(HAP. X • ADVA^X'E UPON CALCUTTA. 553
tilarm had rushed into tlie hollow, to regain their guns and open a fire, under a.d. ivse. which that of the enemy soon slackened. Fortunately for Clive, Monichund was a coward, and on receiving a hall through the turban was so frightened that he thought only of flight. According to Orme, " had the cavalry advanced and charged the troops in tlie hollow at the same time that the infantry began to fire upon the village, it is not improbable that the war would have been concluded on the very first trial of hostilities."' This is questioned by Sir John Malcolm, who says that, owing to the thick jungle, cavalry "had no means of advancing, except through openings where they must have been seen, and the possibility of surprise defeated." Sir John, from his profession, must be ad- mitted to be the more competent authority of the two; but, in liis zeal to defend the honour of his hero, forgets the time and manner of the surprise. If, as he admits, there were openings through which cavalry might have penetrated, how could they have been seen in the dark, and by men who were fast asleep? A gross mistake was undoubtedly committed ; and though Clive did all that could be done to repair it, it cannot be denied that his .success on this occasion was due far less to conduct than to good fortune.
Immediately on Monichund's retreat the whole of the troops were marched BudgeBudge
taken.
to the village adjoining their fort, and there found the Kent, which had outsailed the other vessels, anchored in front of it. The assault was deferred till next day, and to assist in it 250 sailors were landed. One of these, who had got drunk, straggled up to the ditch, crossed it, scrambled over the rampart, and seeing no sentinels, hallooed to the advanced guard that he had taken the fort. It was indeed evacuated by the enemy, who had only waited till it was dark enough to conceal their retreat.
The impression produced by the affair at Budge Budge was somewhat Results of
the captun .
singular. The British, astonished at the resolution displayed in venturing to attack them, began to think that they had underrated the Bengal troops, and even Olive was dispirited. In the letter to Mr. Pigott, already referred to, he says, " You will find by the return that our loss in the skirmi.sh near Budge Budge was greater than could well be spared. If such .skirmishes were to be often repeated," he afterward adds, " I cannot take upon me to give my senti- ments about our future success against the nabob in the open field ; the little afi'air above mentioned was attended with every disadvantage on our side. . . . . Indeed, I fear we shall labour under many of these disadvantages when attacked by the nabob; and I take it for granted he will be down before the Cumberland and Marlborough can aiTive." On the other hand, Monichund, who had formed rather a contemptible opinion of the British, from the facility with which Calcutta had been taken, now magnified their prowess in order to palliate his own defeat; and no sooner reached Calcutta than lie quitted it, leaving only 500 men in the fort, and proceeded northward to com-
' Omie's Militarii Transactions, vol. ii. page 124. Vol. I. • . F b ^^
