Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/715

Book XIII enemy made no motion, but the next day the town fired hotly, but without execution, on the Ariancopang redoubt. The winds had for some days veered and strengthened; and on the 22d and 23d, the two Admirals sailed out of the road of Cuddalore with all the ships, excepting four, which two days on suspicion of stormy weather, went away likewise. Their departure was unexpected, because contrary to Mr. Steven's declaration, that he would not quit the coast until compelled by the utmost necessity, which had not yet come. As soon as they disappeared; the Compagnie des Indes, and a sloop which was in the road, prepared as had been foreseen to put to sea. The ship sailed on the 30th to bring provisions from Tranquebar, and the sloop armed with several guns was intended to cruize in the offing for the grain-boats, which at this season of the year come with the wind and current from the northern to the southern parts of the coast, and generally sail in sight of the shore. The four men of war which left Cuddalore on the 23d, anchored on the 1st of November off Alamparvah, from whence they fell down on the 4th to the road of Pondicherry, and gave information, that Mr. Stevens was gone with the other 12 ships of the squadron to refit them in the bay of Trincomaly.

Captain Preston, on the 18th of October, detached some black horse and Sepoys from his post at Ratlagrammon, who came back with 400 head of cattle of those collected by the French, which were grazing in the country round the pettah of Gingee: The detachment was neither opposed or pursued, although a considerable party of the French troops was then in the pettah ready to march. This party moved on the 21st; they were 200 Europeans and Coffrees, 400 Sepoys, 100 European and as many black horse. They crossed the river Panar on its decline, and on their arrival at Thiagar, a detachment larger than their number was formed, and marched away, to attack the fort of Chandamungalum, which stands half-way towards Trinomallee: the fort was garrisoned by four or five companies of Sepoys, with a few Europeans from Chittapet, who repulsed the assault with uncommon ability, having killed ten Europeans and 40 Sepoys, and wounded 50 Sepoys and 20