveram. Ensign Banatyne marched with five companies from Carangoly, and beat the enemy away; but deeming the post untenable, withdrew the guard. Thus ended the year in the districts of the Carnatic near the Paliar. The Morratoe, Balaventrow, immediately after the conclusion of Armetrow's negotiation, and his own devotions at Tripetti, marched with the main body of his army from the pass of Cudapanatam, into the country of Cudapah. The Nabob of this province had assembled his force, 6000 horse, and had been joined by those of Canoul, with 3000 more, all reputed, although not really, Pitans. This army waited for the enemy near the city of Cudapah, which stands about 150 miles N and by w. of Arcot,