Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/587

Book XI and enabled them to keep the windward station, without consuming their own stock of provisions.

On the second of July he began his march from Madura, with 600 horse, 3000 Sepoys, and 2400 other foot belonging to Tondiman, and the Moravers, In all 6000 men. His artillery was one eighteen-pounder, and nine from six and lower. He was scant of powder, having none but what he made himself; for, since the destruction of the mill at Madrass by Mr. Lally, the presidency could not supply their troops and garrisons in the Carnatic from their own produce; but borrowed from the squadron, and received from Bombay. The muskets of his Sepoys were old, infirm, of various nations, and not sufficient in number, and were supplied by fowling-pieces, and any fuzees he could collect. He was likewise in want of flints, which are substituted in some parts of India by agate; of which there is none in these countries. All these wants he represented to the presidency, and especially requested two eighteen-pounders, and two field-pieces of six, with a full supply of shot. His first march was to Calancandan. He had taken this fort in 1756; but after his departure for the Carnatic, the Pulitaver and Vadagherri had extended their acquisitions thus far, and placed their guard in Calancandan. It was a mud fort, without cannon, and, after a slight resistance, submitted to his. From hence he proceeded to take up the large detachment he had sent forward against Etiaporum; who, by continually ravaging the districts of this polygar, kept his troops on their own ground, and deterred both him and Catabominaigue from marching across the country to join the Pulitaver: having sufficiently constrained these chiefs, the detachment proceeded against Coilorepettah, which stands nearly midway in the straightest road between Madura and Tinivelly, about 50 miles from each. This fort had likewise been stormed in June 1756 by Mahomed Issoof, and carried with considerable loss. The polygar was then taken prisoner; whether restored or succeeded by another, we do not find; but the place was at this time in the hands of one who defended it as well; for 100 of the Sepoys were