Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/639

Book XII. encamp near Pondicherry, in order to intercept all convoys of provisions from the adjacent country, a body of troops sufficient for the attack of Karical could not be spared from the camp, without frustrating the other intention. Admiral Cornish contributed to alleviate part of the difficulty, by offering to proceed with all the men of war which had arrived with him, and to land their marines, which were about 300; the Presidency provided for the rest. All the artillery and stores for the siege, with the Chief Engineer, Mr. Call, and a few gunners, were to be sent in the ships from Madrass. Colonel Monson, who was to command, was to embark from Alam parvah, with the company of pioneers, which consisted of 50 choice Europeans, and with Captain Barker to direct the artillery. Captain Joseph Smith, who was escorting the Nabob from Tritchinopoly, was ordered to reinforce his detachment from this garrison to the strength of 1000 Sepoys, 100 European firelocks, 40 artillery-men, and six field-pieces; with this force, he was to march away from wherever he might be, with all expedition; and either invest or lay before Karical, as circumstances permitted, until the arrival of the ships. Captain Richard Smith, appointed to command in Tritchinopoly after the departure of Joseph, was to send from thence, through the country of Tanjore, Lascars for the service of the artillery, 500 Coolies to pull and carry burthens, tents, doolies for the sick and wounded, and cattle for provisions to the squadron as well as the troops on shore. The king of Tanjore was requested to send his troops, and every kind of assistance.

The Nabob, notwithstanding his eagerness to appear at the head of an army in the Carnatic immediately after the victory of Vandivash, was not ready to move from Tritchinopoly until the 18th of March, 40 days after he had received intelligence of that success, and a month after the French had abandoned the pagodas of Seringham. Besides the detachment from the garrison of Tritchinopoly, he was accompanied by 1000 horse, 1000 Sepoys, and a greater number of various sorts of good-for-nothing infantry, entertained by himself. They arrived at Volcondah on the 20th, from whence he was solicitous to proceed towards Arcot; but Captain Joseph Smith,