Page:History of the French in India.djvu/285

 CAPTURES IT. 263 brilliant genius of the Governor-General than had been chap. . VI Dupleix by the frank nature, the striking talents, the v ^ desire to acquire knowledge, especially knowledge of 1750. India and its people, displayed by the young officer. He had given many proofs of adding to these qualities a courage, a daring, and a presence of mind which, when united in a soldier, inevitably lead him to fortune ; and it was on this account that he had now been selected to lead a detachment of the French army on the most daring expedition on which European troops had yet been engaged in India. The force placed at the disposal of Bussy consisted of 250 Europeans and 1,200 sipahis, and four field pieces. They left the scene of the action with Muhammad Ali on September 3rd, and came in sight of Jinji on the 11th. Here at the distance of three miles Bussy en- camped, and here intelligence reached him that the remnants of Muhammad Ali's army, 10,000 or 12,000 strong, together with 1,000 sipahis trained by the English, and some European gunners with eight field- pieces, were encamped on the glacis, and were about to take advantage of their overwhelmiug superiority of numbers to attack him. Immediately afterwards the enemy was seen advancing. Bussy waited for him till his men came within pistol-shot, when he ordered a general advance, the four guns opening at the same time on the hostile cavalry. This, as was usual, not only prevented the advance but threw the enemy into con- fusion. They had already broken when the main body of the French army under d'Auteuil was seen approach- ing the field. A general panic instantly ensued amongst all branches of the enemy's forces, and Bussy, taking advantage of it, advanced and secured their guns, killing or taking prisoners the Europeans who served them. He then pushed forward and drove the fugitives under the walls of Jingf, the cannon of which opened fire on the pursuers.