Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/665

Book XII. detachment still stronger was sent from the camp: both when joined would amount to 190 European infantry, 30 European horse, 25 Coffrees, 600 Sepoys, and 1600 black horse; and were to be commanded by Major More, the same who marched in January to Tripetty, and had lately been promoted from the rank of captain. More Mysoreans arriving, they called in their parties, and being joined by 40 or 50 of the French troops from Thiagar, appeared before Tricalore on the 10th; but, the Frenchmen having brought only two or three small field-pieces, and the fort being of stone, the Sepoys within, who were three good companies left there by Captain Airey, refused to surrender; and by the fire of their musketry from the walls obliged the enemy to retire; who then went against Trichimungalum, a fort five miles to the east, where the garrison, which was likewise of Sepoys, took fright, and evacuated it on their approach. From this place all the Mysore cavalry, now 1500, set off for Pondicherry, driving a multitude of cattle, but unaccompanied by any troops on foot, even their own, that, if interrupted, the horse might be free to force their way, or retire. The rule of these countries had so often been shifted to and fro by the fortune of war, and they had suffered so much, as well from the ravages of hostility, as the concussions of unsettled government, that they regarded both the English and French at least as tyrants, when not enemies; and, at this time, the renters and heads of villages, not knowing how soon they might have new masters, gave no assistance to Major More's detachment, who, distressed for provisions, and misled by false intelligence, advanced from Villaporum towards Tricalore, where they expected supplies, and hoped to intercept the Mysoreans in their route; who had passed before to the south, by Trivanelore, and arrived at Trivadi on the 23d, where they halted the day. Mr. Lally, apprized of their approach, had moved his whole army from the bound hedge to his former encampment at Perimbé in full sight of Valdore, and then detached 50 of his European cavalry to join the Mysoreans on the road. Colonel Coote received quick intelligence of their arrival at Trivadi, with an account of their numbers,