Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/708

684 little army of observation, under the command of Captain Preston, was not equal to an open encounter with this force; he, however, with his usual activity, determined to give them all the interruption in his power, and ordered Captain Martin, who, with the free company of 50 Frenchmen, was abroad with the Polygar of Ventivalum in the hills to the south of Gingee, to hang in the rear of the enemy's march; and moved himself with the main body of his division from Ratlagrammon, to watch their motions at Vicravandi, lest they should turn, and lay waste the recovered districts between this place and Verdachilum. Martin knowing the country, and using the night, picked up twelve Europeans of the French troops. They reached the Panar just as it was swelled by a sudden flood; and persisting nevertheless to cross it, some of them were can led away and drowned in the stream, which the Mysoreans had passed with ease before the freshes came down. As soon as Preston was arrived at Vicravandi, the garrison remaining at Gingee marched and assaulted Ratlagrammon, in which had been left only two companies of Sepoys, who defended the post with resolution, and obliged the enemy to retire, after they had lost fourteen Europeans killed in the attack, and leaving an officer and three wounded, who were made prisoners. Preston receiving intelligence, that the French troops and the Mysoreans were assembled at Thiagar, returned from Vicravandi to Ratlagrammon, lest they should return suddenly during his absence, and attempt to move to Pondicherry with the convoy of bullocks which still continued at Gingee. By this time the presidency knew the cause of the departure of the last body of Mysoreans from Gingee to Thiagar, but were not able, to account for the march of the French troops so far to the westward, at a time when their utmost efforts became every day more necessary to escort the provisions they had collected, into Pondicherry.

In the beginning of the year, Balagerow, the general and regent of the Morattoes, sent an army of 8000 horse, and the same number of foot, with cannon, under the command of an officer of service,