Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/177

Book VII. English army, and cut off its communication with Calcutta, when distresses not yet foreseen might ruin it as effectually as the loss of a battle. He therefore advised, that they should either advance and decide the contest immediately, or immediately return to Calcutta." It is very rare that a council of war decides for battle; for as the commander never consults his officers in this authentic form, but when great difficulties are to be surmounted, the general communication increases the sense of risque and danger which every one brings with him to the consultation. Thirteen officers were against, and only seven voted for immediate action. The sanction of this council in no wise alleviated the anxieties of Clive; for, as soon as it broke up, he retired alone into the adjoining grove, where he remained near an hour in deep meditation, which convinced him of the absurdity of stopping where he was; and acting now entirely from himself, he gave orders, on his return to his quarters, that the army should cross the river the next morning.

The sick were lodged in the fort of Cutwah, and at sun-rise, on the 22d, the army began to pass: all were landed on the opposite shore by four in the afternoon, at which time another messenger arrived with a letter from Jaffier, which had likewise been dispatched on the 19th, but had taken bye-roads, and was delayed by other precautions. The purport was, "That the Nabob had halted at Muncara, a village six miles to the south of Cossimbuzar, and intended to entrench and wait the event at that place, where Jaffier proposed that the English shold attack him by surprize, marching round by the inland part of the island. Colonel Clive immediately sent back the messenger with this answer, "That he should march to Plassy without delay, and would the next morning advance six miles farther to the village of Daudpoor; but if Meer Jaffier did not join him there, he would make peace with the Nabob." Accordingly the troops proceeded before sun-set, conforming their march to the progress of the boats, which, as before, were towed against the stream; and having, by unceasing toil, advanced fifteen miles in eight hours, arrived at one in the morning at Plassy. The army immediately took possession of the adjoining