Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/555

Book XI from Pondicberry, the troops continued abroad with the same regularity as before, under his command. The pardon arrived, and the money was paid on the 21st in the morning, and the whole body, excepting 30 who had deserted, marched back under the command of their former officers to Vandiwash, where before evening the whole camp was enlivened with dances and jollity, as if after some signal success. Mr. Bussy, on the first intelligence of the revolt, resolved to proceed no farther, until he saw the event. The discontent caught the troops he had taken with him, and he was obliged to appease them by a month's pay, and then to wait, until the money to make up the six months, as to the rest of the army, was remitted from Vandiwash; and before he resumed his march, several incidents had happened, which necessitated him to change the state of his detachment, and the rout he intended to take.

As soon as the English army, returning from their unsuccessful attempt at Vandiwah, arrived at Conjeveram, 200 Europeans, with two field-pieces, 200 black horse, and 500 Sepoys, were detached under the command of Captain More, towards the encampment of Bassaulut Jung at Sidaporum; they were to be joined in the way by the six companies of Sepoys at Tripetti, by 1000 belonging to Nazeabullah at Nelore, and by the Europeans in both these places, who were about 70. This force was intended to follow and harrass Bassaulut Jung's army, if they should march round to meet and join Mr. Bussy; but it was the 15th of October before they reached Kalastri, where the troops from Tripetti arrived the same day, but those from Nelore had not yet advanced. The two Polygars, Bangar Yatcham and Damerla Venkatypettah, terrified by the cavalry of Bassaulut Jung at their borders, and doubtful of the distant protection of the English troops, temporized, and according to his summons went to his camp, accompanied by Sampetrow. This man, who has been formerly mentioned, came into the province with the Nabob Anwarodean Khan, and had served as his Duan, or prime-minister, until his death; after which, he was sometimes consulted and employed, but never trusted, by Mahomedally, and