"For the first month, we will work hard in teaching these officers and
sub-officers their duties. Then, when the whole eight hundred
assemble, we can divide them into four parties. There will be one of
my drill instructors to each party, ten under officers, and four or
five of the officers whom you will appoint. Six weeks' hard work
should make these eight hundred men fairly acquainted with drill. The
English Sepoys have often gone out to fight, with less. At the end of
the six weeks, let the five hundred men you have called out, in
addition to your bodyguard of three hundred, return to their homes;
and replace them by an equal number of fresh levies, and so proceed
until you have your three thousand fighting men, thoroughly trained.
In nine months, all will have had their six weeks of exercise, and
could take their places in the ranks again, at a day's notice.
"Two hundred of your men I will train in artillery; although I do not
belong to that branch of the service, I learned the duties at Arcot."
The rajah agreed, heartily, to Charlie's proposals; well pleased at
the thought that he should, before the end of a year, be possessed of
a trained force, which would enable him to hold his own against his
powerful neighbours, until an opportunity might occur when, in
alliance with the English, he should be able to turn the tables upon
them, and to aggrandize himself at their expense.
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