BATTLE OF ASSAYE. 23rd. September, 1803.

This was the battle which gained a name for the illustrious Duke of Wellington, and it is commemorated on the colours of the 74th. and 78th. regiments. On the 21st. of September, Major-General the Honourable Arthur Wellesley had a conference with Colonel Stevenson, and a plan was concerted to attack the enemy’s army with the divisions under their command on the 24th. This intention was not carried out, as circumstances occurred which determined the former to attack without waiting for the junction of the troops.

On the 23rd. of September, while on the march, it was discovered that the enemy was much nearer than was imagined; whereupon Major-General Wellesley immediately determined to move in advance to reconnoitre them, and if convenient bring them to action. He ordered the cavalry to mount, and went on with them for this purpose; the infantry, except the rear battalion (1st. of the 2nd. Native Infantry), received directions to follow by the right. The second of the 12th. to join the left brigade to equalize the two; the first of the second to cover the baggage on the ground marked for the camp, and to be joined by the rear-guard on its arrival, and four brass light twelve-pounders to be sent to the heads of the line.

These dispositions did not occasion ten minutes’ halt to the column of infantry, but the cavalry moving in front with 23the Major-General, came first in sight of the enemy’s position, from a rising ground to the left of the road, and within cannon-shot of the right of their encampment, which lay along one of the banks of the River Kaitna, a stream of no magnitude, but with steep sides and a very deep channel, so as not to be passable except in particular places, mostly near villages. Along their rear ran a similar stream (the Jooee Nullah), which fell into the Kaitna half a mile beyond their left. Scindiah’s irregular cavalry formed their right, and the Berar troops their left. These were composed of seventeen battalions, amounting to about ten thousand five hundred men, formed into three brigades, each of which had a corps of cavalry of a better kind than the rest, and a body of skilled marksmen; and the artillery amounted to about one hundred and two pieces, or perhaps a few more.

The infantry were dressed, armed, and accoutred like the Sepoys; they were remarkably fine men, and in a high state of discipline. Although the English officers had left them, there was a number of French and other European officers both with the infantry and artillery. The guns were served by Golundaze, exactly like those of the Bengal service, which had been some time before disbanded, and were probably the same men. It was soon, however, found that they were extremely well trained, and that their fire was both as quick and as well-directed as could be produced by the Company’s artillerymen. What the total number of the enemy was cannot be ascertained, or even guessed at with any degree of accuracy, but it is certainly calculated very low at thirty thousand men, including the light troops who were out on a plundering excursion (and were those which had marched in the morning), but they returned towards the close of the action.

The force of Major-General Wellesley’s army in action was nearly four thousand seven hundred men, of whom about one thousand five hundred were Europeans, including artillery with twenty-six field pieces, of which only four twelve and eight six-pounders were fired during the action; the remainder being the guns of the cavalry and of the second line, could not be used.

24On the Major-General approaching the enemy for the purpose of reconnoitring, they commenced a cannonade, the first gun of which was fired at twenty minutes past one p.m., and killed one of his escort. He then resolved to attack their left, in order to turn it, and ordered the infantry column to move in that direction, while some of his staff looked out for a ford, to enable his troops to cross the Kaitna and execute this movement. All this march being performed considerably within the reach of the enemy’s cannon, the fire increased fast, and by the time the head of the column reached the ford, about a short half-mile beyond their left flank, it was tremendously heavy, and had already destroyed numbers.

During this movement the first line of the enemy’s infantry changed their front to the left, and formed with their left on Assaye, a village on the Jooee, near the left of their second line, which did not change position, the right of their first line resting on the Kaitna, where the left had been. They brought up many guns from their reserve, and the second line to the first.

Being obliged to cross the ford in one column by sections, the British were long exposed to the cannonade. The first line formed nearly parallel to that of the enemy, at about five hundred yards distance, having marched down the alignment to its ground. The second line rather outflanked the first to the right, as did the third (composed of the cavalry) the second. The left of the first line was opposite the right of the enemy’s. During this formation their artillery fired round shot with great precision and rapidity, the same shot often striking the three lines. It was answered by the guns of the first line of the British with great spirit and coolness, but the number of gun bullocks killed soon put the advance of the artillery (except by men) out of the question.

The British lines were formed from right to left as follows:—First line; pickets, four twelve-pounders, one battalion of the 8th. and one of the 10th. Native Infantry, and the 78th. regiment. Second line; 74th. regiment, and the second battalion of the 12th. and the 1st. of the 4th. Native Infantry. 25Third line; 4th. Native Cavalry, 19th. Light Dragoons, 5th. and 7th. Native Cavalry. Major-General the Honourable Arthur Wellesley named the picket as the battalion of direction, and ordered that the line should advance as quickly as possible, consistent with order, and charge with the bayonet, without firing a shot.

At fifteen minutes before three the word was given for the line to advance, and was received by Europeans and natives with a cheer. Almost immediately, however, it was discovered that the battalion of direction was not moving forward as intended, and the first line received the word to halt. This was a critical moment; the troops had reached the ridge of a little swell in the ground that had somewhat sheltered them, particularly on the left, and the enemy, supposing them staggered by the fire, redoubled their efforts, firing a number of chain shot with great effect. Dreading the consequences of this check to the ardour of the troops, the Major-General rode up to one of the native corps of the first line, and, taking off his hat, cheered them on in their own language, repeating the words “to march.” Again the soldiers received the order with loud cheers, and the three left battalions of the first line, followed by the first battalion of the 4th., advanced in quick time, and with the greatest coolness, order, and determination upon their opponents.

On coming within about one hundred and fifty yards, the 78th. withdrew its advanced centre sergeant, and the men were cautioned to be ready to charge. Soon after the battalion opposed to them fired a volley, and about the same time some Europeans were observed to mount their horses and ride off. The 78th. instantly ported arms, cheered, and redoubled its pace, when the enemy’s infantry, deserted by their officers, broke and ran. The 78th. pushed on and fired, the front rank to the charge, overtaking and bayonetting a few individuals. But Scindiah’s gunners held firm by their guns; many were bayonetted in the acts of loading, priming, or pointing, and none quitted them until the bayonet was at their breast.

The 78th. now halted for an instant to complete the files and restore exact order, and then moved forward on the 26enemy’s second line, making a complete wheel to the right, whose pivot was the right of the army, near the village of Assaye.

In consequence of the pickets having failed to advance, the 74th. pushed up, in doing which they were very much cut down by grape, and at length charged by cavalry headed by Scindiah in person. They suffered severely (as did the pickets and the second battalion of the 12th. Native Infantry), and the remains were saved by the memorable charge of the cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell. This part of the British line, however, though it broke the enemy’s first line, did not gain much ground; and the foe still continued in possession of several guns about the village of Assaye, from which they flanked the British line when arrived opposite their second.

Several of the enemy also coming up from the beds of the river and other ways, attacked and killed a large proportion of the artillerymen, amongst whom were four officers. They also regained possession of many of the guns of their first line, which had been taken and passed, and from them opened a fire of grape on the British rear.

It is impossible to praise too highly the behaviour of the infantry at this critical moment. Deprived of the assistance of their artillery, the enemy’s second line being untouched and perfectly fresh in their front, firing steadily upon them, flanked by round shot from the right, grape pouring on the rear, and cavalry threatening the left. Not a word was heard or a shot fired, all waiting the orders of the general with the composure of a field day, amidst a scene of slaughter scarcely to be equalled. This, however, was not of long duration. The British cavalry came up and drove off the body that threatened the left, who did not wait to be charged, when Major-General Wellesley ordered the principal part of the line to attack the front, while the 78th. and 7th. Native Cavalry moved to the rear, and charged the guns which were firing from thence. The enemy’s second line immediately retired; one brigade in perfect order, so much so that it repulsed a gallant charge of the 19th. Dragoons, at the head of which Colonel Maxwell was killed.

27After being obliged to change front two or three times under the fire of grape, the 78th. succeeded in clearing the guns in the rear. The enemy’s light troops, that had been out, now came on the ground, and were ordered to be attacked by the Mysore Horse, which they did not wait for, and the firing entirely ceased. About half-past four o’clock the enemy had set fire to all their tumbrils, which blew up in succession, many of them some time later; and the corps which had retired in such good order appear soon to have lost it, for they threw their guns into the river, four of which were afterwards found, exclusive of ninety-eight left on the field of battle.

Thus terminated the battle of Assaye, a general’s battle, due even more to the ability of the commander, than to the valour of his men; the first victory gained by the Iron Duke in which he commanded in chief, and one of the most decisive as well as one of the most desperate ever fought in India. The leader of the English was foremost in the fight, led two charges in person, and had two horses shot under him; of the two Rajahs that headed the enemy, one fled at the first onset, and the other followed the example, on witnessing the defeat of his cavalry. The British loss was very great; of Europeans, killed and wounded, including artillery and officers, there were upwards of six hundred, and the natives were estimated at about nine hundred. “Assaye” is borne on the colours of the 74th. and 78th. regiments.^[13]

At sunset the British collected about the village of Assaye, and lay on their arms all night, except the cavalry, which, after resting some hours, were sent back to assist in escorting the baggage; and about ten in the morning of the 24th. the troops were encamped on the left bank of the Kaitna, on the ground the column had moved over previous to crossing the ford into the field of battle. That evening at sunset the cavalry and one battalion of Native Infantry of Colonel Stevenson’s division arrived, and the next morning (25th.) the remainder of his force, which a day or two afterwards were ordered to follow the enemy into Candeish, and to possess themselves of the city of Berhampore and the hill fort of Asseer Ghur.

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