The war was over, and arrangements were made for the return of the troops to their quarters. Leaving Stevenson’s division, Wellesley turned southwards to Jaulna, which he reached on the 19th January 1804. A few days before the conclusion of peace, in writing to the Commander-in-Chief, Wellesley remarked: “The 19th Dragoons have now better horses than I have ever seen with them.” It was well that it was so, for a severe effort was still required of them. The Nizam’s dominions were at that time infested with banditti, mostly disbanded soldiers, who plundered the country in all directions, and had become so daring that they had not hesitated to attack detachments of British troops. On reaching Jaulna, news was brought to Wellesley of a large body of freebooters who were plundering the country to the southward. Crossing the Godavery, he marched to Neemgaum, where, on the 2nd February, he received information of the whereabouts of the marauders. He accordingly made up a light flying column consisting of the 19th Light Dragoons and the rest of the cavalry that had been with him at Assaye, the remnants of the gallant 74th, a sepoy battalion, and details from other sepoy regiments, 150 pioneers, and four guns,[55] and marched on the 3rd, reaching Sailgaon on the 4th, a distance of about thirty miles in a direct line. Marching again the same night, he came up with the freebooters about 9 A.M. on the 5th. The cavalry charged at once, slaying great numbers and dispersing them, at the same time capturing their guns, camp, and stores. An unfortunate mishap occurred on this occasion. The 19th mistook some of the allied Mahratta horse for the enemy, and charged them, cutting down two or three of them, and having one of their own number cut down, before the mistake was discovered. The achievement was remarkable for the long and rapid marching performed by the troops. Writing of it, two days later, Wellesley says:
“The exertion made by the troops is the greatest I ever witnessed. Everything was over by 12 o’clock on the 5th, and, I think that, by that time, the infantry must have marched 60 miles from six in the morning of the 4th. We halted from 12 in the day till 10 at night on the 4th, so that we marched 60 miles with infantry in twenty hours.”
Well might he add:
“I think we now begin to beat the Mahrattas in the celerity of our movements.”
The force then marched for Poona.
Hardly had peace been secured, when Holkar, who had hitherto held aloof, took the field. The 19th Light Dragoons took, however, no part in the campaign that followed, but remained encamped at Panwell near Bombay till the end of 1804, when they marched for Arcot.
In 1807, the royal permission was given to the regiment to wear a badge of the Elephant with the word “Assaye,” on colours and appointments, in commemoration of the gallantry displayed by the regiment in the battle and during the campaign. Nothing can be traced of the honorary standard presented to the regiment for Assaye There can be no doubt that it was given to the 19th as it was to the 74th and 78th.
Horse Guards,
15th April 1807.
My Lord
I have received the Commander in Chief’s directions to inform you, that the Marquis of Wellesley and Major General the Honble. Sir Arthur Wellesley have represented to H.R.H. the distinguished services of the 19th Light Dragoons in the course of the arduous Campaigns which occurred during the period of his Lordship’s Government in India, and have earnestly solicited permission, that the Regiment may be distinguished by some emblematical Badge.