Such was the case on the present occasion. Having no doubt that the
enemy were engaged in attacking Arcot, the troops were plodding along
carelessly and in loose order; when, to their astonishment, after a
sixteen-mile march, as they approached the town of Kavaripak just as
the sun was setting, a fire of artillery opened upon them from a grove
upon the right of the road, but two hundred and fifty yards distant.
Nothing is more confusing than a surprise of this kind, especially to
young troops, and when no enemy is thought to be near.
The French general's plans had been well laid. He had reached
Kavaripak that morning, and allowed his troops to rest all day, and he
expected to obtain an easy victory over the tired men who would,
unsuspicious of danger, be pressing on to the relief of Arcot. So far
his calculations had been correct, and the English marched
unsuspiciously into the trap laid for them.
The twelve French guns were placed in a grove, round whose sides,
facing the point from which Clive was approaching, ran a deep ditch
with a high bank forming a regular battery. A body of French infantry
were placed in support of the guns, with some Sepoys in reserve behind
the grove.
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