Page:History of the French in India.djvu/224

 202 THE FIRST STRUGGLE IN THE KARNATlK. chap, and hungry from their march, the troops lodged their V ' m, arms, and prepared to cook their dinners. 1746, It is time now that we should turn to the movements of the English. Irritated by the high*handed proceed- ings of Dupleix at Madras, by the abrogation of the treaty, these had resolved to undergo any extremity rather than surrender. In addition to the garrison of 300 men, to which we have adverted, they had taken into their service 1,000 irregular native troops, known then by the name of peons, and, what was of more importance, they had entered into an intimate alliance with the Nawwab. In concert with him, it had been agreed that, whilst the French should be engaged in the attack on Fort St. David and Gudalur, both of which they were determined to defend to the utmost, he should suddenly seize that opportunity to assail them, and place them between two fires. It is probable that had the French been led by a general of even ordinary capacity this attack would have failed, but de Bury was wanting in all the quali- ties that go to form a general. In taking possession of the garden, and allowing his troops to disperse to cook their morning meal, he considered he had quite suffi- ciently acted his part. He took no care that pickets should be told off, or sentries posted. Not a single man was, therefore, on the look out. Carelessly giving himself to the repose which his age required, de Bury acted, and allowed his soldiers to act, as though he and they had just completed an ordinary march, in a time of peace, through a friendly country. Rightly was he punished for this neglect. His men were dispersed, their arms grounded, he himself taking his repose, when suddenly the alarm was given that the enemy were upon them. A panic seized them. Grasp- ing at the first weapon that was at hand, some indeed half-dressed, they rushed disorderly to quit a place which they might have defended against the Nawwab's