It will be observed that the date 5th February 1757, is not that of the battle of _Plassey_, but of the action fought near Calcutta, which is narrated at page 18. The battle of _Plassey_ took place on the 23rd of June 1757. [14] The force under Captain Caillaud, of the Company’s service, consisted of one hundred and fifty Europeans, including artillery, five hundred Sepoys, and two field-pieces. [15] These men belonged to “_The Soldier Artificer Company_,” and were commanded by the officers of _Royal Engineers_. [16] The proceedings of the Spanish Government were somewhat sudden; and it is stated by Colonel John Drinkwater, of the late Seventy-second regiment, or Royal Manchester Volunteers, in his popular _History of the Siege of Gibraltar_, that “those officers whose curiosity had led them into the interior parts of the country were positively refused liberty to return to the garrison; they were therefore conducted to Cadiz, and had passports granted them to leave the kingdom by other routes. Brevet-Colonel Charles Ross and Captain John Vignoles, of the THIRTY-NINTH, with Captain Henry Lefanue, of the Fifty-sixth regiment, nevertheless contrived to join their corps, by assuming disguises, and risking the passage in a row-boat from Faro (a port in Portugal) to Gibraltar: others also attempted, but unfortunately were intercepted in their voyage.” [17] The flank companies of the THIRTY-NINTH formed part of the centre column under Lieut.-Colonel Dachenhausen; the grenadier company consisted of three officers, three serjeants, and fifty-seven rank and file; the light infantry company was composed of a like number. [18] In Colonel Drinkwater’s _History of the Siege of Gibraltar_, it is stated, “that in the forenoon of the 6th of September 1782, Lieut.-General Boyd, the colonel of the THIRTY-NINTH regiment, and Lieut.-Governor of Gibraltar, recommended, by letter, to the Governor, the immediate use of _red-hot shot_ against the land-batteries of the besiegers. General Eliott acquiesced in the proposal, and immediately ordered Major Lewis, the commandant of the artillery, to wait on Lieut.-General Boyd for his instructions and commands, submitting entirely to him the execution of the attack which he had projected. In consequence of the Governor’s assent, preparations were instantly made; and in a short time everything was properly arranged for the service.”