Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/562

538 whether under the French, the English, or the Nabob's authority, which had lately remained exempt from ravage, contributions, or military operations, was the country from Outatoor to the southern districts of Tritchinopoly, including the rich and fertile island of seringham; where the approaching harvest of December, which is by far the greatest of the year, promised in this, a more abundant crop than usual. The government's share was valued at 600,000 rupees, and would be received in February. From these considerations Mr. Lally resolved to take possession of these countries, with a force sufficient to keep the garrison of Tritchinopoly within their walls. But as this could not be effected, without exposing the stations and country near the Paliar to risque, by the substraction of such a number of troops as would be sent away to the southward, he meant to station 800 men near Arcot, who were to move to the relief of any place that might be attacked; and, with this assistance in prospect, he supposed that the garrisons he should leave in the forts, although very slender, would defend themselves to extremity, and protract the successes of the English force, until his object to the southward was accomplished. Mr. Deleyrit, and the Council of Pondicherry, objected to the separation of the army, as fraught with the most dangerous consequences. Mr. Lally imputed their repugnance to the intention he had declared of farming out the collections under his own inspection, by which they would be deprived, as he supposed, of their usual perquisites; and they attributed his propensity to the expedition to the same spirit of peculation. To confirm the appearance of maintaining the Paliar, a detachment of 50 men of Lally's regiment attacked three companies of Sepoys, posted in a village called Checkrimalore, situated on the south bank of the river, in a line opposite to Conjeveram; but the Sepoys stood firm, killed five, and took three men, with an officer mortally wounded. Two companies were likewise posted at Salawauk, between Outramalore and Chinglapet, of which Lieutenant Fletcher drew off one to strengthen the escort proceeding with the last exchange of French prisoners to Sadrass; on which the French guard at Outramalore drove away the other company remaining at Salawauk; but a few