AD. 1752. of Mahomed Ali now amounted to 20,000 horse and 20,000 foot; that of Chimda Sahib, increased from diffei'ent quarters, was little inferior, since it had exactly the same number of foot, and was only 5000 weaker in cavalry.
Eagerness of the native troops.
The urgency of the Mahrattas and their other confederates for action was now greatly increased, and Captain Gingen liad much difficulty in resisting their importunity. When he announced his determination to wait for the rein- forcement which was expected from the presidency, several of the native officers lost all patience, and scrupled not to stigmatize his so-called caution as mere cowardice. So dissatisfied, indeed, was Nusheraj, the Mysorean commander, that he was more than once on the point of returning home with his army, and was only appeased when the revenues of all the districts recovered since his arrival were made over to Mysore. Morari Row, equally offended, said less, but acted with the characteristic duplicity of his countrymen, by entering into a secret correspondence with the enemy.
Reinforcement under Lawrence and Clive.
The reinforcement commanded by Major Lawrence, ably seconded by Captain Clive, was now on its way. It consisted of 400 Europeans and 1100 sepoys, with eight field-pieces, and was cumbered with a large quantity of military stores. Both armies, aware of the effect which it might have on future operations, were equally on the alert, the one to secure its safe arrival, and the other to intercept it. On the 26th of March it arrived at a fort of the King of Tanjore, within twenty miles of Trichinopoly, and there deposited such of the stores as were most cumbersome. M. Law, the commander of the French battalion, acting not merely on his own judgment, but by special instruction.s from Dupleix, was determined not to allow it to pass without a strenuous effort to effect a capture. The first struggle commenced at the fort of Coilady. It was in possession of the French, who had here posted a strong body with artil- lery. Major Lawrence, anxious to avoid the danger, ordered his guides to look out for another road. Instead of doing so they led him to the very spot. The error was fii'st discovered by the fire of six pieces of cannon from the opposite side of the Cauvery. Great wjis the confusion, but both by good fortune and good management the loss sustained was small, and the line, by diverging to the left, was soon beyond the enemy's reach. A more serious contest wiis at hand. On advancing towards Ehmiserum, a rock cro"vned with a fortified pagoda, five miles south-east of Trichinopoly, Major La^vrence learned that the greater part of the enemy's army was drawn up in battle array between it and the French Rock, while the remainder occupied the space between this rock and the village of ChukleypoUam, on the south bank of the Cauvery. The object was very apparent. Had the major attempted to pass to the north of Elimiserum he could scarcely have escaped being sun-ounded. He therefore passed to the soiith, and had only proceeded a short way, when he had the satisfaction of being joined by 200 Europeans and 400 sepoys under Captain Dalton, and the greater part of Mahomed All's army.
Vol. I. 60
