This was the hardest-fought action in Lord Lake's campaign, our total casualties amounting to 267 killed and 682 wounded, amongst the former being General Ware, commanding the First Division of the army, and Brigadier-General Vandeleur, commanding the Cavalry Division. The Commander-in-Chief was, as usual, in the thick of the fight, having no less than three horses killed under him, three of his staff being killed. The victory, however, was complete. It is noticeable for the fact that our infantry came into action after a forced march of sixty-five miles in forty-eight hours, a feat which rivals that so extolled by Napier at Talavera. Unfortunately, the Indian army had no historian to paint with stirring language the deeds of the giants who lived in those days.
Casualties at Laswarree amongst Regiments still borne on the Army List, November 1, 1803.
| Regiments. | Officers. | Men. | ||
| K. | W. | K. | W. | |
| 8th Light Drag. | 2 | 2 | 16 | 34 |
| Bengal Artillery | - | - | 7 | 6 |
| 76th West Riding Regiment | 2 | 4 | 41 | 165 |
| 1st Brahmins | - | - | 4 | 12 |
| 2nd Q.O. Light Infantry | 1 | 1 | 11 | 26 |
| 4th Rajputs | - | 1 | 17 | 69 |
In the meantime Agra had fallen into our hands, despite a very gallant defence by the Mahrattas under their French commanders, our losses amounting to the respectable total of 228 killed and wounded, amongst them being 5 British officers.
The other columns had not been idle. Colonel Harcourt, advancing through Cuttack, had added that province to our fast-increasing Indian possessions, and at the capture of the fort of Barabuttee had given the 22nd Foot (the Cheshires) an opportunity of distinguishing themselves. He then pushed on to the westward, to co-operate with the army of Sir Arthur Wellesley.
Sir Arthur, moving from the west, had carried the fortress of Ahmadnagar by storm, with a loss of but 141 killed and wounded, the 74th (Highland Light Infantry) and the 78th (Seaforths) being the principal sufferers. On September 22 he came across the main army of the Mahrattas, some 30,000 strong, under their French leaders, and as we have seen on [p. 249], defeated them at Assaye.
Deig, November 13 to December 23, 1804.
The battle honour "Deig" is borne by the
West Riding Regiment.
Royal Munster Fusiliers.
2nd Queen's Own Light Infantry.