| Citation |
NHG-P.758.027
16 Jun 1758:12 (89)
London. Feb. 21. The following stratagem is attributed to
Col. Clive. A French officer, a little before the late
engagement with the Nabob, came over to the English camp,
and pretended his conscience would not let him join with the
infidels, not only offered his service to the English
general, but proposed to make great discoveries in case his
service was accepted. Gen. Clive examined him very strictly
in the presence of the principal officers of his army, and
finding some reason to suspect his sincerity, applied
privately to a drummer, whom he had observed to be a hard
daring fellow, and asked him if he could keep a secret that
should be the making of him. He replied he could. But,
said the General, it will cost you a severe whipping. That
he said he did not regard. Then added the general you must
be a thief too, and steal some trifle to deserve it. The
fellow soon stole his comrade's hat, and appeared in it the
next day, which being so barefaced a knavery, he was
instantly discovered, and brought to punishment. But the
fellow being beloved by the soldiers was favoured, till the
General, in company with other officers, among whom was this
Frenchman, came up, who in a passion called out, Whip him
more; cure the villain of thieving.
. . . [21 more lines, describing how the drummer went on to
trap the Frenchman into revealing what he knew about the
French army.]
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