Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/485



OT only the Carnatic and its dependencies, but all the adjacent powers, had fixed their attention, with various hope and anxiety, on the siege of Madrass, as an event which sooner or later must greatly affect their respective views and interests. It was believed, and justly, that much and extensive reputation would be acquired by the defence; but as this advantage would soon be lost if the adjacent territory were not recovered and protected, it was resolved to take the field without delay. With the reinforcement brought in the ships, there were in the town when the siege was raised, of all ranks, 1900 estimated Europeans, including 90 Topasses and 60 Coffress, inserted in the different companies: of this number 1500 rank and file were fit for immediate duty; and this force was sufficient to face the French army. Nevertheless, the Vigour of the determination exceeded the means: many carriages for the artillery and stores were to be prepared, and the artificers being mostly natives were few, and had much other work to do: draught and carriage bullocks were to be provided, and the ravages of the enemy had left none in the country; provisions were equally scarce: perseverance, however, continued. Chinglapet being secured, the rest of the troops with Mahomed Issoof, the horse with Abdulwahab, and those sent with Major Calliaud by Tondiman and Tanjore, encamped on the Choultry plain, were they were joined day by day by the Europeans of the garrison; but the whole were not ready to move before the 6th of March, and in this interval arrived two more companies