Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/529

Book XI attack of the mountain; and, on the news of his ill success, 200 of the black horse, with three companies of Sepoys, were sent from the army at Conjeveram to Tripassore, where they would be in readiness either to succour the renter, Nazeabullah, the Polygars, or to march on to join Bonjour's detachment, if returning. But this party was scarcely arrived at Tripassore, when the presidency received intelligence from Ensign Wilcox, that a detachment of Europeans, Sepoys, and horse, sent from Arcot; to Narrain Saustry, were marching round the hills, in order to attack the troops in the town of Tripetti; which if they should take, the revenues of the approaching feast in September would be lost, and the recovery of the pagoda, resisted by French troops, rendered hereafter much more difficult; whereas, in the present state, Narrain Saustry in possession of the mountain, and the English of the town, neither at least could get any thing, excepting by a compromise. The importance of this object, and of the other concerns in this quarter, determined the presidency to send Major Calliaud, with 200 Europeans and 300 Sepoys. They arrived at Tripetti on the 8th of July; but, as before, the re-inforcement of Sepoys furnished few of the right sort to attack the mountain. Calliaud therefore marched with the Europeans, four companies of Sepoys, and two guns, against Carcambaddy, the way over hills and vallies, covered with wood, but inhabited by a people fit only for skulking attacks, although of no contemptible caste being entitled to the pagoda of Tripetti. They fired continually from the thickets and covers, and killed and wounded several of the line before they forced the first barrier. At the second, Major Calliaud with much, difficulty got one of the guns upon a rock, which flanked the barrier, and the first discharge, loaded with grape, killed the Polygar and several of his men, after which the detachment met no farther resistance. They were seven hours gaining their way, and arrived at three in the afternoon at the Polygars town; which they found abandoned, burnt it down, and destroyed the adjoining plantations. The next day they returned to Tripetti, and Calliaud thinking the enemy in the mountain would be as much discouraged, as the renter's people were elated by this success, sent all the fit men of his Sepoys, who,