Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/408

384 21st of November, without waiting for the troops of the allies, whose assistance the Presidency had requested. The polygar Tondiman gave assurances, and was really collecting some, but the Moraver had returned no answer, and the king of Tanjore had expressed himself in such equivocal terms, that the Presidency resolved to send Major Calliaud, in whom the king had confidence, to convince him of the impolicy of his indifference accordingly this officer embarked on the 30th in a common massoolah, intending to land at Tranquebar. The French army moved again from Conjeveram on the 29th of November, advancing on the high road towards Madrass: but a large detachment, under the command of Mr. Soupire, proceeded along the bank of the Paliar, with orders to halt between the river and Chinglapet. On the same day the partizan Lambert, with his troops and two small field-pieces, attacked the pettah of Pondomalee, which the Ensign, Crowley, attempted to defend, but was driven into the fort with the loss of 30 or 40 of his Sepoys killed and wounded, and two of their Serjeants, Europeans, were made prisoners. On the 4th of December, Mr. Lally reconnoitred the fort of Chinglapet in porson, within musket-shot; and, contrary to the sound rules of war, and perhaps his own conviction, determined to leave it in his rear. On the 7th, the whole army halted at Vendaloor, and Lambert's party appeared in sight of the Mount, where the English army had been reinforced with 400 more Europeans from the town, being all that remained, excepting the invalids and artillery: 300 had been posted, a mile and half in the rear of the main camp, at Sidapet or the little Mount, to guard the bridge and ford over the river of St. Thomé; but on the night after the appearance of Lambert's party, these troops were sent back to the town, and the same number were detached to supply their place from the camp; for Colonel Lawrence had no intention to risk a general action. In the afternoon of the 9th, a considerable body of the enemy appeared in sight of the Mount; but Mr. Lally had left his camp standing at Vendaloor, of which Colonel Lawrence received intelligence, and regarded this appearance of not moving far from it, as a feint to cover the intention of