Page:History of the French in India.djvu/363

 LAWRENCE AGAIN DEFEATS THE FRENCH. 339 commander to remain where he was until the reinforce- c **£ p * ments should arrive. But it would appear that Major. .... L Lawrence was equally aware of the hopes entertained 1752. regarding the " Prince," and he wisely bethought him of trading on the ambition of M. de Kerjean, who could scarcely expect to retain his command on the arrival of an officer with the reputation of de la Touche. He resolved, therefore, to move back to Bahur, hoping that Kerjean would followed him. The result fully answered his expectations.* Kerjean followed the English major the next day, and early on the morning of September 6 received the shock of his attack. The action was obstinate and bloody. The French received the assault with great intrepidity, crossing bayonets with the enemy. Their sipahis, however, who were stationed in the centre, could not support the English charge and gave way in disorder. Their centre thus pierced, the whole line fell back, and fled in confusion. Kerjean himself, 15 officers, and about 100 men were taken pri- soners. The number of the killed and wounded on the part of the French is not recorded. The English, how- ever, lost one officer killed, four wounded, and 78 men killed or wounded. f The worst result of the action for the French was the unfavourable effect it had upon the Maisurian and Maratha leaders. Of the warriors of the latter nation, 3,000 under Innis Khan, who were on the march to join the French, at once transferred their allegiance to Muhammad Ali, and the Maisurians deferred for a short time their plans against TrichinapalK. The work of Dupieix, however, had been two well performed for a defeat of this nature to cause its permanent failure. jean was forced to act thns by the wished to clear himself at his nncle's repeated orders of Dupieix, and by expense. The movement was ex- the threat that he would be super- actly that which Dupieix would have seded by de la Touche. No autho- wished to delay, rity is given for this assertion, and it t Orme ; Lawrence's Memoirs. can only be imagined that Kerjean, z 2
 * Major Lawrence states that Ker- who was taken prisoner in the action,