Page:History of the French in India.djvu/574

 548 THE LAST STEUGGLE FOR EMPIRE. °xtf ou ^ lt n ot to liave been very alarming. The troops — under his command were the most seasoned and the 1758. best disciplined of all who served the French Company in Southern India. They were the men before whom the famed Maratha cavalry had been scattered, and who, but a short year before, had forced their way through opposing hosts to relieve Bussy at Haidarabad. They had never yet shown their backs to a foe, and they might well have been counted upon, under efficient leadership, to defend the ceded provinces against even a larger force than that which then threatened it. Under these circumstances, and as they were supported by about 4,000 trained sipahis, and by some of the native princes of the country, it would seem that it should have been the policy of Conflans to advance, to give to his men that spirit of self-confidence which a movement to the front always inspires ; by that he would undoubtedly also have encouraged his native allies. It is the more strange that he did not do this, as a rumour had reached him, in which he entirely believed, that Colonel Forde's force was composed of raw troops, whom, therefore, it would be good policy to attack. He preferred, however, to adopt the course, which, in India, has but rarely proved successful — of waiting the attack of the enemy in the position he had chosen. He accordingly moved his force to the village of Kundur, forty miles north of Rajamahendri. Near this he was encountered, on December 8, by Colonel Forde, enticed out of his strong position, out-manoeuvred, and completely defeated — losing his camp, his guns, and several of his men. He himself, fleeing on horseback, found refuge in Machhlipatan that same night.* Forde, pursuing his victory, occupied Rajamahendri with a part of his force on the 10th. and of all the actions of the campaign edition, pp. 77-115. is to be found in the author's " The
 * A detailed account of this battle Decisive Battles of India " 3rd (new)