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The secret got out and Clive, on a visit further north in [[Bengal]], learned of his officers’ intentions by the 28th April. His reaction was characteristically defiant. He would not yield to pressure of this sort. He determined that he could rely on a small number of loyal officers locally, plus more at the Presidency at [[Calcutta]]. Importantly, he wrote on 1st May both to the Free Merchants at Calcutta, requesting them to accept Commissions, and to the Council at the Madras Presidency to urge them to “hold in readiness for embarking on a moment’s warning all the Captains and Subalterns you can possibly spare for immediate service, as also such cadets and other gentlemen as you may think qualified to bear commissions; and we would recommend to you to lose no opportunity of securing means of conveying them hither….” <sup>1</sup>
Clive and his senior general, John Carnac then raced to [[Monghyr]] where they arrived on 15th May and immediately ordered a parade of all European soldiers. He explained that his officers’ actions amounted to mutiny and that they would be subject to the most serious punishment. Those less guilty would be returned home to England. He then issued extra pay to his native soldiers and ordered them to seek out the mutineers and escort them to [[Calcutta]] where they would face [[court martial]].
The ‘Mutineers’ had no backup plan: their bluff having been called, their resolve soon dissipated. Clive moved on to [[Bankipore]] where, arriving on 20th May, he achieved similar results. He then communicated with Col. Smith at [[Allahabad]], instructing him to retain those officers that he wished and to send the others for trial in [[Calcutta]]. The mutiny had effectively been quelled – but the army had now but few officers!
