Page:History of the French in India.djvu/427

 THE ENGLISH DEFEAT BRENNIER. 401 their leader, but Lawrence, perceiving it, ran out to chap. them himself, and led them to the charge. At this IX ' moment, also, Dal ton, who from the tower within 1753. TrichinapalH had watched the progress of the fight hastened to the ground with his detachment and two field-pieces, and attacked the French in rear. Separated from their main body, which all this time remained in an extraordinary state of inaction, the French detach- ment retreated to Waikancla, not however till they had inflicted and suffered heavy loss. Brennier, whose earlier movement might have saved the day, no sooner beheld the retreat of his detachment, than, seeming to recover himself, he advanced with his main body to attack the victorious English. It was, however, too late ; for his troops, disheartened by the retreat of their comrades, and by the sight of the English in force on both flanks, declined the combat, and retreated, as fast as possible, to the Five Rocks, and thence followed their comrades in disorder to Waikanda. The Tanjurian cavalry, which might have handled them severely, feared, even in their retreat, to attack the soldiers of France. They contented themselves with reducing Elmiseram, which was but slightly guarded. This second battle before TrichinapalH cost the Eng- lish 140, the French 100, Europeans, and proved not less than the first the superior generalship of the English leader, and the higher morale of his soldiers. It is difficult to imagine conduct more imbecile than that exhibited by Brennier. He allowed himself to become the dupe of the most transparent stratagem, and its success so confounded him that he seemed incapable of giving any orders until it was too late to retrieve his vanished fortunes. It is not surprising that the French soldiers should display their want of confi- dence in such a leader. Meanwhile, after the action, the French concentrated D D