626
IIISTOIIY OF INDIA.
[Book III.
A.D. 17C0.
.-Vproach of the two armies.
Coote out- maiiiEuvres Lallv.
the openings of the streets leading to tlie fort, and commenced a battery which, erected near the same spot wliich Coote had selected, was intended to fire upon the same angle which he succeeded in breaching. He waa shortly after joined by Bussy from Trivatore with the main body. Coote, though suffering from want of provisions, kept his position, watching his opportunity, which he knew must arrive, when the enemy prepared to as.sault, a.s he would then have an option of attacking the besiegers, or the division encamped in the plain to cover them. Bussy, thus confirmed in the view he had taken of Coote's probable tactics, reiterated the advice to keep the whole army together by desisting from the siege till a better opportunity ; but Laily, who had formerly rejected the advice, was now less inclined than ever to listen to it.
Coote, on learning that the battery had opened its fire, and breached the main rampart, quitted his encampment at Outramaloor, and advanced to Tirim- bourg, within seven miles of Wandiwash. In the vicinity of the latter a moun- tain of same name stretches above a league from north-east to south-west. Tiie French army was encamped opposite to the eastern end of this mountain, aVjout two miles from the fort. On the 22d of January Coote hastened forward at the head of two troops of European and 1000 native cavalry, together with two companies of sepoys. He was first descried by the Mahrattas, who were lying with their plunder along the north-east foot of the mountain ; and some skir- mishing took place between the cavalry. It was on the whole to his advantage, for he took possession of the ground which the enemy quitted, and saw the whole plain clear up to their camp. Shortly after, observing, about lialf a mile to the right, some gardens and other inclosures which might be used for .shelter on necessity, while the ground beyond was well adapted for the display and action of the whole army, he ordered the division he had brought with him to form upon it, and went back to the line of infantry, to whom he announced his intention to lead them on to a general encracrement. Tlie announcement was received with acclamations by the whole troops ; and he led them on in battle array to the ground which the cavalry were already occupjTng. Here they stood in full view of the French camp, without perceiving any motion in it, or even hearing the sound of firing against the fort.
The day began to wear, and Coote proceeded with his army, stiU drawn up, towards the south side of the mountain, till he reached a tract of ground at its foot so covered with stones and fragments of rocks, that cavalry, in which the enemy's main superiority consisted, could not act upon it. Here he halted opposite to the French camp, at the distance of about a mile and a half, expect- ing that the defiance which he thus threw out would be accepted. After some time, perceiving that the enemy still remained quiet, he again moved, intending to skirt the mountain till he should arrive opposite to the fort, and then turn so as to have it on the right. The effect of this movement would have been to give him one of the strongest possible positions. While the tract of mountain
