A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.94

v2.c51.94

When they arrived within reach of the canister shot, the fire and the execution became so extremely severe that it prevented a regular advance, and the Mahratta horse were encouraged to charge. They came on, but were repulsed most heroically; again they rallied, and assumed so menacing a position that General Lake ordered the British cavalry to charge in turn. This service was gallantly performed by the 29th dragoons¹ who dashed through both lines of the enemy’s infantry, wheeled round upon their cavalry, killed many of the latter, drove them from the field, and turning round, fell upon the rear of their second line. That line was by this time hotly engaged with the British infantry, which having taken advantage of the gallant charge of their cavalry had rushed forward on the guns, taken possession of them, and driven the first line back on the second. The whole of the British troops had now come up and joined in the attack; but the hardy veterans of De Boigne, determined to die where they could not conquer, fought on with brave though unavailing obstinacy; and excepting about two thousand who were broken, surrounded and made prisoners, they fell with their arms in their hands! Few if any of those men were natives of Maharashtra; they were chiefly from Oude, Rohilcund and the Dooab, for except Sivajee’s Mawulees, and men trained in the ranks of the Bombay Sepoys,² the native Mahrattas have never made good infantry.³