Page:History of the French in India.djvu/345

 CLIVE CROSSES THE KA*VAIU. 321 queror of Arkat. This matter having been settled, a chap. detachment consisting of 400 Europeans, 700 sipahis, 3,000 Marathas, 1,000 Tanjurian horse, with eight 1752. pieces of artillery, crossed the Kavari and Kolrun on the night of April 17, and on the following morning took up a position at the village of Samiaveram, nine or ten miles north of Srirangam, and on the high road between that place and Pondichery. This masterly movement owed its success as much to the boldness of the English as to the nerveless despondency of the French leader. Had Clive been in the position of Law, what an opportunity here presented itself of placing the English in the position in which they had hoped to pin the French, by crossing the Kolrun, and taking them between the Srirangam force on one side, and that of d'Auteuil on the other. But all spirit and sense had apparently fled from the counsels of Law. He acted, as though he had but one object, — that of delivering himself and his allies, bound hand and foot, to the enemy. Meanwhile d'Auteuil, who had left Pondichery on April 10 at the head of 120 Europeans, 500 sipahis, and four field-pieces, reached Utatur, fifteen miles north of Samiaveram, on the 25th of that month. Here he learned the situation of affairs ; that Law was cooped up in Srirangam, and that between Law and himself lay Clive at the head of a superior force. Though, infirm and gouty, d'Auteuil had still spirit enough left in him not to be disheartened by these tidings. He had been sent expressly to relieve Law, and he could not leave him to himself without at least an effort on his behalf. Accordingly, he resolved to make a detour so as to avoid Samiaveram, and thus to reach the Kolrun without molestation from the enemy. He sent intelligence to Law of his intended movement, but unfortunately for him, one of his messengers was captured by Clive. Y