Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/676

652 in the Valdore road, about half a mile from the bound-hedge. They marched along the skirts of the Red-hill, and, coming by surprize, killed and wounded several, and drove the rest to the bound-hedge. The Mysoreans, according to their contract, had delivered all the provisions they brought into the magazines of Pondicherry, where they were carefully stored for future need. The pursuit of Monson, and the success of Eiser, deterred them from going out again in large detachments, and although the English army could not cover the ground sufficiently to prevent small parties from getting back, with a few head of cattle or other provisions, yet all these supplies were unequal to the daily consumption of 10,000 mouths; for, with their followers, the Mysore army amounted to this multitude; and in a few days rice began to sell in their camp at the rate of two pounds for a rupee. This distress, the constant fatigue and risque necessary to redress it, and their convictions of the superiority of the English army, as well by the loss of Villenore, as the caution of the French to risque an engagement since that event, made them weary of their expedition and alliance; and their Sepoys, foreseeing less likelihood of retreating with safety than the horse, began to desert in numbers every day. The garrison of Gingee had collected 2000 carriage bullocks, and rice to load on them, and, with various parties which had got out from Pondicherry, 150 Europeans of the infantry, and 100 of the cavalry, were waiting there to escort this train, expecting to be joined by the Mysore horse; who were by this time determined to go away to Thiagar, and return no more; on which, 50 more Europeans, with three companies of Sepoys, were detached from Pondicherry, to reinforce the convoy. Colonel Coote took measures to prevent its arrival. Some Sepoys patroled along the sea-shore, as far as Rangapillah's choultry; from Alamparvah, Martin, with the free company, four of Sepoys, and three field-pieces, marched on the 12th, to lie between Valdore and Permacoil, and were reinforced the next day by 30 hussars with Lieutenant Kircher. Whilst these parties were on the north and N. w. Ensign Turner marched from Cuddalore to Trivadi, with the seven companies of Sepoys