Battle of Arnee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Arnee
Part of the Second Carnatic War
Date 3 December 1751 Location Arnee (now Arani, Tamil Nadu) Result British-Maratha victory
Belligerents
British East India Company Maratha Confederacy	French East India Company Nawab of Arcot (Chanda Sahib)
Commanders and leaders
Robert Clive Murari Rao	Chanda Sahib Raza Sahib
Strength
1,100 200 British regulars 300 Sepoys 600 Marathas	4,800 300 French 2,500 Arcot Infantry, 2,000 Arcot Cavalry
Casualties and losses
ca. A dozen Sepoys killed or injured	50 French killed or injured 150 Indians killed or injured

The Battle of Arnee (also called the Battle of Arni) happened on December 3, 1751. It was a big fight during the Second Carnatic War in India. In this battle, a British-led army, commanded by Robert Clive, won a major victory. They defeated a much larger army of French and Indian forces, led by Raza Sahib.

Why the Battle Happened

The French and their ally, Chanda Sahib, had just lost the city of Arcot. This was a big blow to their power and reputation. Even though the British had won at Arcot, the Carnatic region was still a battleground. Both the British and the French wanted to be the main power in India. They were fighting for control over the land and its resources.

The Battle Begins

Less than three weeks after the fight for Arcot, Clive's army met the French and Indian forces. This happened near a small town called Arni. It was about twenty miles south of Arcot. Raza Sahib's army had gone to nearby Vellore. There, they got more French soldiers to join them.

Clive's army also got stronger. The Marathas, led by Murari Rao, joined Clive. They were convinced to help because of a good payment offer.

Clive's Smart Plan

Clive chose a strong defensive spot for his soldiers. It was on a small hill. In front of the hill were flooded rice fields. There was only a narrow path, like a bridge, to cross them.

On the right side, Clive placed his Indian soldiers, called sepoys. They were hidden and protected by a small village. On the left side, the Maratha cavalry (soldiers on horseback) were in a group of palm trees.

Around midday, the French and Indian armies attacked. They fired cannons at Clive's position. But Clive's cannons were better. They forced the French soldiers to move along the narrow path. This made them easy targets for Clive's guns.

Intense Fighting

As Raza Sahib's soldiers got close to the village, Clive's sepoys fired heavily. The attackers had to retreat into the lower rice fields. There, they got stuck and confused under the constant fire. They panicked and ran away in disorder.

However, on the left side, some of Raza Sahib's troops moved towards the Marathas. The Marathas charged with their cavalry again and again. They tried to push the enemy back. But the French-led troops were very disciplined. They managed to push back the Marathas five times!

A Clever Trick

Clive then ordered two of his cannons to move forward. They were meant to help the Marathas. But in the rush, the soldiers forgot the ammunition! Clive had to tell them to go back and get it. He told them to move slowly. He didn't want the enemy to think his army was retreating.

This slow movement confused the French commanders. They thought Clive was sending more soldiers to capture their exposed cannons on the narrow path. Raza Sahib ordered some of his troops to leave the left side. He wanted them to protect those cannons.

The Marathas saw their chance! They immediately attacked the French and Indian cavalry. They successfully pushed them back. At the same time, Clive's sepoys attacked the French soldiers. These French soldiers were already trapped by gunfire from the village.

The Final Push

The rest of Clive's army on the hill then attacked the enemy on the narrow path. At first, the French and Indians fought very hard. They tried to stand their ground three times. But Clive's forces kept pushing them back.

The Marathas also pushed them back on their left side. They even managed to capture Raza Sahib's war chest, which held 100,000 rupees! The Maratha attacks continued until nightfall. Clive's forces finally stopped fighting. By dawn the next day, Raza Sahib's army was gone. Their baggage, along with many dead and wounded soldiers, was left on the battlefield.

What Happened Next

Clive's victory at Arni was very important. It showed his great skills in battle. He used good tactics, his soldiers were disciplined, and he was resourceful. This win was different from the Battle of Arcot, where they had to defend a city. Arni was a clear military victory in the open field.

The victory was so complete that hundreds of enemy sepoys joined Clive's side. He was happy to accept them. Clive believed that these two victories, Arcot and Arni, made the British position strong enough. He felt he could declare a regional victory. After this, he happily returned to Madras (now Chennai).