Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/301

Book IX. adjacent country, whilst Mahomed Issoof, apprehensive of the arrival of Hyderally and the French, kept his force collected in Madura. As soon as the news of Hyderally's departure was confirmed Mahomed Issoof took the field and marched against Shatore. The Polygar on his appearance made submissions, turned out the Pulitaver's men, and paid a fine in money; but as soon as the English troops returned to Chevelpetore, he renewed his depredations; on which Mahomed Issoof attacked the fort again, which the Polygar, after a slight resistance, abandoned; and one of his relations was appointed in his stead. In the mean time, the confederates had, in various attacks from Nellitangaville, taken all the posts between this place and Tinivelly, and many of the men placed to guard them were put to the sword: at Tirancourchy, which was taken by assault in the night, 27 horsemen, and a greater number of Sepoys, were killed. The confederates, elated with these successes, threatened all who did not join them, and attacked the polygar of Outamalee, because he had refused. They likewise prepared to take possession of Tinivelly, and boasted that they would reduce the fort of Palamcotah. But the approach of Mahomed Issoof from Chevelpetore stopped their progress, nor had they courage to give him battle; but, having strengthened the posts they had taken, retreated to Nellitangaville, sending, however, detachments to harass and interrupt his operations; but without success; for all their parties which ventured to meet, or could not avoid the encounter of the Sepoys, were beaten, and by the end of April all the posts which had been taken were recovered. Mahomed Issoof then resolved to carry the war into the enemy's country, and to begin with the polygar of Vadagherri, although the most distant, because the most powerful of the alliance. His villages in the plain were in flames, and the troops had begun to penetrate into the wood which encloses his fort, when Issoof received advices and instructions from the presidency at Madrass, and from Captain Calliaud at Tritchinopoly, which called him and the troops under his command to services of much greater necessity and importance.

At day-break, on the 28th of April, a squadron of 12 sail were descried standing in from various points of the compass for the road