STREETS AND HOUSES
whom about twenty or thirty formed a troop of horse, and about as many more an independent company of foot, who were available for any service."
At the battle of Bedarrah, near Chandernagore, when the English gained a decisive victory over the Dutch troops, while fifteen hundred of the nawab's cavalry looked on, but took no part in the engagement, "the troop of horse were very useful in pursuing the enemy."
Again, in 1763, when the English marched to Murshedabad, to depose Kossim All, the nawab of their own creating, the Militia were once more called out, and a company of Volunteers formed, "which company subsequently left Calcutta in charge of a fleet of store-boats, and continued to perform that duty till the close of the operations."
With the passing away of the days of struggle and stress, went the need for the Militia. The last body raised became the "Alipore Regiment" of Native Infantry, and was incorporated with the regular army. When, in the troubles of 1857, Volunteer troops once more paraded for service, they had the wide maidan for their parade-ground, and it is difficult now to realize what Calcutta must have been when that grassy plain was a jungle-grown
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