Battle of Chinsurah
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Chinsurah (also known as the Battle of Biderra) took place near Chinsurah, India
on 25 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War
between a force of British troops mainly of the British East India Company
and a force of the Dutch East India Company
which had been invited by the Nawab of Bengal
Mir Jafar
to help him eject the British and establish themselves as the leading commercial company in Bengal
. Despite Britain
and the Dutch Republic
not formally being at war the Dutch advanced up the Hooghly River and were met at Chinsurah, just outside Calcutta, by a mixed force of British and local troops. The British under Colonel Francis Forde
defeated the Dutch, forcing them to withdraw. The ships used by the Dutch to deliver the troops were engaged and defeated in a separate naval battle on 24 November.
, the Nawab of Bengal
, opened secret negotiations with representatives of the Dutch East India Company
to bring troops into Dutch holdings in the area with the goal of using them against the British. Britain and the Dutch Republic
were at peace, although tensions were high due to the Seven Years' War
, and British East India Company
administrator Robert Clive was preoccupied with fighting the French. The Dutch directors of the outpost at Chinsurah, not far from Chandernagore, seeing an opportunity to expand their influence, agreed to send additional troops to Chinsurah. A fleet of seven ships, containing 1500 European and Malay troops, was sent from Batavia and arrived at the mouth of the Hooghly River in October 1759, while the nawab was meeting with Clive in Calcutta.
The nawab had been forced to ask the British for assistance against threats on his northern border in the interim, and told Clive that he would return to Hooghly, summon the Dutch directors and demand the departure of their ships. After meeting with the Dutch, he informed Clive that he had granted the Dutch some privileges, and that they would leave as soon as circumstances permitted. This news, combined with reports that the Dutch were recruiting in and around Chinsurah, led Clive to treat the situation as a real military threat.
, who was patrolling the coast. This ship was captured by the Dutch when they seized several smaller British vessels on the Hooghly River. He called out the militia and put out calls for volunteers, increased the fortifications on the river batteries, and sent Colonel Francis Forde
with five hundred men toward Chandernagore with an eye toward capturing the Dutch outpost at Barnagore and intercepting the Dutch should they try to take Chandernagore.
The Dutch landed their troops on the northern shore of the Hooghly on November 21, just beyond the range of the English river batteries, and marched for Chinsurah.
, while the Hardwicke and the Calcutta chased off two ships and grounded a third before the remaining ships also struck their colours. (The two fleeing ships were eventually captured by other British ships arriving at the mouth of the river.)
With reports from prisoners that the Dutch reinforcements would be arriving the next day, Forde rushed a message to Clive in Calcutta requesting advice, as attacking the Dutch force could be viewed as an act of war. Clive responded by writing on the back of Forde's message, "Dear Forde—Fight them immediately", and sending it back.
The British victory was so complete that, of the Dutch troops sent, only sixteen Europeans successfully reached Chinsurah.
, it helped establish British supremacy in Bengal. Dutch neutrality was not affected by the battle, and they remained one of the few European states not involved in the war.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 25 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
between a force of British troops mainly of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
and a force of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
which had been invited by the Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
Mir Jafar
Mir Jafar
-Notes:# "Riyazu-s-salatin", Ghulam Husain Salim - a reference to the appointment of Mohanlal can be found # "Seir Muaqherin", Ghulam Husain Tabatabai - a reference to the conspiracy can be found...
to help him eject the British and establish themselves as the leading commercial company in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
. Despite Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
not formally being at war the Dutch advanced up the Hooghly River and were met at Chinsurah, just outside Calcutta, by a mixed force of British and local troops. The British under Colonel Francis Forde
Francis Forde (army officer)
Francis Forde was born in Seaforde in Ireland in about 1718. He was the seventh son of Mathew Forde MP of Seaforde, Co. Down. He entered Trinity College Dublin in 1734 and left with a B.A. in 1738...
defeated the Dutch, forcing them to withdraw. The ships used by the Dutch to deliver the troops were engaged and defeated in a separate naval battle on 24 November.
Background
Following the British capture and destruction of the French outpost at Chandernagore in 1757, Mir JafarMir Jafar
-Notes:# "Riyazu-s-salatin", Ghulam Husain Salim - a reference to the appointment of Mohanlal can be found # "Seir Muaqherin", Ghulam Husain Tabatabai - a reference to the conspiracy can be found...
, the Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
, opened secret negotiations with representatives of the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
to bring troops into Dutch holdings in the area with the goal of using them against the British. Britain and the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
were at peace, although tensions were high due to the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, and British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
administrator Robert Clive was preoccupied with fighting the French. The Dutch directors of the outpost at Chinsurah, not far from Chandernagore, seeing an opportunity to expand their influence, agreed to send additional troops to Chinsurah. A fleet of seven ships, containing 1500 European and Malay troops, was sent from Batavia and arrived at the mouth of the Hooghly River in October 1759, while the nawab was meeting with Clive in Calcutta.
The nawab had been forced to ask the British for assistance against threats on his northern border in the interim, and told Clive that he would return to Hooghly, summon the Dutch directors and demand the departure of their ships. After meeting with the Dutch, he informed Clive that he had granted the Dutch some privileges, and that they would leave as soon as circumstances permitted. This news, combined with reports that the Dutch were recruiting in and around Chinsurah, led Clive to treat the situation as a real military threat.
Prelude
Of four ships he had available, Clive sent one out in an attempt to request assistance from Admiral CornishSir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet
Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet was a British naval commander who fought in the Seven Years' War and conquered Manila on October 6, 1762....
, who was patrolling the coast. This ship was captured by the Dutch when they seized several smaller British vessels on the Hooghly River. He called out the militia and put out calls for volunteers, increased the fortifications on the river batteries, and sent Colonel Francis Forde
Francis Forde (army officer)
Francis Forde was born in Seaforde in Ireland in about 1718. He was the seventh son of Mathew Forde MP of Seaforde, Co. Down. He entered Trinity College Dublin in 1734 and left with a B.A. in 1738...
with five hundred men toward Chandernagore with an eye toward capturing the Dutch outpost at Barnagore and intercepting the Dutch should they try to take Chandernagore.
The Dutch landed their troops on the northern shore of the Hooghly on November 21, just beyond the range of the English river batteries, and marched for Chinsurah.
Naval battle
The three remaining British ships had followed the Dutch ships up the river at some distance. When the Dutch had finished landing the troops, they began moving down the river. Commodore Charles Wilson, commanding the British flotilla, showed intentions to pass the Dutch on November 23, who threatened to fire on them if they did. The next day, after the rejection of an ultimatum from Clive demanding restitution for the earlier Dutch seizures, the two fleets engaged. In a two-hour battle, the Duke of Dorset forced the Dutch flagship Vlissingen to strike her coloursStriking the colors
Striking the colors is the universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. Surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck.-In international law:# "Colors. A national flag . The colors . ....
, while the Hardwicke and the Calcutta chased off two ships and grounded a third before the remaining ships also struck their colours. (The two fleeing ships were eventually captured by other British ships arriving at the mouth of the river.)
Battle near Chandernagore
On the night of 23 November, Forde and his men encamped near Chandernagore, having successfully taken control of Barnagore. The Dutch, hoping to trap Forde between the arriving troops and the Chinsurah garrison, sent the latter out to camp in the ruins of Chandernagore that night. The following morning the two forces engaged, and Forde's men routed the Dutch, forcing them back to Chinsurah and capturing their field artillery. There he was joined by additional troops sent from Calcutta, raising the size of his force to about 1200. The nawab also sent 100 cavalry to the British camp, ostensibly to assist the British; these were likely placed to observe the battle and side with the victors.With reports from prisoners that the Dutch reinforcements would be arriving the next day, Forde rushed a message to Clive in Calcutta requesting advice, as attacking the Dutch force could be viewed as an act of war. Clive responded by writing on the back of Forde's message, "Dear Forde—Fight them immediately", and sending it back.
Biderra
Forde chose as his location the plain of Biderra, between Chinsurah and Chandernagore. his troops occupied the village of Biderra on the right and a mango grove to the left, and the center was secured by a wide ditch. At about 10 on the morning of 25 November, the Dutch force arrived. As soon as they came within range, Forde ordered fire from his field artillery. The Dutch continued to advance in spite of the British fire until they reached the ditch, something they had not apparently been aware of. When the front of the Dutch lines stopped, the rear continued to press forward, throwing the Dutch forces into confusion. As their position was then within range of British musket fire, they suffered significant casualties before managing to turn around. At this point Forde sent out his cavalry, inviting the nawab's men to join the charge. However, the nawab's men held back, and did not join the British until the second charge, when it seemed clear they would be victorious.The British victory was so complete that, of the Dutch troops sent, only sixteen Europeans successfully reached Chinsurah.
Aftermath
In the wake of their victory, the British overthrew Mir Jafar and replaced him with his son-in-law Mir Kasim Ali Khan. Along with the Battle of PlasseyBattle of Plassey
The Battle of Plassey , 23 June 1757, was a decisive British East India Company victory over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies, establishing Company rule in South Asia which expanded over much of the Indies for the next hundred years...
, it helped establish British supremacy in Bengal. Dutch neutrality was not affected by the battle, and they remained one of the few European states not involved in the war.