Page:History of the French in India.djvu/415

DALTON APPLIES FOR AID. 389 the other hand, were, at all events, for several months, c ^ p - not only fewer, but they were dispirited by defeat, . and had ceased to place the smallest confidence in their 1753. leaders. The campaign opened on January 3 by an attempt on the part of Dalton to drive the Maisurians and Ma- ra thas by a night-surprise out of Srirangam. Night- surprises with a force composed to a great extent of native troops are always more or less hazardous, and this one proved no exception to the rule. Dalton made good way at the outset, but the darkness of the night caused amongst his men a confusion, which the re- peated charges of the Maratha cavalry converted into disorder. The attack was consequently repulsed, and Dalton was forced to retreat into TrichihapalK with a loss in killed and wounded of 70 Europeans and 300 natives. Far from being cast down by this defeat, Dalton exerted himself with success to foil all the attempts of the Maisur leader to take advantage of his victory ; and when, at last, this latter succeeded in establishing 8,000 of his best troops at the Fakir's Tope — a strong position, about four miles south of TrichinapalH — Dalton availed himself of his personal acquaintance with the character of their commander — one Virana — so to play upon his fears, that he aban- doned of his own accord his impregnable position, and left it still feasible for Dalton to communicate with the open country beyond. But before this had happened, Dalton had ascer- tained from personal inspection that but three weeks' supplies remained to him in TrichinapalH. At the time he made this discovery, the position of the Dalwai of Maisur in Srirangam, and of Virana to the south of the town, had effectually barred from him all communi- cation with the country, and ignorant then how far he might be successful in his attempts to frighten the latter, he had despatched an express messenger to