Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/723

Book XIII French grenadiers immediately advanced, and gave their fire, whilst the horsemen went off as fast as they could over the plain, taking the road to Trivadi. On the alarm, the pickets of horse in the camp mounted, and crossing the river, which chanced to be fordable at Villenore, went in pursuit, and took thirteen, whose horses were too feeble to keep pace with the others.

Major Preston, following his success, marched from Elavanasore, against a fort called Rishavandum, which stands 15 miles to the N. E. of that place: it surrendered to him, after little resistance, on the 22d: the garrison consisted of 200 Sepoys, and five Europeans. From hence he marched against Chacrapollam, a mud fort, 15 miles north of Thingar; which surrendered to him without making any defence; for the garrison was only a company of Sepoys, with a Serjeant. In the mean while, the French troops remaining at' Gingee, exclusive of the garrison there, went against Chittamoor, a fort 10 miles to the s. E. and were repulsed, with the loss of 20 Sepoys and four Europeans, killed and wounded.

The landing of the stores from the Admiral Watson had been impeded by the desertion of the boatmen, who ran away, because they had not been regularly paid; but the blockade continued with the utmost vigilance, and nothing, since the last convoy, had attempted to get in by land; several boats coming from the southward, with salt provisions and arrack, were intercepted by armed boats equipped at Devicotah. The encreasing distress determined Mr. Lally to consult nothing any longer but necessity; and on the 27th, he turned out of the gates all the blacks remaining in the town, excepting a few who were domestics to the principal inhabitants. The number expelled were 1400, of both sexes, and every age. They wandered in families and companies towards all parts of the limits, hoping the mercy of being suffered to pass away; but they were every where stopped by the advanced Sepoys, and ordered to go back; on which they retired, and assembled round the foot of the begging admittance, and many of them attempting to pass over into the covered-way, were fired upon by the musketry and cannon, and some were killed. At night they were quiet; but the next day, and for