Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/650

626 having plunder to offer, easily enlisted a number of horse, with which he accompanied the Nabob to Volcondah, and from thence trooped away to the country about Chilambarum, where they were carrying on all kind of ravage, at the time that Captain Wood marched and took Villaparum.

Colonel Coote recovered of his wound, rejoined the army at Killenore on the 7th; and the next day, after reconnoitring Valdore, sent off 350 of the black horse, to join Kistnarow in the country about Chilambarum; so that the chain of troops, or posts, was now established, which encircled Pondicherry in a sweep of 70 miles, from that place to Allamparvah. On the 10th, a large number of Sepoys were seen marching into Valdore from the Gingee road: they were what remained of the body commanded by Zulphacarjung, who, when driven out of the pettah of Arcot by Captain Wood, continued, until this fort was taken, at the back of Velore, encouraged for fear of accidents by Mortizally. From Velore he marched to Gingee; and Mr. Lally, yielding to the representation of Mr. Deleyrit, and the general discouragement, repressed his prejudices against these troops, and recalled them to act again with the European force. Zulpharcarjung left a part of his Sepoys to reinforce Valdore, and marched on with the rest into Pondicherry.

The next day Colonel Coote advanced the army to Manoor, and sent forward Major Robert Gordon, with a large detachment, to take possession of the pettah under the fort of Valdore; the day after, which was the 12th, he brought up the rest of the army, and encamped at Cartaricopum, a village about a mile to the east, nearer Pondicherry. In the night, two batteries were commenced, and shells thrown, which the garrison answered by shot, and both were employed without mischief. The next day all the cavalry, not on duty, were detached, under the command of a Lieutenant, to reconnoitre: and proceeded to the hither end of the Red-hill. The French cavalry with some platoons of infantry advanced towards them, and made some evolutions as intending to fall on their flanks, which the English cavalry prevented by contrary motions, and returned