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French Indian Wars History & Genealogy
Battle at Calcutta
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Clive to the Lord Chancellor
Calcutta, 23 February 1757
I have the pleasure to inform your Lordship this expedition by sea and land has been crowned with all the success that could be wished. The town of Calcutta and Fort William were soon retaken. This news brought down the Nabob himself at the head of 20,000 horse and 30,000 foot, 25 pieces of cannon with a great number of elephants. Agreeable to the Nabob's desire, I dispatched two gentlemen to wait upon him in hopes everything might be settled without drawing the sword, but the haughtiness and disrespect with which he treated them, convinced me nothing could be expected by mild measures. This determined me to attack his camp in the night time, for which purpose I apply'd to vice-admiral Watson for 500 sailors to draw our cannon, and at three in the morning (Feb. 4) our little army, consisting of 600 Europeans, 800 Blacks, seven field pieces and the sailors set out for the attack. A little before daybreak we entered the camp and received a very brisk fire. This did not stop the progress of our troops who marched through the enemy's camp upwards of four miles in length. We were more than two hours in passing, and what escaped the Van was destroyed by the Rear. We returned safe to our camp, having killed, by the best accounts, 1300 men. The loss on our side amounted to 200 men killed and wounded.
This blow had its effect; for the next day the army decamped, and the Nabob sent me a letter offering terms of accommodation; a firm peace is concluded greatly to the honour and advantage of the Company, and the Nabob has entered into an alliance and is returned to his Capital of Muxadavad....
Source: Yorke's Hardwicke Papers, II:385.
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