on his march to take up a position between that place and Chandernagore. They had posted themselves, with four pieces of cannon, amid the buildings of the last-named place; from which cover they were soon dislodged, when they fled to Chiusura, abandoning their cannon, and pursued with some heavy loss to the very barriers of the town.
The following day decided the question of success. Colonel Forde having been apprised of the approach of the troops landed from the Dutch ships, and of their having been joined by part of the garrison of Chiusura, marched with two field-pieces, and met them on a plain, where an action ensued. The force of the Dutch consisted of eight hundred Europeans, and seven hundred Malays, besides some troops of the country, all commanded by Colonel Roussel, a Frenchman. The European force of the English fell considerably short of four hundred; and they had, in addition, about eight hundred Sepoys. The action has been justly described as "short, bloody, and decisive."[1] Its duration was less than half an hour, and the Dutch were entirely routed, leaving dead upon the field about a hundred and twenty Europeans and two hundred Malays, with about a hundred and fifty wounded. Three hundred Europeans, including Colonel Roussel and fourteen officers, and two hundred Malays, were made prisoners. The loss of the English was inconsiderable.[2]
The result of these operations was that the Dutch humbly sued for peace, which was granted on condition that they should never meditate war, introduce or enlist troops, or raise fortifications without permission; that
- ↑ Clive's Narrative.
- ↑ On the approach of the Dutch force, says Sir John Malcolm, Colonel Forde, desirous of being armed with adequate authority for treating as enemies a people with whom the English were ostensibly at peace, wrote a note to Clive, saying that, if he had the order of Council, he could attack the Dutch with a fair prospect of destroying them. Clive was playing at cards when he received the communication; and, without quitting the table, he wrote the following answer with a pencil: – "Dear Forde, – Fight them immediately; I will send you the order of Council to-morrow."
