Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/114

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90
OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.

enemy's powder that their fire became feeble; but the English, who had throughout the day answered the enemy's guns with their field-pieces, continued firing without interruption, and with considerable effect. Another disaster befell the Soubahdar's cause in the loss of Moodeem Khan, one of the most able and faithful of his generals, who fell mortally wounded by a cannon-ball. Shortly afterwards the enemy ceased firing, the oxen were yoked to the artillery, and the whole army turned and proceeded slowly towards their camp.

The Frenchmen, who seemed to have behaved with much gallantry, still, however, kept their post, till a party of the British force, under Major Kilpatrick, moved forward to attack them; when Sinfray, seeing himself unsupported, retired, but carried off his guns. The detachment which had dislodged the French party was soon joined by the remainder of the British force; and all the field-pieces having been brought up, a vigorous cannonade was commenced on the enemy's camp. Symptoms of confusion after a time encouraged Clive to attack at once an angle of the camp, and an eminence near it. Both were carried; and a general rout ensued, and the camp, baggage, and artillery of the enemy became prize to their conquerors. The enemy were pursued for about six miles, and it is supposed lost in the action and during the pursuit five or six hundred men. The loss of the English in killed and wounded was about seventy.

When Moodeem Khan was killed, the unhappy sovereign of Bengal sent for Meer Jaffier. Casting his turban at the feet of his servant, he implored him in piteous and almost abject terms to forget the differences which had existed between them, and conjured him, by the respect due to their departed relative, Aliverdi Khan, to defend the throne of his successor. Meer Jaffier promised all that the Soubahdar could wish; but on the approach of the English the latter was advised to retire to Moorshedabad; and his fears strongly supporting the recommendation, Suraja Dowlah fled with the utmost rapidity,