Robert Clive to the Archbishop of Canterbury on the recapture of Calcutta from Sirajuddaulah, Spring 1757

TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY:

May it please your Grace,

The countenance your Grace was pleased to shew me when in England, has emboldened me to address a few lines to your Grace, on the subject of the East-India Company.

No doubt your Grace has been acquainted with the capture of the town of Calcutta, and of Fort-William, by the Moors, the principal settlement in the kingdom of Bengal, and of the utmost consequence to the East-India Company. To give your Grace some idea of the richness of the place, the loss of private property only is valued at more than two millions sterling.

When this unfortunate news arrived at Madras, the President and Council applied to Vice-Admiral Watson, for his assistance in recovering the Company's rights, privileges, and possessions, in the province of Bengal; and for the purpose, ordered a large body of landforces to embark under my command; and I have the pleasure to inform your Grace, 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, with several other forts belonging to the enemy; and, last of all, Hughly, the second city in the Bengal Nabob's dominions. This news brought down the Nabob, or Prince of the country, at the head of twenty thousand horse, and thirty thousand foot, twenty-five pieces of cannon, with a great number of elephants. Our little army, consisting of seven hundred Europeans, and twelve hundred blacks, armed and disciplined after the English manner, lay encamped about the distance of five miles from the town of Calcutta. On the 3rd of February the Nabob's army appeared in sight, and past our camp at the distance of a mile and a half, and encamped at the back of the town, about the like distance from Fort-William. Several parties of horse passed within four hundred yards of our advanced battery, but as we entertained great hopes of peace from the Nabob's promises, we did not fire upon them.

On the 4th, agreeably 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 that nothing could be expected by mild measures. This determined us to attack his camp in the night-time; for which purpose I applied to Vice-Admiral Watson for five hundred sailors, to draw our cannon, &c. which he very readily complied with; and, at three o'clock in the morning, our little army, consisting of six hundred Europeans, eight hundred blacks, seven field-pieces, and the sailors above-mentioned, set out for the attack. A little before daylight 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 passing, and what escaped the van was destroyed by the rear. We were obliged to keep up a constant fire of artillery and musketry the whole time. A body of three hundred horse made one gallant charge and were received with so much coolness by the military, that few escaped. Several other brisk charges were made upon our rear, but to no manner of purpose. We returned safe to camp, having killed, by the best accounts, thirteen hundred men, and between five and six hundred horse, with four elephants. The loss, on our side, amounted to two hundred men killed and wounded, including soldiers, sailors, and blacks. This blow had its desired effect; for the next day the army decamped, and the Nabob sent me a letter, offering terms of accommodation.

I have the pleasure of acquainting your Grace, a firm peace is concluded, greatly to the honour and advantage of the Company. The Nabob has entered into an alliance, offensive and defensive, and is returned to his capital of Muxadavad.

From: Sir George Forrest. The Life of Lord Clive. Vol. I. London and New York: Cassell, 1918, 364-365.