Page:Gódávari.djvu/255

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The spot which tradition identifies as the scene of the battle which followed is locally known as Angleyulapádu, 'the place of the English,' and is at present covered by a small tope of babul trees. It is a little to the east and north of a small pool which lies about equidistant from Chandurti and Vannipúdi, is due east of the latter, and about one and a half miles north-north-east of Tátiparti. 1[1]

Orme gives the following account of the battle which ensued: —

'The French Battalion of Europeans was in the centre of the line, with 13 field-pieces, divided on their flanks, the horse, 500, were on the left of the battalion; 3,000 sepoys formed the right wing, and the same number the left, and with each wing were five or six pieces of cumbrous cannon. The English army drew up with their Europeans in the centre, the six field-pieces divided on their flanks; the 1,800 sepoys were likewise equally divided on the wings. Colonel Forde placed no reliance on the Rajah's infantry or horse, and ordered them to form aloof, and extend on each flank of the sepoys: all this rabble kept behind, but the renegade Europeans under Bristol, who managed the four field-pieces belonging to the Rajah, advanced, and formed with the division of artillery" on the left of the English battalion. The line having had time, were in exact order, and had advanced a mile in front of the village of Condore [Chandurti], during which, the enemy cannonaded hotly from all their guns. At length the impetuosity of the enemy's approach, who came on, out-marching their cannon, obliged the English line to halt for action; and it chanced that the whole of their battalion stopped near and opposite to a field of Indian corn, which was grown so tall that it entirely intercepted them from the enemy; but the sepoys on the wings were free in the plain on each hand. For what reason is not known, Colonel Forde had ordered his sepoys to furl their colours, which, besides the principal flag, are several small banners to a company, and to let them lay on the ground during the action.

The sepoys and horse of the enemy's wings greatly outstretched the wings of the English line, and came on each in a curve to gain their flanks; the French battalion in the centre, instead of advancing parallel to where by the wings they might judge the centre of the English line would be, inclined obliquely to the right, which brought them beyond the field of Indian corn, opposite to the English sepoys on the left wing; whom from their red jackets,2[2] and the want of their usual banners, they from the first approach mistook for the English battalion; respecting them as such, they halted to dress their ranks

  1. 1 Mr. B. McCormack, Engineer of the Pithápuram estate, has kindly given much assistance in locating the site.
  2. 2 They were from Bengal and wore red; the Madras sepoys' tunics were usually white.