Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/483

Book X. adequate. He nevertheless remained to invest the fort, and soon after intercepted a letter from Mr. Lally to Mr. Deleyrit, dated the 14th, written in the bitterest terms of reproach and resentment, imputing the failure of his attempt against Madrass, which he then saw inevitable, to the iniquities and treachery of the government of Pondicherry, denouncing, that if this place should escape the vengeance it merited of fire from heaven, nothing could preserve it long from destruction by the fire of the English. The loss of men sustained by the French army is no where acquired; they were 2700 firelocks when they advanced from Conjeveram; and Mr. Lally, in the intercepted letter, says, that he had still 2000 Europeans; the Sepoys with him were not more than 1000, for several detachments were abroad. The loss of the cannon and ammunition which had been left or thrown away, he imputed to the want of serviceable bullocks, and this deficiency to the rapacity of the contractors leagued with the council of Pondicherry. His army marched away in rags, and without provisions, but, having gunpowder and horse, exacted them, and continued their rout to Arcot. Advices of their retreat had been sent off to Calliaud as soon as they disappeared, who immediately on the information detached Mahomed Issoof with 1200 Sepoys from Sadrass, to reinforce Chinglapet, lest the French army should invest this place; the Sepoys by a forced march arrived before the enemy could have intercepted them, if such had been their intention: the next day Major Calliaud, with the remaining six companies of Sepoys, and all the cavalry, Abdulwahab at the head of his own, came into Madrass. Thus ended this siege, without doubt the most strenuous and regular that had ever been carried on in India; and we have detailed it, in hopes that it may remain an example and incitement.