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NOVEMBER, 1899.]
THE LOSS OF CALCUTTA IN 1756.
299
those two Houses, or from the windows and top of them so flank and scour yo gaut with small Arms that it would be morrally impossible for a boat to lay at ye Gaut, or any were else before the fort. Either of these Circumstances would have effectually made a retreat impossible. This Opinion was strenuously maintain'd by Mr. Holwell in particular; and as a Retreat had been already determined, to defer it till next night cou'd have been attended with no Advantages. On the Contrary, had it been put in execution then, According to Mr. Holwells and several others Opinions, the Companys whole treasures and ye Lives of more than 150 Europeans would have been saved; but it so happen'd that we dally'd away the time till almost Day light, and nothing soled or positive determined. It was proposed to send Onychaund to treat with yo Nabob, but he absolutely refused to go, and our Persian Writer with the rest of Blacks left us, which disabled us from writing to him. In this state of Confusion, uncertainty and Suspence did we remain till the Approach of Day.
The 19th, in ye morning finding that the Enerny had neglected to take Possession of the Companys house, Ensign Piocard, who had been ordered in the nigut back from Perrins, Offered himself voluntary on that service with 20 Men, which was permitted. The day produced no regularity. The same Complaints of want of Provision, rest and refreshments was heard from all quarters, and little done to remedy it. The Enemy advanced a pace and their fire increased from all Quarters, having in ye night lodg'd them selves in all the adjacent Houses. Lieutenant Bisshop, who commanded in Mr. Eyres house desired leave to retire about 9 o Clock, the fire from Onychounds House and the other houses round him being so thick that it was impossible to stand it. He was ordered to maintain it till evening, but repeating the necessity of leaving his men killed, he was permitted to retire. Captn Clayton who commanded in yo Church was allowed to withdraw on ye same Account.
He had some heavy Pieces of Cannon, besides small Arms. From ye Houses to the E. and N. E. of them they play'd constantly from behind the Battery A and Playhouse Compound which did a great deal of Execution amongst his Men. About this time,. Ensign Piccard was brought in Wounded from ye Company's house, and the Enemy had filled ye Compound of it, tho our Men kept possession of it above Stairs. The Detachment in Mr. Cruttendings house was soon after withdrawn. Our Bastions were in a very improper state to be maintained against such a close fire of small arms, as was now likely to Command them from so many adjacent houses ; all of them the strongest Pecca Work, and all most proof against our Mettal on ye Bastions. And the Parrapets were not 4 foot high and only 8 in thickness, fand] the Embrasures so wide that they afforded but little shelter to our Men at ye Guns. These defects might in some measure be supply'd by Cotten Bales and Sand Bags, which we had prepared for that Purpose, bad we not been in want of all kind of Labourers to bring them on ye Ramparts; and both Military and Militia were so harrased that it was impossible to make them stand to their Arms, far less to carry Bales. This was our Situation twixt 10 and 11 'o' Clock.
About this time the Govenour made his retreat on board the Ships. As his Conduct in this Respect, as well as that of those that followed him, will most likely be a good deal Canvais'd, and the affair be represented according to the prejudice and Interest of different Persons, and I myself amongst the rest of those who thought it justifiable to follow the Gove. nour in sueh a general state of Confusion, when nothing further was to be done, I must bey leave to represent the Affair in as particular a manner as I can recollect about the above hours. We recey'd an Alarm on the S. Est Bastion that the Enemy were forcing their way through the Barrier that leads to the Company's House. I run down to learn the truth of it and to see the Situation of the Guard placed there. I found the report to be false and the enemy not then advanced from the Companys Compound. On my return back to the Gate I perceived the Gouvenour standing on the top of the Stairs at the Wharf, and stept up to him to know if he had any Commands. He was then beckoning to his Servant that stood in a ponky above the Gaut. At the same time numbers of Budgerows and Boats had been setting of below and
