hen, on 7th August 1778, the British Government at Calcutta
received official confirmation that war with France had
been declared in Europe, Warren Hastings was already prepared
for action. The French settlements, including the ports
of Pondicherry and Mahe were his target,
and Sir Hector Munro, with a large force, was dispatched
to attack Pondicherry. In fact, a more significant opening
battle - as in the recent American War of 1776 - was for
control of the seas, and although the action was indecisive,
it resulted in the withdrawal of the French squadron and
reduced the defences of Pondicherry, Nevertheless, the siege
lasted over 10 weeks, and claimed the lives of 800 men before
Munro finally entered the city. Other French settlements
offered less resistance, but when Haidar was informed that
the British next intended to attack Mahe, he protested vigorously.
After the fall of Pondicherry, Mahe was his critical gateway
for the procurement of French military aid, and he dispatched
troops to defend it, his colours flying beside those of
the French until Mahe surrendered to the British in March
1779. Haidar also claimed that all the European settlements
on the Malabar coast were under his protection, and that
if the British attacked Mahe, he would attack Arcot and
Mohammed Ali, sometime ally of
the British.
'The government of Madras at this period was lulled into the most
fatal and supine security and affected to treat reports of Haidar
Ali's hostile intentions as without foundation,' observed the Scotsman,
the Hon. James Lindsay, who was serving
there with his brother, John. The arrival of reinforcements in January
1780 may have contributed to this momentary sense of security. Certainly
the disembarkation of the 1st Battalion 73 Highlanders at Madras
had attracted much curious interest. The men arrived in their kilts,
but were soon required to exchange them for the 'East India Uniform'
of a short single-breasted coat and white gaiter trousers which
were considered more suitable for fighting men in India.
Fearing the establishment of a quadruple alliance between the Mahrattas,
the Nizam, the French and Tipu, the Madras
Government decided to send missions to Seringapatam in July 1779
and again in Spring 1780, to placate Haidar. He declined even to
meet the second envoy, proclaiming that he had abandoned all faith
in the British. While Madras took no action, Haidar quickly and
purposefully prepared for war. In June 1779, the mightiest army
ever seen in South India - some 90,000 native troops - marched out
of Bangalore: 15,000 infantry, highly trained in the European fashion;
12,000 regular infantry; a total force of 55,000 foot; 28,000 horse,
rocket men and a corps of some 400 French soldiers. All these were
supported by a well-organised commissariat. In addition, Haidar's
scorched earth campaign had left Madras and Vellore isolated in
a desolate and devastated countryside.
Against this formidable foe, the British forces were not even united
to meet the initial attack. Less than 5,000 men remained at Madras
itself. 1,500 men were with Col. Braithwaite at Pondicherry - where
Haidar was poised to attack with any attempt to move North. 2,000
sepoys were with Col. Cosby at Trichinoploy - but Haidar's son,
Kurreem Sahib, was based to the North of them at Porto Novo, and
on the route to Madras. The remaining force of 2,800 men, under
Col. Baillie, were at Guntoor on the River
Kistna. It was they who were fated to meet Tipu's force of some
10,000 men at the field of Pollilur.
