INDIA-L Archives

From: "Peter Bailey" <>
Subject: Re-capture of Calcutta 1757
Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 08:42:53 +0100

Since Stewart Green first published his message on the shipwreck of the
Dodington, I have been communicating with him privately. Yesterday, I viewed
the Ship's Log of Caernarvon which picked up the survivors and took them to
Madras.

There, in the Madras Roads, was anchored the fleet of Admiral Watson. Rather
than any jubilation at the saving of these poor souls from Dodington,
Admiral Watson pressed them all into the service of the Royal Navy!

Four months later he took Clive and his army to Bengal where a 'drunken
sailor' of one of Watson's ships is reputed to have frightened
Siraj-ud-Daula's defenders of Calcutta away, thereby causing him to have
re-captured Calcutta single-handed.

Does anyone know if a name has ever been given to this sailor (who, I
believe, was punished for his lack of discipline!)?

Good Hunting!
Peter Bailey
Secretary, Families in British India society
www.fibis.org

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