send troops, at a time when they could be so little spared,
to assist a chief, who, even from his own accounts, was only able to
raise three thousand irregular followers, Clive thought otherwise. He
saw the great value of the Northern Sirkars, whose possession would
complete the line of British territory, along the seacoast, from
Calcutta down to Madras. He saw, too, that a movement here would
effect a diversion, in favour of Madras. The situation there appeared
very serious, and he could spare no troops which would suffice to turn
the scale. But even should Madras be lost, the gain of the Northern
Sirkars would almost compensate for the disaster.

Having gained the council to his views, he sent Lieutenant Colonel
Forde, who commanded the Company's troops in Bengal, with five hundred
Europeans, two thousand natives, and six six-pounders, by sea to
Vizagapatam, a port which Anandraz had seized. These landed on the
20th of October, 1758.

Had Conflans been an efficient officer, he could have crushed Anandraz
long before the arrival of the English. He had, under his orders, a
force composed of five hundred European troops, men trained by Bussy,
and accustomed to victory; four thousand native troops, and a brigade
of artillery. Instead of marching at once to crush the rebellion, he
sent messenger after messenger to Lally, begging for assistance. It
was only when he heard, from Lally, that he had directed Moracin, with
three hundred European troops, to support him, that he moved against
Anandraz.

His opportunity had, however, slipped from his hands. He had thrown
away six weeks; and when, upon the march, the news reached him of the
landing of the English, he took up the very strong position within
sight of the fort Peddapur, and intrenched himself there.

Clive had sent to Madras the news that he was despatching Colonel
Forde to the Sirkars, and begged that any body of troops who might be
available might be forwarded. Charlie's corps had already been
recalled towards Madras, to keep the bodies of French who were
converging in that direction at a distance, as long as possible, so as
to allow the victualling of Madras to go on uninterrupted. Mr. Pigot
now instructed Charlie to hand over the command of that force to
Peters; and, with fifty men, to make his way north and to effect a
junction with Forde, who was entirely deficient in cavalry.

Avoiding the French force, Charlie reached Vizagapatam upon the 2nd of
December,