So at last the siege was broken up, and the army fell back upon Pondicherry.
"Meanwhile Cope's detachment of a hundred men, with six thousand native horsemen, escorted Muhammud Ali to join Nazir Jung at Valdaur, fifteen miles from Pondicherry.

Lawrence was busy at work at Fort Saint David, organizing a force to go to his aid.

Dupleix saw that it was necessary to aid his allies energetically.

The army, on its return from the siege of Tanjore, was reorganized; the French contingent increased to two thousand men; and a supply of money furnished, from his private means.
"The army set out to attack Nazir Jung and his ally at Valdaur.

When the battle began, however, the French contingent mutinied and refused to fight; and the natives, panic stricken by the desertion of their allies, fell back on Pondicherry.