ABSTRACT
When he arrived in England in 1758, Eyre Coote enjoyed a certain celebrity. He was the regular soldier on whose advice Plassey had been fought and won, and in 1758 people in England had much to deplore, little to rejoice over. The fighting had reached something of an impasse. Brereton was too weak to engage the French in a pitched battle and de Soupire saw no reason to tax his energies by attempting anything so arduous. Brereton, however, was ambitious to make his mark and had no desire to remain inactive. The French still held the pagoda in Conjeeveram; he thrust to the south against Wandewash drawing de Soupire in that direction, then doubled back and on 18 April 1759, stormed the pagoda. Coote took some of his troops towards Arcot to mislead de Soupire, while Brereton marched on Wandewash.
