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Battle of Plassey

Coordinates: 23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.80°N 88.25°E / 23.80; 88.25
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23°48′N 88°15′E / 23.80°N 88.25°E / 23.80; 88.25

Battle of Plassey
Part of the Seven Years' War

Lord Clive meeting with Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, by Francis Hayman (c. 1762)
Date23 June 1757
Location
Palashi, West Bengal, India
Result Decisive victory for the British East India Company
Territorial
changes		 Bengal annexed by British East India Company
Belligerents
British East India Company Siraj Ud Daulah (Nawab of Bengal)
French East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Colonel Robert Clive
Major Kilpatrick
Major Grant
Major Eyre Coote
Captain Gaupp		 Mohan Lal – Vanguard
Mir Madan – Vanguard
Mir Jafar Ali Khan -Cavalry (defector)
Yar Lutuf Khan (defector)
Rai Durlabh (defector)
Monsieur St. Frais – Artillery
Strength
750 European soldiers
100 Topasses
2,100 Indian sepoys
100 gunners
8 cannon (six 6-pounders and 2 howitzers)		 35,000 infantry
18,000 cavalry
53 field pieces (mostly 32, 24 and 18-pounders)
50 French artillerymen (6 field pieces)
Casualties and losses
22 killed
(5 Europeans, 13 natives)
50 wounded
(15 Europeans and 30 natives)[1]		 500 killed and wounded
A map of the Indian subcontinent depicting the European settlements in India in the period from 1501 to 1739
European settlements in India from 1501-1739

The Battle of Plassey (Bengali: পলাশীর যুদ্ধ, Pôlashir Juddho), 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next 190 years. The battle took place at Palashi, Bengal, on the river banks of the Bhagirathi River, about 150 km north of Calcutta, near Murshidabad, then capital of undivided Bengal. The opponents were Siraj-ud-daulah, the last independent Nawab of Bengal, and the British East India Company.

The battle was preceded by the attack and plunder of Calcutta by Siraj-ud-daulah and the Black Hole tragedy. The British sent reinforcements under Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson from Madras to Bengal and recaptured Calcutta. Clive then seized the initiative to capture the French fort of Chandernagar. Tensions and suspicions between Siraj-ud-daulah and the British culminated in the Battle of Plassey. The battle was waged during the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) and in a mirror of their European rivalry, the French East India Company sent a small contingent to fight against the British. Siraj-ud-Daulah had a numerically superior force and made his stand at Plassey. The British, worried about being outnumbered, formed a conspiracy with Siraj-ud-Daulah's demoted army chief Mir Jafar, along with others such as Yar Lutuf Khan, Jagat Seths (Mahtab Chand and Swarup Chand), Omichund and Rai Durlabh. Mir Jafar, Rai Durlabh and Yar Lutuf Khan thus assembled their troops near the battlefield but made no move to actually join the battle. Siraj-ud-Daulah's army was defeated by roughly 3,000 soldiers of Col. Robert Clive, owing to the flight of Siraj-ud-daulah from the battlefield and the inactivity of the conspirators.

This is judged to be one of the pivotal battles in the control of South Asia by the colonial powers. The British now wielded enormous influence over the Nawab and consequently acquired large amounts of concession for previous losses and revenue from trade. The British further used this revenue to increase their military might and push the other European colonial powers such as the Dutch and the French out of South Asia, thus expanding the British Empire in Asia.

Background

By the early 18th century, the British East India Company had a strong presence in India with the three main stations of Fort St. George in Madras, Fort William in Calcutta and Bombay Castle in western India. These stations were independent presidencies governed by a President and a Council, appointed by the Court of Directors in England. The British adopted a policy of allying themselves with various princes and Nawabs, promising security against usurpers and rebels. The Nawabs often gave them concessions in return for the security. By then, all rivalry had ceased between the British East India Company and the Dutch or Portuguese. The French had also established an East India Company under Louis XIV and had two important stations in India – Chandernagar in Bengal and Pondicherry on the Carnatic coast, both governed by the presidency of Pondicherry. The French were a late comer in India trade, but they quickly established themselves in India and were poised to overtake Britain for control.[2][3]

The Carnatic Wars

The War of the Austrian Succession marked the beginning of the power struggle between Britain and France and of European military ascendancy and political intervention in the Indian subcontinent. In September 1746, Mahé de La Bourdonnais landed off Madras with a naval squadron and laid siege to the port city. The defences of Madras were weak and the garrison sustained a bombardment of three days before surrendering. The terms of the surrender agreed by Bourdonnais provided for the settlement to be ransomed back for a cash payment by the British East India Company. However, this concession was opposed by Joseph François Dupleix, the governor general of the Indian possessions of the Compagnie des Indes. When Bourdonnais left India in October, Dupleix reneged on the agreement. The Nawab of the Carnatic Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan intervened in support of the British and the combined forces advanced to retake Madras, but despite vast superiority in numbers, the army was easily crushed by the French. As retaliation to the loss of Madras, the British under Major Lawrence and Admiral Boscawen laid siege to Pondicherry but were forced to raise it after thirty-one days. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 forced Dupleix to yield Madras back to the British in return for Louisbourg and Cape Breton Island in North America.[2][4]

The Treaty of Aix-La-Chapelle prevented direct hostilities between the two powers but soon they were involved in indirect hostilities as the auxiliaries of the local princes in their feuds. The feud Dupleix chose was for the succession to the positions of the Nizam of the Deccan and the Nawab of the dependent Carnatic province. The British and the French both nominated their candidates for the two posts. In both cases, Dupleix’s candidates usurped both thrones by manipulation and two assassinations. In mid-1751, the French candidate for the Nawab’s post, Chanda Sahib laid siege to the British candidate Mohammed Ali’s last stronghold Trichinopoly, where Ali was holed up with his British reinforcements. He was aided by a French force under Charles, Marquis de Bussy.[5][2]

On 1 September 1751, 280 Europeans and 300 sepoys under the command of Captain Robert Clive attacked and seized Arcot, the capital of the Carnatic, finding that the garrison had fled the night before. It was hoped that this would force Chanda Sahib to divert some of his troops to wrest the city back from the British. Chanda Sahib sent a force of 4,000 Indians under Raza Sahib and 150 Frenchmen. They besieged the fort and breached the walls in various places after several weeks. Clive sent out a message to Morari Rao, a Maratha chieftain who had received a subsidy to assist Mohammed Ali and was encamped in the Mysore hills. Raza Sahib, learning of the imminent Maratha approach, sent a letter to Clive asking him to surrender in return for a large sum of money but this offer was refused. In the morning of 24 November, Raza Sahib tried to mount a final assault on the fort but was foiled in his attempt when his armoured elephants stampeded due to the British musketry. They tried to enter the fort through the breach several times but always repulsed with loss. The siege was raised the next day and Raza Sahib’s forces fled from the scene, abandoning guns, ammunition and stores. With success at Arcot, Conjeeveram and Trichinopoly, the British secured the Carnatic and Mohammed Ali succeeded to the throne of the Nawab in accordance with a treaty with the new French governor Godeheu.[6][7]

Events in Bengal

In 1741, Alivardi Khan ascended to the throne of the Nawab of Bengal after his army attacked and captured the capital of Bengal, Murshidabad. Alivardi’s attitude to the Europeans in Bengal is said to be strict. During his wars with the Marathas, he allowed the strengthening of fortifications by the Europeans and the construction of the Maratha Ditch in Calcutta by the British. On the other hand, he collected large amounts of money from them for the upkeep of his war. He was well-informed of the situation in southern India, where the British and the French had started a proxy war using the local princes and rulers. Alivardi did not wish such a situation to transpire in his province and thus exercised caution in his dealings with the Europeans. However, there was continual friction; the British always complained that they were prevented from the full enjoyment of the farman of 1717 issued by Farrukhsiyar. The British, however, protected subjects of the Nawab, gave passes to native traders to trade custom-free and levied large duties on goods coming to their districts – actions which were detrimental to the Nawab’s revenue.[8]

Portrait of Siraj-ud-daulah from Major J.H. Walsh's Murhsidabad
Siraj-ud-daulah

In April 1756, Alivardi Khan died and was succeeded by his nineteen year old grandson, Siraj-ud-daulah. His personality was said to be a combination of a ferocious temper and a feeble understanding. He was particularly suspicious of the large profits made by the European companies in India. When the British and the French started improving their fortifications in anticipation of another war between them, he immediately ordered them to stop such activities as they had been done without permission.[9] When the British refused to cease their constructions, the Nawab led a detachment of 3,000 men to surround the fort and factory of Cossimbazar and took several British officials as prisoners, before moving to Calcutta.[10] The defences of Calcutta were weak and negligible. The garrison consisted of only 180 soldiers, 50 European volunteers, 60 European militia, 150 Armenian and Portuguese militia, 35 European artillery-men and 40 volunteers from ships and was pitted against the Nawab’s force of nearly 50,000 infantry and cavalry. The city was occupied on 16 June by Siraj’s force and the fort surrendered after a brief siege on 20 June.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

The prisoners who were captured at the siege of Calcutta were transferred by Siraj to the care of the officers of his guard, who confined them to the common dungeon of Fort William known as The Black Hole. This dungeon, 18 by 14 feet (5.5 m × 4.3 m) in size with two small windows, had 146 prisoners thrust into it – originally employed by the British to hold only six prisoners. On 21 June, the doors of the dungeon were opened and only 23 of the 146 walked out, the rest died of asphyxiation, heat exhaustion and delirium.[17] It appears that the Nawab was unaware of the conditions in which his prisoners were held which resulted in the unfortunate deaths of most of the prisoners. Meanwhile, the Nawab’s army and navy were busy plundering the city of Calcutta and the other British factories in the surrounding areas.[18][19][20][21]

When news of the fall of Calcutta broke in Madras on 16 August 1756, the Council immediately sent out an expeditionary force under Colonel Clive and Admiral Watson. A letter from the Council of Fort St. George, states that “the object of the expedition was not merely to re-establish the British settlements in Bengal, but also to obtain ample recognition of the Company’s privileges and reparation for its losses” without the risk of war. It also states that any signs of dissatisfaction and ambition among the Nawab’s subjects must be supported.[22] Clive assumed command of the land forces, consisting of 900 Europeans and 1500 sepoys while Watson commanded a naval squadron. The fleet entered the Hooghly River in December and met with the fugitives of Calcutta and the surrounding areas, including the principal Members of the Council, at the village of Fulta on 15 December. The Members of Council formed a Select Committee of direction. On 29 December, the force dislodged the enemy from the fort of Budge Budge. Clive and Watson then moved against Calcutta on 2 January 1757 and the garrison of 500 men surrendered after offering a scanty resistance.[23] With Calcutta recaptured, the Council was reinstated and a plan of action against the Nawab was prepared. The fortifications of Fort William were strengthened and a defensive position was prepared in the north-east of the city.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

The Bengal campaign

A oil-on-canvas portrait of Robert Clive painted by Nathaniel Dance in 1773. The portrait shows Clive wearing the Order of the Bath with a battle in progress behind him, probably intended to be Plassey
Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive (1773), by Nathaniel Dance

On 9 January 1757, a force of 650 men, under Captain Coote and Major Kilpatrick stormed and sacked the town of Hooghly, 23 miles (37 km) north of Calcutta.[30] On learning of this attack, the Nawab raised his army and marched on Calcutta, arriving with the main body on 3 February and encamping beyond the Maratha Ditch. Siraj set up his headquarters in Omichund’s garden. A small body of their army attacked the northern suburbs of the town but were beaten back by a detachment under Lieutenant Lebeaume placed there, returning with fifty prisoners.[31][32][33][34][35]

Clive decided to launch a surprise attack on the Nawab’s camp on the morning of 4 February. At midnight, a force of 600 sailors, a battalion of 650 Europeans, 100 artillery-men, 800 sepoys and 6 six-pounders approached the Nawab’s camp. At 6:00, under the cover of a thick fog, the vanguard came upon the enemy’s advanced guard, who after firing with their matchlocks and rockets, ran away. They continued forward for some distance till they were opposite Omichund’s garden, when they heard the galloping of cavalry on their right. The cavalry came within 30 yards (27 m) of the British force before the line gave fire, killing many and dispersing the rest. The fog hampered visibility beyond walking distance. Hence the line moved slowly, infantry and artillery firing on either side randomly. Clive had intended to use a narrow raised causeway, south of the garden, to attack the Nawab’s quarters in the garden. The enemy had barricaded the passage. At about 9:00, as the fog began to lift, the troops were overwhelmed by the discharge of two pieces of heavy cannon from across the Maratha Ditch. They were assailed on all sides by cavalry and musket-fire from all sides. The troops then made for a bridge a mile further on, crossed the Maratha Ditch and reached Calcutta. The total casualties of Clive’s force were 57 killed and 137 wounded. The Nawab’s army lost 22 officers of distinction, 600 common men, 4 elephants, 500 horses, some camels and a great number of bullocks. The attack scared the Nawab into concluding the Treaty of Alinagar with the Company on 5 February, agreeing to restore the Company’s factories, allow the fortification of Calcutta and restoring former privileges. The Nawab withdrew his army back to his capital, Murshidabad.[36][37][38][39][40]

Concerned by the approach of de Bussy to Bengal and the Seven Years’ War in Europe, the Company turned its attention to the French threat in Bengal. Clive planned to capture the French town of Chandernagar, 20 miles (32 km) north of Calcutta. Clive needed to know whose side the Nawab would intervene on if he attacked Chandernagar. The Nawab sent evasive replies and Clive construed this to be assent to the attack.[41] Clive commenced hostilities on the town and fort of Chandernagar on 14 March. The French had set up defences on the roads leading to the fort and had sunk several ships in the river channel to prevent passage of the men of war. The garrison consisted of 600 Europeans and 300 sepoys. The French expected assistance from the Nawab’s forces from Hooghly, but the governor of Hooghly, Nandkumar had been bribed to remain inactive and prevent the Nawab’s reinforcement of Chandernagar. The fort was well-defended, but when Admiral Watson’s squadron forced the blockade in the channel on 23 March, a fierce cannonade ensued with aid from two batteries on the shore. The naval squadron suffered greatly due to musket-fire from the fort. At 9:00 on 24 March, a flag of truce was shown by the French and by 15:00, the capitulation concluded. After plundering Chandernagar, Clive decided to ignore his orders to return to Madras and remain in Bengal. He moved his army to the north of the town of Hooghly.[42][43][38] [44][45]

The conspiracy

The Nawab was infuriated on learning of the attack on Chandernagar. His former hatred of the British returned, but he now felt the need to strengthen himself by alliances against the British. The Nawab was plagued by fear of attack from the north by the Afghans under Ahmad Shah Durrani and from the west by the Marathas. Therefore, he could not deploy his entire force against the British for fear of being attacked from the flanks. A deep distrust set in between the British and the Nawab. As a result, Siraj started secret negotiations with Jean Law, chief of the French factory at Cossimbazar, and de Bussy. The Nawab also moved a large division of his army under Rai Durlabh to Plassey, on the island of Cossimbazar 30 miles (48 km) south of Murshidabad.[46][38][47][48]

Popular discontent against the Nawab flourished in his own court. The Seths, the traders of Bengal, were in perpetual fear for their wealth under the reign of Siraj, contrary to the situation under Alivardi’s reign. They had engaged Yar Lutuf Khan to defend them in case they were threatened in any way.[49] William Watts, the Company representative at the court of Siraj, informed Clive about a conspiracy at the court to overthrow the ruler. The conspirators included Mir Jafar, paymaster of the army, Rai Durlabh, Yar Lutuf Khan and Omichund, a Sikh merchant and several officers in the army.[50] When communicated in this regard by Mir Jafar, Clive referred it to the select committee in Calcutta on 1 May. The committee passed a resolution in support of the alliance. A treaty was drawn between the British and Mir Jafar to raise him to the throne of the Nawab in return for support to the British in the field of battle and the bestowal of large sums of money upon them as compensation for the attack on Calcutta. On 2 May, Clive broke up his camp and sent half the troops to Calcutta and the other half to Chandernagar.[51][52][53][54]

Mir Jafar and the Seths desired that the confederacy between the British and himself be kept secret from Omichund, but when he found out about it, he threatened to betray the conspiracy if his share was not increased to three million rupees (£ 300,000). Hearing of this, Clive suggested an expedient to the Committee considering this matter. He suggested that two treaties be drawn – the real one on white paper, containing no reference to Omichund and the other on red paper, containing Omichund’s desired stipulation, to deceive him. The Members of the Committee signed on both treaties, but Admiral Watson signed only the real one and his signature had to be counterfeited on the fictitious one.[55] Both treaties and separate articles for donations to the army, navy squadron and committee were signed by Mir Jafar on 4 June.[56][57][58][59]

The approach march

On 12 June, Clive was joined by Major Kilpatrick with the rest of the army from Calcutta at Chandernagar. The combined force consisted of 613 Europeans, 171 artillery-men controlling eight field pieces and two howitzers, 91 topasses, 2100 sepoys and 150 sailors. The army set out for Murshidabad on 13 June. Clive sent out the Nawab’s messengers with a letter declaring his intention to march his army to Murshidabad to refer their complaints with regard to the treaty of 9 February with the principal officers of the Nawab’s government. The Indian troops marched on shore while the Europeans with the supplies and artillery were towed up the river in 200 boats. On 14 June, Clive sent a declaration of war to Siraj. On 15 June, after ordering an attack on Mir Jafar’s palace in suspicion of his alliance with the British, Siraj obtained a promise from Mir Jafar to not join the British in the field of battle.[60] He then ordered his entire army to move to Plassey, but the troops refused to quit the city until the arrears of their pay were released. The delay caused the army to reach Plassey only by 21 June.[61][62][63][64]

By 16 June, the British force had reached Paltee, 12 miles (19 km) north of which lay the strategically important town and fort of Katwa. It contained large stores of grain and military supplies and was covered by the river Aji. On 17 June, Clive despatched a force of 200 Europeans, 500 sepoys, one field piece and a small howitzer under Major Coote of the 39th Foot to capture the fort. The detachment found the town abandoned when they landed at midnight. At daybreak on 19 June, Major Coote went to the bank of the river and waved a white flag, but was met only by shot and a show of defiance by the governor. Coote split his Anglo-Indian force; the sepoys crossed the river and fired the ramparts while the Europeans crossed farther up from the fort. When the garrison saw the advancing troops, they gave up their posts and fled north. Hearing of the success, Clive and the rest of the army arrived at Katwa by the evening of 19 June.[63][65][66]

At this juncture, Clive faced a dilemma. The Nawab had reconciled with Mir Jafar and had posted him on one flank of his army. Mir Jafar had sent messages to Clive, declaring his intention to uphold the treaty between them. Clive decided to refer the problem to his officers and held a council of war on 21 June. The question Clive put before them was whether, under the present circumstances, the army, without other assistance, should immediately cross into the island of Cossimbazar and attack the Nawab or whether they should fortify their position in Katwa and trust to assistance from the Marathas or other Indian powers. Of the twenty officers attending the council, thirteen including Clive were against immediate action, while the rest including Major Coote were in favour citing recent success and the high spirits of the troops. The council broke up and after an hour of deliberation, Clive gave the army orders to cross the Bhagirathi River on the morning of 22 June.[67][68][69][70][71]

At 1:00, on 23 June, they reached their destination beyond the village of Plassey. They quickly occupied the adjoining mango grove, called Laksha Bagh, which was 800 yards (730 m) long and 300 yards (270 m) wide and enclosed by a ditch and a mud wall. Its length was angled diagonally to the Bhagirathi River. A little to the north of the grove at the bank of the river stood a hunting lodge enclosed by a masonry wall where Clive took up his quarters. The grove was about a mile from the Nawab’s entrenchments. The Nawab’s army had been in place 26 hours before Clive’s. A French detachment under Jean Law would reach Plassey in two days. Their army lay behind earthen entrenchments running at right angles to the river for 200 yards (180 m) and then turning to the north-eastern direction for 3 miles (4.8 km). There was a redoubt mounted by cannon at this turning along the entrenchment. There was a small hill covered by trees 300 yards (270 m) east of the redoubt. 800 yards (730 m) towards the British position was a small tank and 100 yards (91 m) further south was a larger tank, both surrounded by a large mound of earth.[72][73][74][75]

Order of battle

The Anglo-Indian Army (East India Company)
Unit Commander Complement
Commander-in-Chief Col. Robert Clive
1st Division (1st Madras European Regiment) Maj. James Kilpatrick
2nd Division (1st Madras & Bombay European Regiments) Maj. Alexander Grant
3rd Division (HM's 39th Regiment of Foot) Maj. Eyre Coote
4th Division (Bombay European Regiment) Maj. George Frederick Guah (or Guapp)
Sepoys (1st Bengal Native Infantry) 2100
Artillery (9 Battery, 12th Regiment, Royal Artillery) Lt. Hater
Cpt. William Jennings 		150 (100 artillerymen, 50 sailors)
6 field pieces
2 howitzers
The Bengal Army
Unit Commander Complement
Commander-in-Chief Siraj-ud-daulah
Advanced Cavalry Mir Madan
Mohan Lal 		5,000 cavalry
7,000 infantry
Left Wing Mir Jafar
Centre Yar Lutuf Khan
Right Wing Rai Durlabh
Artillery 53 pieces (mostly 32, 24 and 18-pounders)
French Artillery St. Frais 50 French artillerymen
6 field pieces

Battle

A plan depicting the positions and movements of the opposing armies in the Battle of Plassey
A plan of the Battle of Plassey, fought 23 June 1757 by Col. Robert Clive, against the Nawab of Bengal. Depiction of the battlefield, with explanations of troop movements.

At daybreak on 23 June, the Nawab’s army emerged from their camp and started advancing towards the grove. Their army consisted of 35,000 infantry of all sorts, armed with matchlocks, swords, pikes and rockets and 18,000 cavalry, armed with swords or long spears, interspersed by 53 pieces of artillery, mostly 32, 24 and 18-pounders. The army also included a detachment of about 50 French artillerymen under de St. Frais directing their own field pieces. The French took up positions at the larger tank with four light pieces advanced by two larger pieces, within a mile of the grove. Behind them were a body of 5,000 cavalry and 7,000 infantry commanded by the Nawab’s faithful general Mir Madan Khan and Mohan Lal. The rest of the army numbering 45,000 formed an arc from the small hill to a position 800 yards east of the southern angle of the grove, threatening to surround Clive’s relatively smaller army. The right arm of their army was commanded by Rai Durlabh, the centre by Yar Lutuf Khan and the left arm closest to the British by Mir Jafar.[76][77][78]

Clive watched the situation unfolding from the roof of the hunting lodge, anticipating news from Mir Jafar. He ordered his troops to advance from the grove and line up facing the larger tank. His army consisted of 750 European infantry with 100 Topasses, 2100 sepoys and 100 artillery-men assisted by 50 sailors. The artillery consisted of eight 6-pounders and two howitzers. The Europeans and Topasses were placed in the centre of the line in four divisions, flanked on both sides by three 6-pounders. The sepoys were placed on the right and left in equal divisions. Clive posted two 6-pounders and two howitzers behind some brick-kilns 200 yards (180 m) north of the left division of his army to oppose the French fire.[79][80][81]

The battle begins

At 8:00, the French artillery at the larger tank fired the first shot, killing one and wounding another from the grenadier company of the 39th Regiment. This, as a signal, the rest of the Nawab’s artillery started a heavy and continuous fire. The advanced field pieces of the British opposed the French fire, while those with the battalion opposed the rest of the Nawab’s artillery. Their shots did not serve to immobilize the artillery but hit the infantry and cavalry divisions. By 8:30, the British had lost 10 Europeans and 20 sepoys. Leaving the advanced artillery at the brick kilns, Clive ordered the army to retreat back to relative shelter of the grove. The rate of casualties of the British dropped substantially due to the protection of the embankment.[82][83][84]

Death of Mir Madan Khan

At the end of three hours, there was no substantial progress and the positions of both sides had not changed. Mir Jafar had not shown any signs of cooperation with the British. Clive called a meeting of his staff to discuss the way ahead. It was concluded that the present position should be maintained till after nightfall, and an attack on the Nawab’s camp should be attempted at midnight. Soon after the conference, a heavy rainstorm occurred. The British used tarpaulins to protect their ammunition, while the Nawab’s army took no such precautions. As a result, their powder got drenched and their rate of fire slackened, while Clive’s artillery kept up a continuous fire. As the rain began to subside, Mir Madan Khan, assuming that the British guns were rendered ineffective by the rain, led his cavalry to a charge. However, the British countered the charge with heavy grape shot, mortally wounding Mir Madan Khan and driving back his men.[85][86][87][88]

Siraj had remained in his tent throughout the cannonade surrounded by attendants and officers assuring him of victory. When he heard that Mir Madan were mortally wounded, he was deeply disturbed and attempted reconciliation with Mir Jafar, flinging his turban to the ground, entreating him to defend it. Mir Jafar promised his services but immediately sent word of this encounter to Clive, urging him to push forward. The messenger did not reach Clive until after the battle. Following Mir Jafar’s exit from the Nawab’s tent, Rai Durlabh urged Siraj to withdraw his army behind the entrenchment and advised him to return to Murshidabad leaving the battle to his generals. Siraj complied with this advice and ordered the troops under Mohan Lal to retreat behind the entrenchment. He then mounted a camel and accompanied by 2,000 horsemen set out for Murshidabad.[89][90][91][92]

Battlefield manoeuvres

A soldier of the 39th Regiment of Foot stands with his rifle (c. 1742)
Soldier of the 39th Regiment of Foot (c. 1742)

At about 14:00, the Nawab’s army ceased the cannonade and began turning back north to their entrenchments, leaving St. Frais and his artillery without support. Seeing the Nawab’s forces retiring, Major Kilpatrick, who had been left in charge of the British force while Clive was resting in the hunting lodge, recognized the opportunity to cannonade the retiring enemy if St. Frais’ position could be captured. Sending an officer to Clive to explain his actions, he took two companies of the 39th Regiment and two field pieces and advanced towards St. Frais’ position. When Clive received the message, he hurried to the detachment and reprimanded Kilpatrick for his actions without orders and commanded to bring up the rest of the army from the grove. Clive himself then led the army against St. Frais’ position which was taken at 15:00 when the French artillery retreated to the redoubt of the entrenchment, setting up for further action.[93][94][95][92]

As the British force moved towards the larger tank, it was observed that the left arm of the Nawab’s army had lingered behind the rest. When the rear of this division reached a point in a line with the northern point of the grove, it turned left and marched towards the grove. Clive, unaware that it was Mir Jafar’s division, supposed that his baggage and stores were the intended target and sent three platoons under Captain Grant and Lieutenant Rumbold and a field piece under John Johnstone, a volunteer, to check their advance. The fire of the field piece halted the advance of the division, which remained isolated from the rest of the Nawab’s army.[96][97][98]

Meanwhile, the British field pieces began a cannonade on the Nawab’s camp from the mound of the larger tank. As a result, many of the Nawab’s troops and artillery started coming out of the entrenchment. Clive advanced half of his troops and artillery to the smaller tank and the other half to a rising ground 200 yards to the left of it and started bombarding the entrenchment with greater efficiency, throwing the approaching trains into confusion. The Nawab’s troops shot their matchlocks from holes, ditches, hollows and from bushes on the hill east of the redoubt while St. Frais kept up his artillery fire from the redoubt. Cavalry charges were also repulsed by the British field pieces. However, the British force sustained most of its casualties in this phase.[99][100][101]

At this point, Clive realized that the lingering division was Mir Jafar’s and concentrated his efforts at capturing the redoubt and hill east of it. Clive ordered a three-pronged attack with simultaneous attacks by two detachments on the redoubt and the hill supported by the main force in the centre. Two companies of grenadiers of the 39th Regiment, under Major Coote took the hill at 16:30 after the enemy fled without firing a shot. Coote pursued them across the entrenchment. The redoubt was also taken after St. Frais was forced to retreat. By 17:00, the British occupied the entrenchment and the camp left by a dispersing army. The British troops marched on and halted 6 miles (9.7 km) beyond Daudpur at 20:00.[102][103][104]

The British losses were estimated at 22 killed and 50 wounded. Of the killed, three were of the Madras Artillery, one of the Madras Regiment and one of the Bengal European Regiment. Of the wounded, four were of the 39th Regiment, three of the Madras Regiment, four of the Madras Artillery, two of the Bengal European Regiment, one of the Bengal Artillery and one of the Bombay Regiment. Of the losses by the sepoys, four Madras and nine Bengal sepoys were killed while nineteen Madras and eleven Bengal sepoys were wounded. Clive estimates that the Nawab’s force lost 500 men, including several key officers.[105]

Aftermath

In the evening of 23 June, Clive received a letter from Mir Jafar asking for a meeting with him. Clive replied that he would meet Mir Jafar at Daudpur the next morning. When Mir Jafar arrived at the British camp at Daudpur in the morning, Clive embraced him and saluted him as the Nawab of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. He then advised Mir Jafar to hasten to Murshidabad to prevent Siraj’s escape and the plunder of his treasure. Mir Jafar reached Murshidabad with his troops on the evening of 24 June. Clive arrived at Murshidabad on 29 June with a guard of 200 European soldiers and 300 sepoys in the wake of rumours of a possible attempt on his life. Clive was taken to the Nawab’s palace, where he was received by Mir Jafar and his officers. Clive placed Mir Jafar on the throne and acknowledging his position as Nawab, presented him with a plate of gold rupees.[106][107]

Siraj-ud-daulah had reached Murshidabad at midnight on 23 June. He summoned a council where some advised him to surrender to the British, some to continue the war and some to prolong his flight. At 22:00 on 24 June, Siraj disguised himself and escaped northwards on a boat with his favourite women and valuable jewels. His intention was to escape to Patna with aid from Jean Law. At midnight on 24 June, Mir Jafar sent several parties in pursuit of Siraj. On 2 July, Siraj reached Rajmahal and took shelter in a deserted garden but was soon discovered and betrayed to the local military governor, the brother of Mir Jafar, by a man who was previously arrested and punished by Siraj. His fate could not be decided by a council headed by Mir Jafar and was handed over to Mir Jafar’s son, Miran, who had Siraj murdered that night. His remains were paraded on the streets of Murshidabad the next morning and were buried at the tomb of Alivardi Khan.[108][109][110]

According to the treaty drawn between the British and Mir Jafar, the British acquired all the land within the Maratha Ditch and 600 yards (550 m) beyond it and the zamindari of all the land between Calcutta and the sea. Besides confirming the firman of 1717, the treaty also required the restitution, including donations to the navy squadron, army and committee, of 22,000,000 rupees (£ 2,750,000) to the British for their losses. However, since the wealth of Siraj-ud-daulah proved to be far less than expected, a council held with the Seths and Rai Durlabh on 29 June decided that one half of the amount was to be paid immediately – two thirds in coin and one third in jewels and other valuables. As the council ended, it was revealed to Omichand that he would receive nothing with regard to the treaty, hearing which he went insane.[111][112]

A map of the Indian subcontinent showing the British possessions in 1767
A map of the Indian subcontinent showing the British possessions in 1767
A map of the Indian subcontinent showing the British possessions in 1744
A map of the Indian subcontinent showing the British possessions in 1744

Effects

As a result of the battle of Plassey, the French were no longer a significant force in Bengal. In 1759, the British defeated a larger French garrison at Masulipatam, securing the Northern Circars. By 1759, Mir Jafar felt that his position as a subordinate to the British could not be tolerated. He started encouraging the Dutch to advance against the British and eject them from Bengal. In late 1759, the Dutch sent seven large ships and 1400 men from Java to Bengal under the pretext of reinforcing their Bengal settlement of Chinsura even though Britain and Holland were not officially at war. Clive, however, initiated immediate offensive operations by land and sea and defeated the much larger Dutch force on 25 November 1759 in the Battle of Chinsura. The British then deposed Mir Jafar and installed Mir Qasim as the Nawab of Bengal. The British were now the paramount European power in Bengal. When Clive returned to England due to ill-health, he was rewarded with an Irish peerage, as Lord Clive, Baron of Plassey and also obtained a seat in the English House of Commons.[113][114]

In southern India, the Third Carnatic War continued with several naval skirmishes taking place off the Coromandel Coast. Fort St. David was taken by the French on 2 June 1758 by de Lally. In November 1758, the French started siege operations on Madras until they were forced to raise the siege in February 1760 when a squadron under Admiral Pocock arrived to reinforce the British. The struggle continued in areas of the Deccan and Hyderabad such as Arcot, Wandewash, Tanjore and Cuddalore, culminating in 1761 when Col. Eyre Coote defeated a French garrison under de Lally, supported by Hyder Ali at Pondicherry. The French were returned Pondicherry in 1763 by way of the Treaty of Paris but they never again regained their former stature in India. The British would, in effect, emerge as rulers of the subcontinent in subsequent years.[115][116]

Notes

  1. ^ Harrington, pp. 81–82
  2. ^ a b c Harrington, p. 9
  3. ^ Mahon, p. 304
  4. ^ Mahon, pp. 307–311
  5. ^ Mahon, pp. 307–311
  6. ^ Mahon, pp. 317–326
  7. ^ Harrington, pp. 11–16
  8. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. xxx–xxxiii
  9. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. liv
  10. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. lv–lx
  11. ^ Mahon, pp. 328–329
  12. ^ Harrington, pp. 19–23
  13. ^ Malleson, p. 43
  14. ^ Orme, pp. 52–73
  15. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. lxx–lxxx
  16. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. lxxxix
  17. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. c–ci
  18. ^ Orme, pp. 73–78
  19. ^ Malleson, pp. 43–44
  20. ^ Harrington, p. 23
  21. ^ Mahon, pp. 330–332
  22. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxxiii–cxxiv
  23. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxxxi–cxxxii
  24. ^ Mahon, pp. 333–334
  25. ^ Malleson, pp. 45–46
  26. ^ Harrington, p. 23
  27. ^ Orme, pp. 84–89
  28. ^ Orme, pp. 119–128
  29. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. cxxxvi–cxxxviii
  30. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxxxix–cxl
  31. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. cxliv
  32. ^ Orme, pp. 126–128
  33. ^ Harrington, p. 24
  34. ^ Malleson, p. 46
  35. ^ Mahon, p. 334
  36. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxlvi–cxlvii
  37. ^ Mahon, pp. 334–336
  38. ^ a b c Harrington, p. 25
  39. ^ Malleson, pp. 46–47
  40. ^ Orme, pp. 131–136
  41. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. clx–clxiii
  42. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. clxv–clxxi
  43. ^ Orme, pp. 137–144
  44. ^ Mahon, pp. 336–337
  45. ^ Malleson, pp. 47–48
  46. ^ Mahon, p. 337
  47. ^ Orme, p. 145
  48. ^ Malleson, pp. 48–49
  49. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. clxxxi
  50. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. clxxxiii–clxxxiv
  51. ^ Malleson, pp. 49–51
  52. ^ Harrington, pp. 25–29
  53. ^ Mahon, pp. 338–339
  54. ^ Orme, pp. 147–149
  55. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. clxxxvi–clxxxix
  56. ^ Orme, pp. 150–161
  57. ^ Harrington, p. 29
  58. ^ Mahon, pp. 339–341
  59. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxcii–cxciii
  60. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. cxciii
  61. ^ Malleson, pp. 51–52
  62. ^ Orme, pp. 163–169
  63. ^ a b Harrington, p. 52
  64. ^ Mahon, p. 341
  65. ^ Orme, p. 168
  66. ^ Bengal, v.1, p. cxcvi
  67. ^ Malleson, p. 54
  68. ^ Harrington, p. 53
  69. ^ Orme, p. 170
  70. ^ Mahon, pp. 342–343
  71. ^ Bengal, v.1, pp. cxcvii–cxcviii
  72. ^ Orme, pp. 172–173
  73. ^ Harrington, pp. 54–55
  74. ^ Malleson, pp. 57–59
  75. ^ Mahon, p. 343
  76. ^ Orme, p. 173
  77. ^ Malleson, p. 59
  78. ^ Harrington, pp. 56–58
  79. ^ Orme, p. 174
  80. ^ Malleson, p. 60
  81. ^ Harrington, pp. 58–61
  82. ^ Orme, pp. 174–175
  83. ^ Harrington, pp. 61–65
  84. ^ Malleson, pp. 60–61
  85. ^ Orme, p. 175
  86. ^ Malleson, pp. 61–62
  87. ^ Harrington, pp. 66–68
  88. ^ Mahon, pp. 343–344
  89. ^ Orme, pp. 175–177
  90. ^ Harrington, pp. 68–69
  91. ^ Malleson, pp. 62–63
  92. ^ a b Mahon, p. 344
  93. ^ Harrington, p. 70
  94. ^ Malleson, pp. 63–65
  95. ^ Orme, pp. 175–176
  96. ^ Orme, p. 176
  97. ^ Malleson, p. 65
  98. ^ Harrington, p. 75
  99. ^ Harrington, pp. 75–76
  100. ^ Orme, pp. 176–177
  101. ^ Malleson, pp. 66–67
  102. ^ Harrington, p. 77
  103. ^ Malleson, p. 67
  104. ^ Orme, pp. 177–178
  105. ^ Harrington, pp. 81–82
  106. ^ Harrington, pp. 83–84
  107. ^ Orme, pp. 178–181
  108. ^ Harrington, p. 84
  109. ^ Orme, pp. 183–184
  110. ^ Mahon, pp. 346–347
  111. ^ Orme, pp. 180–182
  112. ^ Mahon, pp. 347–348
  113. ^ Mahon, pp. 349–352
  114. ^ Harrington, p. 85
  115. ^ Harrington, pp. 85–88
  116. ^ Mahon, pp. 353–363

References

  • Stanhope, Philip H. (1853). History of England from the Peace of Utrecht to the Peace of Versailles (1836–1853). Vol. IV. Leipzig: Bernhard Tauchnitz. ISBN 1406981524. OCLC 80350373. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  • Orme, Robert (1861). A History of the Military Transactions of the British Nation in Indostan from the year MDCCXLV. Vol. II. Madras: Athenaeum Press. OCLC 46390406. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  • Malleson, George B. (1885). The Decisive Battles of India from 1746 to 1819. London: W.H. Allen. ISBN 0554476207. OCLC 3680884.
  • Harrington, Peter (1994). Plassey 1757: Clive of India's Finest Hour. London: Osprey. ISBN 1855323524.
  • Hill, S.C., ed. (1905). Bengal in 1756–1757. Indian Records. London: John Murray. ISBN 1148925570. OCLC 469357208.

Further reading

  • Chaudhary, Sushil (2000). The Prelude to Empire: Plassey Revolution of 1757. New Delhi: Manohar. ISBN 8173043019. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Datta, K.K. (1971). Siraj-ud-daulah. Calcutta: Sangam Books. ISBN 0861252586. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Gupta, B.K. (1962). Sirajuddaulah and the East India Company. OCLC 1240808. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Hill, S.C. (1903). The Three Frenchmen In Bengal: The Commercial Ruin of the French Settlements in 1757. London. ISBN 1426444753. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Marshall, P.J. (1987). Bengal - the British Bridgehead. Cambridge. ISBN 0521028221. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Spear, Thomas G.P. (1975). Master of Bengal - Clive and His India. London. ISBN 0500250413. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Strang, Herbert (1904). In Clive's Command - A Story of the Fight for India. ISBN 1406917567. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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