Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/439

Book X. wishes, consented to march with them into the French districts around Conjeveram, in which they continued several days employed in plunder and ravage; and no shelter grounds protected the cattle from the search of the Colleries. On the 13th, Preston thinking they had been sufficiently indulged with booty, began his march back from Conjeveram, intending to come again in sight of Madrass; but on the first halt, all the troops which he had endeavoured with so much complacence to conciliate, Colleries as well as cavalry left him and crossed the Paliar. This second desertion left no doubt of their inutility, and Preston resolved not to act with them any longer, even if they should return of their own accord; but as the horse of Rajahsaheb, who were 800, and the European cavalry of the French army, rendered it impossible for the infantry of both the English commands, although many, if unsupported by horse, to continue near enough to harass the enemy's camp, without more risk to themselves, Preston resolved to march to Arcot, in order to collect a body of better cavalry, of which he heard several parties were waiting ready to take service on the western confines of the province. Mr. Pigot received intelligence of this motion and its motives on the 16th of the month, but concealed it, as every other which might dispirit the garrison.

The enemy's fire continuing the same on the 17th as the day before, dismounted three guns and a mortar. Ever since the ninth of the month, two ships had been seen off St. Thomé which had every day weighed anchor, endeavouring to get to the northward, but were constantly stemmed by the current from gaining ground; but this evening they passed the road, and joined the three other vessels off the black town. They were the Expedition, laden with artillery and stores, which had left Pondicherry on the 12th of December; and the Bristol of 30 guns, manned with Europeans, which had lately arrived there from Persia, and was immediately laden with shot and shells for the camp.

On the morning of the 18th the enemy had completed three more embrasure's in Lally's battery, which joining the former on the