Walker & Boutall sc.
Wellesley’s position was a difficult one. He had unexpectedly come into close contact with a vastly superior force ready to receive him, instead of being in the act of moving off, as he had been led to expect. Stevenson’s force, in co-operation with which he had intended to fight the action, was ten or twelve miles away. Should he retreat to Naulniah and wait for Stevenson, he would be followed and forced to fight under disadvantageous circumstances, and, owing to the enemy’s great superiority in cavalry, would probably lose a portion of his baggage. He resolved to cross the river and attack at once. He saw that if he could carry his force across the Kaitna anywhere near its junction with the Juah, the great superiority in numbers of the Mahrattas would be to a certain extent neutralized by the narrower front on which they would be obliged to engage. At the same time, should his attack fail, Wellesley was liable to be forced back into the acute angle formed by the two rivers, and be destroyed, like Charles XII. at Pultava. It was a choice of risks, and Wellesley chose the smaller one. The direct ford was commanded by the powerful Mahratta artillery, which made crossing at that point extremely hazardous. Examining the ground with his glasses, Wellesley noticed the two villages of Peepulgaon and Waroor close together on opposite sides of the river, and, in spite of the denial of his guides, jumped to the conclusion that there must be a ford there. A search showed that he was right, and word was sent back for the infantry to direct their march on Peepulgaon. Meanwhile the Cavalry (A. in plan) remained facing a large body of the enemy’s Cavalry (B. in plan), that had crossed the river. By this time, the Mahratta camp had been struck, and their army appeared drawn up in a long line (C. in plan), covered by the Kaitna, with a great mass of cavalry on the right, and the guns on the left.
As the British force moved across the enemy’s front, part of it came within range of the Mahratta Artillery, but beyond a Staff Officer being slightly wounded, and the General’s orderly dragoon having his head carried off by a round shot, no loss was incurred. The crossing of the Kaitna was effected without opposition, and the British force was drawn up across the fork between the two rivers in three lines (F. in plan). The first two lines, with an interval of about 300 paces between them, were composed of infantry, H.M.’s 78th Regiment being on the left of the first line, and H.M.’s 74th on the right of the 2nd line. The cavalry formed the third line. The Peishwa’s and Mysore cavalry remained on the south side of the Kaitna (D. in plan), to keep in check a large body of the enemy’s cavalry. There was a good deal of delay in crossing the Kaitna, which was taken advantage of by the enemy to change front to the left of their first line, and they now occupied a long line (E. in plan), with its left resting on the village of Assaye, and defended along the whole front by upwards of one hundred guns. The village of Assaye was occupied with infantry, and had a number of guns disposed in front of it. The Mahratta line of battle, exclusive of a large body of troops detailed to guard stores and baggage, consisted of thirteen battalions of disciplined infantry, one hundred and fifteen guns, and over thirty-five thousand horsemen. There were also a large number of undisciplined infantry.
While the British lines were forming, the movement was covered by artillery fire. This was quickly responded to by the Mahratta guns, which caused such severe losses among the British gun bullocks, that the guns had to be left behind when the advance was made.
Wellesley had not given the enemy credit for being able to change their front with so large a force, without falling into disarray. On perceiving the alteration in the enemy’s position, he saw that it was necessary to extend his front. He accordingly ordered the picquets, which formed the right of the first line, to move obliquely to the right, so as to allow the native infantry battalions in the second line to come up on the right of the first line, H.M.’s 74th being directed to take the right of the whole. Wellesley’s intention was to force back the enemy from their guns, then, operating by his left, to throw them back on the Juah, and complete their destruction with his cavalry. Wellesley himself led the left of the line, while Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell and the cavalry were ordered to support the right, which was still greatly outflanked. Particular orders were given to the officer in command of the picquets, which formed the battalion of direction, to keep out of gunshot of Assaye. But the losses caused by the Mahratta artillery were so severe, that the advance became necessary before the formation was complete. Every shot told, knocking over men, horses, and bullocks, and putting several of the British guns out of action. Wellesley on the left, impatient to advance, sent repeated messages to the officer commanding the picquets. He was told that the guns were disabled, to which he replied “Well, tell him to get on without them.”
As the line advanced, the Mahratta infantry gave ground, abandoning their guns. By mistake, the officer commanding the picquets continued his oblique movement too far, and led direct on Assaye, masking the 74th; a mistake that had an important influence on the course of the battle. This caused a great gap in the British line, separated the picquets and H.M. 74th from the rest of the line, and brought them under a tremendous fire of artillery and small arms. They were further impeded in their advance and thrown into disarray, by having to pass some cactus hedges. The Mahratta infantry, as they fell back from their guns, separated into two distinct bodies. The greater number threw back their right, forming a second line (H. in plan), with the Juah river at its back, and its left still resting on Assaye; while one whole Brigade, under a German named Pohlman, continued to retreat directly to its rear (M. in plan). At the same time, great numbers of the enemy threw themselves down, pretending to be dead, and allowed the British line to pass over them. The British line swung round to its right (I. in plan), to attack the enemy’s second line, and, here the first critical period of the battle occurred. The picquets and H.M. 74th Foot were no longer able to advance under the terrible fire to which they were exposed. Numbers fell at every step; all formation was lost, and a body of Mahratta horse, wheeling round the village of Assaye, charged the 74th in flank, sabreing numbers of them. They also recaptured some of their own guns, and gained possession of some of the British guns that had not been able to keep up with the advance, killing the gunners and turning the guns against the British rear. It was a critical moment, and, with a soldier’s instinct, Maxwell saw that the time for action had come. Advancing with his brigade, Maxwell charged the enemy’s left, driving them into the Juah with great slaughter: then, as the rest of the line advanced and drove the enemy into the nullah, the Cavalry crossed the Juah, and charged the broken masses of the enemy (J. in plan), making a horrid slaughter of them, and driving them off the field.
“The 19th Light Dragoons, who only drew 360 swords, received the intimation with one loud huzza! Accompanied by the 4th native cavalry who emulated their conduct throughout this arduous day, the 19th passed through the broken but invincible 74th, whose very wounded joined in cheering them as they went on, cut in and routed the horse, and dashed on at the infantry and guns. Never did cavalry perform better service or contribute more to the success of a battle.”[45]