briefly the fortunes of Duchemin. It was just a chance that at this decisive period, pending the arrival of the real commander, the charge of the French troops should have devolved on a man who dreaded nothing so much as responsibility. Had a real soldier commanded that force—and there was one there serving in the ranks, the Bernadotte who afterwards became a Marshal of France and King of Sweden—the fate of Southern India would for a time have been changed.
Duchemin and his troops had disembarked at Porto Novo the 2oth of April. It had been arranged between Suffren and Haidar that a corps of 6000 native infantry and 4000 cavalry from the Mysore army should join the French force, form with it an army-corps, and as such, should, under Duchemin's orders, co-operate with Haidar's main army, the latter furnishing it with money and supplies. This arrangement took effect, and Duchemin, after re-taking Gudalur, joined Haidar at Permakol, whence they marched to take a position before Wandiwash.
The English force, still commanded by Coote, consisted of 12,000 men, of whom only 2000 were Europeans. Coote himself was in feeble health, but his spirit, always daring, was as resolute as it was on the day when he voted against Clive to fight at Plassey.
His situation was a dangerous one. Before him was an army of 60,000 men, led by the best native general who has ever been seen in India, backed by a
