Page:History of the French in India.djvu/275

THE FRENCH RETREAT ON PONDICHERY. determined, on the other hand, to trust to the tender mercies of his uncle. In accordance with these resolutions the French con- tingent commenced its retreat at midnight, followed by Chanda Sahib, who, with his cavalry, insisted upon taking the post of honour in the rear. So great, how- ever, was the disorder in the French camp, so complete the demoralisation of officers and men, that no one com- municated the intelligence of the intended movement to the gunners, who, to the number of forty, manned the batteries in front of the camp ; these, therefore, with their eleven guns, were left behind. Day dawned before the retreat of the French was discovered. But no sooner was it known than Murari Rao, at the head of 10,000 Maratha horse, started in pursuit of them. He came up with them just before they reached the prickly pear hedge, which formed the outer defence of Pondichery. Noting his approach, d'Auteuil formed his men up in a hollow square, whilst Chanda Sahib held his cavalry in readiness to attack him after his repulse. Murari Rao, however, a splendid horseman, little acquainted with squares or European tactics at all, boldly charged and broke into the French formation. But at the same time Chanda Sahib charged his cavalry, who were thus, with the exception of fifteen, prevented from following their leader. In this manner Murari Rao was, with but fifteen men inside the French square, apparently lost. But the sullenness of the Europeans and his own daring saved him. He dashed at the other face of the square, and succeeded, with the loss of nine men, in cutting his way out. He then joined his cavalry, who were engaged with Chanda Sahib. With him and with the French he kept up a running fight till they reached the hedge, when he thought proper to retire. In this retreat the French lost nineteen men, in addition to the forty left behind; many of them were