some miles; but was unable to effect any serious damage on so
strong a body. The English captured thirty-two pieces of cannon, and
all the stores, ammunition, and tents of the French.

Forde at once despatched a battalion of Sepoys, under Captain Knox, in
pursuit; and this officer pressed on so vigorously that he approached
Rajahmahendri the same evening. Two more native battalions reached
Knox during the night.

So thoroughly dispirited were the enemy, that the sight of the
red-coated Sepoys of Knox, whom they could not distinguish from
English, induced them to abandon Rajahmahendri in all haste, although
it contained a strong mud fort, with several guns. The Godavery is two
miles wide, and all night the passage of the river in boats continued;
and when, at daybreak next morning, Knox broke into the town, he found
fifteen Europeans still on the banks, expecting a returning boat.
These he captured; and seeing, upon the opposite bank, a party about
to disembark guns and stores from another boat, he opened fire from
the guns of the fort towards it; and, although the shot could scarcely
reach halfway across the river, such was the terror of the enemy that
they forsook the boat, and fled. Knox at once sent a boat across, and
brought back that containing the guns.

The French retreated to Masulipatam, the capital of the province, a
port which rivalled Madras in its commerce. Forde determined to follow
them there, but he was hindered by want of money to pay his troops.
This the Rajah Anandraz, who had promised to supply money, now,
excited and arrogant by the victory which he had done nothing towards
gaining, refused to supply; and many weeks were spent in negotiations,
before Forde was able to move forward.

Charlie was no longer with him. The very day before the fight of
Condore, letters had arrived from Madras, stating the urgency of the
position there; and, upon the night after the battle, Colonel Forde
ordered Charlie to return to aid in the defence of that city, before
which the French had appeared on the 29th of November.

Several skirmishes took place outside the city, and the English then
retired within the fort. The force consisted of sixteen hundred white
troops, and two thousand three hundred Sepoys. The nabob, who had also
retired into the town, had two hundred horse and a huge retinue of
attendants.

On the morning of the 14th the French occupied the town, and the next
day the English made a sortie, with