Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/669

Book XII. they, it was not doubted, would, as before, endeavour to join the French army, by avoiding the English. On this day, the 17th, the troops with Major Moore, and the whole body of the Mysoreans, advancing by different routes, arrived nearly at the same hour in sight of Trivadi. With Moore were 180 European infantry, 30 Coffrees, and 50 hussars, and together with Kistnarow's the black horse were 1600, and the Sepoys 1100. The Mysoreans were 4000 horse well mounted, 1000 Sepoys, and 200 Europeans, or Topasses of the French army, of whom a part managed eight pieces of cannon. At this time, when the English troops had been so long accustomed to success, it was supposed, that the force with Major Moore, notwithstanding the inequality of numbers, might have stood at least an obstinate brunt; but it happened otherwise; for by some mischance or misconduct, of which no certain account has ever been given, they were totally routed. The black horse and Sepoys, who it is said first gave way, dispersed on every side; five and twenty of the hussars were cut to pieces, and most of the rest were wounded; they were the only part which behaved with firmness, fighting after they were deserted by the European infantry, who retreated in great hurry and disorder to the fort of Trivadi, which they gained with the loss of 15 killed and 40 wounded. The news of this misfortune reached Colonel Coote the next day,and encreased his anxiety to get possession of Villenore; for it was not doubted that Mr. Lally, as soon as joined by the Mysoreans, would make every effort to save this place. The left of the English encampment was at the foot of the hill of Perimbé, and it extended 1500 yards to the right, across the plain towards Villenore. Through the center of the camp passed a road (raised as all the others on the plain above the common level of the ground, and) with a row of trees on each side. This avenue comes almost in a straight line from a redoubt in the bound-hedge, called the Villenore; but receives its name from the village of Oulgarry, through which it passeth about half-way between the bound-hedge and the hill of Perimbé. At a thousand yards in front