French force into Srirangam, he had, after taking Waikonda, cantoned his army at Koiládí, fifteen miles to the east of Trichinopoli, commanding the approaches from the coast to the island. But Dupleix was not the man to give in whilst a chance remained. Never was he more formidable than when he had been apparently crushed. Never, I may add, did he show himself greater than on this occasion. According to all rule he was crushed. His best army had been defeated, his best general taken prisoner, the disheartened remnant of his soldiers were crouching in Srirangam—place of fatal omen—and Lawrence, with his victorious army, seemed to bar the way from Pondichery. But Dupleix did not give up the game. He had recently received from France reinforcements sufficient to enable him to dispose of 300 Europeans. Joining to these 1200 sipáhis, he despatched them under the orders of a new commander, De Mainville[1], with definite instructions. Those were to join as secretly as possible the force in Srirangam, to lull the English into security; then, suddenly emerging from the island, to carry Trichinopoli by a coup de main.
The report that the English force was suffering greatly from sickness at Koiládí had reached Dupleix. It was very true. In a few days Lawrence had lost six officers and many men. He had dismissed to
- ↑ Lawrence, and after him Orme, state that Maissin commanded: but the French records show that it was Mainville, and that the command was not given to Maissin until after the arrival of Godeheu to relieve Dupleix.
