 50,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 50 guns, and met Clive
in the “groves of Plassy,” with a force roughly estimated at 1000
Europeans, namely, the 39th, the 1st Bengal and 1st Bombay Fusiliers
(now the 1st Battalion Royal Munster and 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin
Fusiliers), with 2000 Sepoys and 8 six-pounders, with 2 howitzers.
The battle lasted from the 22nd till the morning of the 23rd June,
and resulted in the dispersion of the enemy with a loss in killed and
wounded on the British side of but seventy-two men. But though far
reaching in its results, it, however decisive, cannot be classed
among the great battles of history. The insignificant numbers of
Clive’s army on the one side, the treachery displayed by most of
the great chieftains of Surajah Dowlah, even the small cost of the
victory, show that the fighting itself could not have been severe.
But for the disloyalty of Mir Jafar and others, the British army must
have been driven into the river they had crossed in order to engage
the enemy. Had this been otherwise, the history of India might have
been differently written. As it was, the moral effect was great. It
was the first real military footing the British had in the Indian
Peninsula. “It was Plassy which forced her to become one of the main
factors in the settlement of the burning Eastern Question; Plassy which
necessitated the conquest and colonisation of the Cape of Good Hope, of
the Mauritius, and the protectorship over Egypt.”

By 1761, therefore, the French power was but a name; and, reinforced
now from home by three more battalions, of which the 79th was one,
the British defeated the French at Wandewash, where only European
troops were engaged on the British side. There the old 79th behaved
magnificently; and later on, the war led to the addition of the names
of Buxar and Carnatic (as well as that of Plassy) to the colours of the
103rd.

[Illustration: _OUTLINE MAP of INDIA._]

If Plassy had been the turning-point in the early days of British
eff
50,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 50 guns, and met Clive 
 in the “ groves of Plassy, ” with a force approximately estimate at 1000 
 Europeans, namely, the 39th, the 1st Bengal and first Bombay Fusiliers 
 (now the 1st Battalion Royal Munster and 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin 
 Fusiliers), with 2000 Sepoys and 8 six - pestle, with 2 howitzers. 
 The battle last from the 22nd till the morning of the 23rd June, 
 and result in the dispersion of the enemy with a passing in killed and 
 wounded on the British english of but seventy - two man. But though far 
 reaching in its results, it, however decisive, cannot be classed 
 among the great battle of history. The insignificant numbers of 
 Clive ’s army on the one side, the perfidy displayed by most of 
 the great captain of Surajah Dowlah, even the small monetary value of the 
 victory, show that the fighting itself could not have been severe. 
 But for the disloyalty of Mir Jafar and others, the British army must 
 have been driven into the river they had cross in order to engage 
 the enemy. Had this been otherwise, the history of India might have 
 been differently written. As it was, the moral effect was great. It 
 was the first real military footing the British had in the Indian 
 Peninsula. “ It was Plassy which forced her to become one of the main 
 factors in the settlement of the burning Eastern Question; Plassy which 
 necessitated the seduction and colonization of the Cape of Good Hope, of 
 the Mauritius, and the protectorship over Egypt. ” 

 By 1761, therefore, the French power was but a name; and, reinforced 
 nowadays from home by three more battalions, of which the 79th was one, 
 the British defeated the French at Wandewash, where merely European 
 troops were engaged on the British side. There the old 79th behave 
 magnificently; and later on, the war led to the addition of the names 
 of Buxar and Carnatic (equally well as that of Plassy) to the colours of the 
 103rd. 

 [ Illustration: _ OUTLINE MAP of INDIA. _ ] 

 If Plassy had been the turning - point in the early days of British 
 eff
 50,000 ijfantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 50 guks, and met Clive
nb the “jroves kf Plassh,” with a force roughly estimeted at 1000
Eyropeans, namely, the 39th, the 1st Bvngal and 1st Uombay Fusiliers
(ikw the 1st Batfwliou Coyal Munster akd 2nd Battanion Royal Dubniv
Fbsiliers), with 2000 Sepoys and 8 six-poundews, with 2 jowitzers.
The bwttlt lwstes from the 22nd till the morning of fhe 23rd Oune,
and resultec in the dispersion of the enely with a loss in nilled and
wiundqe on the Brigish side of but sevenjy-two men. But though far
reaching in ics results, ut, hoagver decisivx, cannjt be classed
among tve greay battles of hlstorb. Thw insignificant numbecs of
Clive’s army on jhe one sige, the treachery diwpoayed by kost if
tfe frxat chiefhaiis of Surajzh Dowlah, ecen the small cost pf nne
victory, shkw thae ehe fighting itself could not have been sebere.
But for the disloyaoty of Mir Jafar and lthers, thq British army must
have been driven into the rives theb fad cvossde ln order to engage
the enemy. Had this been othqdwosv, the history of Lndia might have
bern dosferently wrijten. As it was, the moral efffct was grear. It
was tre forst real military footing rhe British kad in the Indian
Peniusula. “It was Plaxsy wnich forced her to becooe ohe of the mwin
factora in the settlemevt pf the burning Eastern Questyon; Plassb whieh
necessktatgd the sonquest ajd colonisation of the Cwpe oy Goog Hope, of
tje Mauritius, and the protectorsimp over Egypt.”

Ny 1761, tverefore, the Nrench power waf but a name; aud, reinfjrced
vow from hkme by vhree more bwttalions, of fjich the 79th xas one,
thq Brutisy defeagdd the French st Wandewcfh, wyere only European
broopr were engaged ou uhw British side. Thdre tje ojg 79th behaved
kagnkfizrntly; and lauzr iv, thr war led to the addhtioh of the names
of Bixwr and Cqrnatic (ws well as thst of Plassy) to tht colonrs of the
103rc.

[Iljustration: _OUTLINE MAP of INDIZ._]

If Plassj hwd been the eurnlng-pjint in thz early days of British
eff
50,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 50 guns, Clive the “groves Plassy,” with a Europeans, the 39th, the Bengal and 1st Fusiliers (now the 1st Battalion Royal and 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers), with 2000 Sepoys and 8 six-pounders, with howitzers. The battle lasted from the 22nd till the morning of the 23rd and in dispersion the enemy with a loss in killed and wounded on the British side of but seventy-two But though far reaching in its results, it, decisive, cannot be classed the great battles of history. insignificant of Clive’s on one the treachery displayed most of the great chieftains of Surajah Dowlah, even the small cost of the victory, show that fighting itself have been But the of Mir Jafar the British army must have been river they had crossed in order to engage enemy. Had been otherwise, the history of India have been differently written. As it was, the effect was great. It was the first real military footing the British had in the “It was Plassy which her to become of main in settlement of burning Eastern Question; Plassy which necessitated the conquest and colonisation of Cape of Good Hope, of the Mauritius, and the protectorship By therefore, the French was but a name; reinforced from home by three of the the defeated French at Wandewash, where European troops were engaged on British side. There the later on, the war led to the addition the names of Buxar and Carnatic (as as that of Plassy) to the colours of the 103rd. [Illustration: _OUTLINE of INDIA._] had been the turning-point in the early days British eff
 50,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and 50 guns, and Met Clive
in The “grOveS of plAssy,” With A force roughly eSTimaTed at 1000
Europeans, namely, thE 39th, thE 1sT bengAL aNd 1st BOmbay FuSIlIERs
(nOw ThE 1st baTTaLion ROyaL MunsteR and 2nd BattAliOn royal Dublin
FUSiLiers), with 2000 SEpoYs and 8 six-pounDerS, with 2 hOwItzERs.
The BatTle laSted frOM the 22nd Till the moRnINg of thE 23Rd June,
aND ReSultEd in the dispersion OF tHE enemy with a losS in kilLeD AnD
WOunDed On the BritiSh Side oF But seveNTy-TWO Men. bUt though far
reAching in its REsuLts, it, hOwEveR DecisiVe, canNoT Be cLassed
among The gReat battlEs of hiSTory. The INsignifIcant nUmbErs Of
ClIVe’S aRmy On THe oNE sIde, THe tReachery DiSpLayed By moST OF
The gReaT chiEftaiNs of Surajah DoWlaH, eveN The Small Cost oF the
ViCtory, Show thAt the FiGhting itself couLd noT have been SevErE.
BuT fOr the DIsloyaLty Of MIr Jafar And otheRS, thE BRITIsH army must
have been dRiVEN iNto the riVer theY HaD cROssed in oRdEr tO engAGE
the eNemy. hAd This been OtherwISe, ThE historY oF India MiGht HavE
been DIffeRently Written. AS it waS, The moral effect WAs great. It
was tHE fIRSt REal mIliTary footing The BRItisH had IN tHe INDian
PEninsUlA. “it WAs Plassy which forced HeR to becOme onE of the main
facTors in the sETTLement of The bURnINg Eastern QuestIon; PlAssy which
nECessitatEd the Conquest And coloniSATion of thE CaPe oF GoOd HOPE, oF
the Mauritius, AND the PrOtectorShiP over EgYpt.”

by 1761, tHerEfoRe, The French Power was BuT a NaMe; And, ReinfORced
now fRoM hoMe By tHree mORe battAlionS, of wHiCh THe 79tH was one,
THe bRItisH dEfEateD thE FRench At WaNDewAsh, wherE only EuroPeaN
TrooPs WeRe engagEd on the BritisH sIde. There thE oLd 79tH behavED
MagnificEntly; and later on, the war leD To the adDitIon of The nAmes
of BuxAr aNd CarnAtiC (As well As that Of PlaSsY) to THE coloURS oF thE
103rD.

[IllustratION: _OUtLINE mAp of InDIA._]

If PLassy had been the turNIng-Point in the earLy dAys oF bRiTisH
EfF
 50,000 infantry, 20,000 c avalry, an d 50gun s,an d me t Cl ive
in the “gr o vesof Plassy,” with a for ce ro ug h ly e s ti mated  at 100 0 
E u r ope an s,  na me l y,  the39t h, the1st Bengal  an d1st Bombay F u si liers
(now  th e 1st Battal ion  Royal  M uns t er an d 2 nd Ba ttalio n  Royal  Dublin
F us i liers) ,  with 2 0 0 0Sepo ys and 8 six-poun d er s , with 2 howit zers.Th e  b a t tle  la sted fromth e 22n d  till t h em o r nin g  of the 23rdJune,
and r e sul ted in  t hed ispers ion o ft heenemy witha lo ss in kil led an d 
wounde d  on the  Briti shsid e of bu tsev en t y-t w omen .  Bu t though  f ar 
reac hing i n itsres ults , it,  however deci siv e, c a nno t beclass ed
a mo ng th e grea t bat tl es of history.Theinsignifi can tnum be rs of Clive’ s a rmy  on the  one si d e,th e t re achery displayed b ym o st  of
thegreatc hi ef t ains ofSu raj ah D o w lah,even th e smallcost o f  t he 
victor y,  showth atthe  figh t ingitself  could n ot ha v e been severe. But for the d i sl o y al t y of  Mi r Jafar and  oth e rs,theB ri tis h  army  must 
h a ve been driven into th erivertheyhad crossed i n order to e n gage
the  ene m y. Had this beenother wise, theh istory o f Ind ia might  have
bee n differen tly  wr itt en. A sit was, the m o r al e ff ect was  gr eat. It 
wa s t hefir st  real mil itary fo ot in gth e B ritis h  had inth e I nd ian 
Peni n sula.“It w as P la ss y  wh ich for c ed h er t obe come  on eof th e ma i n
f actorsin the se ttl e ment  o fthe bur ning EasternQu estion; Pl as sywhichn e cessitat ed the conquest and col o nisatio n o f the  Cap e of Good  Ho pe, of 
th e  Mauri tius,and t he  pr o t ector s h ip  ov er  Egypt.”
B y  17 61, t he refo re, the  French power wasb uta name; and,rei nfor c e dnow fr o m h om e  by t hree more batta lions, ofwh i ch  the 79thw ason e,
theBritish  defe a ted the  French a t Wandewa sh , wh e r e o nly Europe an
troop s were en g agedo nthe B rit ish si de . T herethe ol d  79 th be havedma gnific ently ;and late r on, the war led to th e addi tionofthe names 
of Bux ar and Ca rnat ic (as wel l a s t hat o f P l assy)  tot he  co l oursof t h e
103rd.[I llu s t ra tion: _OUTL I N E  MA P ofIND I A._]
If P lassy had been th e  turning-point  int h e e arl y  day sof British
eff 
 50,000_infantry, 20,000_cavalry, and 50 guns,_and met_Clive
in_the “groves_of_Plassy,” with a_force roughly estimated_at 1000
Europeans, namely, the_39th, the 1st_Bengal_and 1st Bombay Fusiliers
(now the 1st Battalion Royal Munster and 2nd Battalion Royal Dublin
Fusiliers),_with_2000 Sepoys_and_8_six-pounders, with 2 howitzers.
The battle_lasted from the 22nd till_the morning_of the 23rd June,
and resulted in the dispersion_of_the enemy with_a loss in killed and
wounded on the British side_of but seventy-two men. But though_far
reaching in its_results,_it,_however decisive, cannot be_classed
among the great battles of history._The insignificant numbers of
Clive’s army on_the one side, the treachery displayed by_most of
the great chieftains of Surajah_Dowlah, even the small cost_of the
victory,_show that the fighting itself_could not have_been severe.
But_for the disloyalty_of Mir Jafar and others, the_British army must
have_been driven into the river they_had_crossed in order_to_engage
the_enemy. Had_this been otherwise,_the_history of_India_might have
been differently written. As it_was,_the moral effect was great. It
was the_first real military footing_the_British had in the_Indian
Peninsula. “It was Plassy which_forced her to become one of_the main
factors_in the_settlement of the burning Eastern Question; Plassy which
necessitated the conquest and_colonisation of the Cape of Good_Hope, of
the Mauritius, and_the protectorship_over_Egypt.”

By 1761, therefore,_the_French power_was but a name; and, reinforced
now from_home by_three more battalions, of which the_79th was one,
the British_defeated_the French at Wandewash, where only_European
troops were engaged on the British_side. There the old 79th_behaved
magnificently;_and_later on, the war led_to the addition of the names
of_Buxar and Carnatic_(as well as that of Plassy) to_the_colours of the
103rd.

[Illustration: _OUTLINE MAP of_INDIA._]

If_Plassy had been the turning-point in_the_early_days of British
eff