Lawrence, however, when the guns of the fort opened upon him, replied
to them by the fire of his artillery; and, as the French force was
insufficient to enable its commander to fight him in the open, he was
enabled to take his troops and convoy in safety past the fort. When
Law heard this, he marched out and took his position round a lofty,
and almost, inaccessible rock called Elmiseram, and prepared to give
battle.
Lawrence, however, after passing Koiladi, had been joined by a hundred
English and fifty dragoons, from Trichinopoli. These acted as guides,
and led him by a route by which he avoided the French position; and
effected a junction with two hundred Europeans, and four hundred
Sepoys from Trichinopoli; and with a body of Mahratta cavalry, under
Murari Reo.
Law, having failed to attack the English force upon its march, now,
when its strength was nearly doubled, suddenly decided to give battle,
and advanced against the force which, wearied with its long march, had
just begun to prepare their breakfast. The French artillery at once
put the Mahratta cavalry to flight.
Lawrence called the men again under arms, and sent Clive forward to
reconnoitre. He found the French infantry drawn up, with twenty-two
guns, with large bodies of cavalry on either flank.
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