Page:History of the French in India.djvu/588

562 THE LAST STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE. chap. The campaign on which the rival nations were now , abont to enter, promised to decide for a time the pos- 1759. session of the Karnatik. A defeat in the field would be fraught with disaster to either, but more especially to the French, who had not the command of the sea, and whose resources were almost exhausted, whilst it was in the power of the English to fall back upon Bengal, or at all events to await the certain return of their fleet after the monsoon. Under these circumstances, it would have seemed to be the policy of Lally to wait ; to avoid an engagement ; and to harass the communications of the English, compelling them, if they were determined to fight, to fight at a disadvantage. This at least was the opinion of Bussy. But Lally was scarcely in cir- cumstances to act according to the rules of war Owing to the absence of many of his men at Srirangam, he had been compelled to witness, without being able to prevent it, the capture of Karangoli and Wandiwash by the English. This inaction had produced its natural effect on the minds of his men. To follow, too, the other course, it was necessary that he should have supplies and money, and he had neither. It was absolutely indis- pensable, it appeared to him, that he should act with 1760. decision and vigour. No sooner then had he been joined by Crillon from Srirangam, on January 10, than feigning a retiring movement in the direction of Pondi- chery, he divided his army into two columns. Placing himself at the head of one, he changed its direction during the night, crossed the Palar, and moved rapidly upon Kanchipiiram. Without attempting the pagoda, he plundered the town, captured 2,000 bullocks and other stores, and rejoining the other column, which had moved to support him, marched the next day to Tripatur. Having by this movement drawn Colonel Coote and a portion of his army to Kanchipuram, and obtained supplies for his men, he set out on the 14th at the head of 600 Europeans and some native troops to re-