THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1907, Page 14

THE BATTLE OF PLASSEY

THE I3oth ANNIVERSARY, JUNE 23, 1907

“The Bat th* of Plassey was fought on .him* 23rd, 1757, an anniversary after wards remembered when the mutiny of 1857 was at its heights. History his agreed to a<lont this date as the begin ning of the British Empire in the East.” As I read the above in Sir William Hunter's “Brief History of the Indian Peoples,” tin* thought came into my mind that the time was opportune to call at t ent ion to the fart tlr.it this year is the 1511th anuiversary of the famous battle, and in view of the great issues which resulted from the victory, it may be of interest to have the story told over again, illustrated with a, few pictures, some of them taken on Hie site of Hie battle-field, to lend additional interest to the narration. The memorable struggle has been told ir. many volumes, and in what I have

to say. I have been principally indebted to Colonel Alalleson’s volume on ( live in the “Founders of the Indian Empire’ series. Sir John Malcolm’s Lite, and, of cour-e. Macaulay's Essay, which was written as a Review of Sir John MalcolmX Life of Clive. I HF. EVENTS LEADING CP TO THE BATTLE. T<> understand aright the significance ol the Battle of Plassey. it is necessary to go bark to the month of June. 175 G. In that month occurred the terlible tragedy associated with the “Black Hole” prison of the Old Fort William in Calcutta, when 14G prisoners captured at the taking of the Fort were thrown into the. prison, and in the morning only 23 were left to tell the tale. This event is commemorated in Calcutta bv a monument which we owe to the munificence, of Lord Curzon. at whose expense tin* monument was erected. Opinions max Jitter as to the place which Lord Curzon will nil imn i elv hold in the roll of Indian Viceroys; there can bo but one opinion a- to the good work done bv him in rescuing from oblivion tin* deeds of those who have helped to make the British Empire in India. Ho has borne in mind the words of Macaulay that a people t hat doos not keep in momorv the groat deeds of its ancestors is not likely to do anything worthy of being remembered by its descendants. THE FALL OF CALCI ’TTA. In those days nf quick travel, it i« hard to realise that the nows that Calcutta had fallen did not roach Madras till August. The expoditioT to punish

I lie Nnwab was not readv to start till October. dive was selected to lead the expedition, so far -as the land forces was concerned. The naval detachment was under I he command of Admiral Watson, whose achievements in that year of hard lighting are tittinglv referred to in that fascinating volume of Sir William Hunter’s. " rhe Thaekeravs in India." THE I'oitCE. NAVAL AND MILITARY. I'he fleet consisted of four ships of war. live transports, and one fire ship. I’he land forces were made up of 250 men of the 3’Jtli Foot. 570 men of the Madras European Battalion. 80 Artillerymen. and 1200 Sepoys. There were also a few Held pieces and a large quantify of military stores. CALCUTTA RELIEVED. Clive, acting as was his wont with great vigour and energy, proceeded to Calcutta, which fell into his hands on 2nd January, 1757. the Governor Manaekehand in the meantime having tied to the Nnwab at Alurshidabad. In order to consolidate the position of the East India Company. and secure it against risk in the future, it was deemed advisable io seize the French Settlement at (diandernagore. some miles further up the river from Calcutta. The town of Ilughli, 22 miles distant from Calcutta, and the principal store-house of the Nnwab was also seized. THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST SURA-JAH-DO WLAIT. While these events were going on. a conspiracy was being formed to depose Snrajah-flowlah, the Nnwab of Bengal. The principal parties in it were, the Com-mander-in-Chief. Alir Jatlir Khan, a soldier of fortune, who had risen high in the service and favour of the grandfather of flic Nnwab. Aliverdi Khan: Roydullab Khan, the Minister of Finance. who had great influence on Recount of his position and his association with the Seifs. the richest banking firm in India. THE ENGLISH APPEALED TO AS ALLI ES. II is said to have been at the suggestion of Juggut Seit that the English were appealed to as allies- in the revolution against Sura jali-Dowlali. One reason assigned for confiding in the English was the good faith they had always shown in their commercial transactions, and it was expected that they would show the same straight dealing in their political negotiations? In contrast with the straight forwardness which had characterised their commercial dealings must be set the discreditable story of their conduct in deling with Otniciiund. He was a wealthy Hindoo, who had been a great sufferer by the capture of Calcutta. He had. on that and other occasions, been very useful to the English, and though known to bo one of the most grasping of men. his reputatation for good sense and the advantages which would accrue from this faithful ness on this occasion led to liis being employed in the combination formed to dethrone the Nnwab. At the last minute, when everything was practically ready. Omiclnind demanded as his price and share of the expected booty, for services rendered and as compensation for his losses, the large sum of £300.000. Clive at once met the demand by drawing tip two copies of the treaty arranged between Mir Jatlir and the English. Ono of the copies contained a clause, promising to pav the amount demanded: the other, which was the leal treaty, omitted the name of Omichhund altogether. Admiral Watson, io his credit bo it told, declined to sign the duplicate treaty, and Clive got over the difficulty by forging the Admiral's signature, a proceeding which has loft a stain on his character.

CLIVE’S LEITER TO THE NUWAB. Matters having thus been arranged, in the early days of June Clive wrote a letter t<> the Nnwab, in which he accus cm! him of having asked the French to assist him; of maintaining at that time

within a hundred miles of his capital a body of French troops under XT. Law, and having in \arious ways insulted English honour. Clive also stated that in face of al 11 this the English had displayed exemplary patience but, seeing no remedy, they weie marching on Murshidabad to refer their grievances to the decision of the principal officers of his government. Mir Jallir Khan. Roy Dullub Khan and others. Clive concluded by telling him that “the rains being so near and it requiring many days to receive an answer, he found it necessary to wait upon him immedia (elv.”

Colonel Malleson. in his life of Clive, referring to this letter, says that “a more specious letter was probably never pen ned. Certainly a more insulting defiance from a settler in a foreign country to one who wa< in everything but name the sovereign prince of that country was never despatched. It was intended to work upon the nerves of a weak minded man and to paralyse his action.” THE NTWAB ASSEMBLES HIS FOR ( ES AT PLASSEY. 'l’he answer to the letter was the gathering together of the Nuwab’s forces at Plassey. They set out for that place on the 19th June, the English at the same time being at Kutwa, about 15 miles down the river. (Jive was in a great di lemma, as he had not heard from Mir Jail'll Khan, and, while undecided. Clive wrote to him that if he failed him he (Clive) would inarch on Murshidabad and make terms with the Nnwab. So great was Hie strain on Clive’s mind that he felt it necessary to call a council of bis officers. After laying the situation before them, a majority, including (’live, decided against fighting. On further consideration. however, ( live reversed his decision, and gave orders for the river to be cross cd. Plassey was readied on the morning of the 23rd June. THE CONTENDING FORCES. Clive. who> force had been increased

since his arrival in the llooghly some months before, had with him 950 European infantry, LOO European artillerymen, 50 English sailors, a small detail of Indian Lascars and 2100 Sepoys. He had also eight six-pounders and two small howitzers. 'l’he Nnwab bad with him 35,000 infantry, 15,000 cavalry and some 40 to 50 Frenchmen who, though small in num bers, were animated with a great desire to revenge the taking by Hie British of the French settlement at Chandernagore. The Nnwab bad also 53 pieces of artillery, mostly 32, 24 and IS pounders. From the above* figures of Hie Nuwab’s forces, there should, of course, be deducted Hie men under Hie command of the three traitor generals amounting to 38.000 men.

THE ENEMY’S POSITION. 'l’he intrenched works of ti e enemy rested on the river BDagirathi, extending inland for about 200 yards, then sweeping round to the right for about three miles at an obtuse angle. At this angle was a redoubt mounted with cannon. Three hundred yards east of this and in front of the line of intrenchments was a hillock covered with jungle and about 800 yards to the south was a tank, and 100 yards nearer still to Hr? British a larger tank. Both of them were surrounded by large mounds of earth at some distance from their margins. <■ < | THE POSITION AT DAYBREAK ON 23rd JUNE. 1757. The French took post, with four field pieces at the larger tank, nearest the English position, and about half a mile from it. Between them and the river, and in a line with them were place!

two heavy guns under a native officer: behind this again and supporting them were Hie Nuwab’s best troops. 5000 horse and 7000 foot, commanded by the one faithful general. Mif .Muddin Khan. Behind him the rest of the army formed a curve in the direction of the Village of Plassey, the right resting on the hillock just referred to and the left on a point covering the S.E. corner of the grove of mango trees, which have, long since