Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/573

Book XI hence Captain Moore proceeded with his to the army at Carangoly, to which it added 180 Europeans, 1200 Sepoys, and 160 black horse. The Europeans replaced the number which were left in garrison at Vandiwash and Carangoly, and the Sepoys were more. The loss of these places was the severest reproach of the error which Mr. Lally had committed in detaching so great a part of his force to the southward: of which he himself was so sensible, that he justified it only by the distress to which he was reduced for money to supply the immediate pay and subsistence of the army. He now sent expresses to recall them all, excepting 300 Europeans, which were to be left in the pagoda of Seringham. The main body of the French troops remained waiting their arrival at Chittapet. Mr. Bussy left his force about the town of Arcot, and went himself to Pondicherry. The horse he brought spread themselves, and committed every kind of ravage and destruction as far as Conjeveram, between the Paliar and the mountains. A body of Morattoes belonging to Morarirow had been for some time at the pass of Cudapanatam, w. of Velore; they were commanded by Innis Khan, whom we have seen serving in the former wars of Tritchinopoly. Both Madrass and Pondicherry had agents in their camp, treating for their service. The English, Morarirow knew, had most money; and pretending, that he had incurred great charges in preparing a body of troops at their requisition, to march to their assistance before the siege of Madrass, for which he had not been paid, the terms he now demanded were peremptory, and the rates high. They endeavoured to bargain lower; and he, as the shortest means, in his own politics, to make them conclude immediately, accepted 20,000 rupees from the French agents, and sent a thousand of his horse through the hills, who did not join their camp, but in two days were on the English ground between Arcot and Conjeveram.

Colonel Coote, with the army, marched from Vandiwash on the 13th, and encamped the next evening at Papantanguel, a town six miles forward in the road from Trivatore to Arcot; in which situation, half a day's march enabled him to intersect the enemy's troops moving to join each other, whether from Arcot,