Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c7.s5.4

v1.c7.s5.4

The Afghān soldiers even then displayed the qualities which have distinguished them later in Anglo-Indian warfare.* They were cool, accurate shots, expert in taking every advantage of the ground, clever in executing night attacks and ambuscades, extremely mobile on foot, and yet capable of acting in concert and of controlling their fire at the direction of leaders. Their well-regulated volleys, delivered at the right moment, had an electric effect in shaking their enemies' nerves and deciding battles by one stroke. The Afghan clan-system turned their manhood into naturally disciplined war-bands, acting in cohesion and in submission to a single higher command, without any thought of self. No mercenary or conscript army could match such fighters, as Macaulay has illustrated in the parallel case of the Scottish Highlanders. Their fire-control, disciplined ardour of fight, and active working of the individual soldier’s intelligence were unrivalled in India in that age no less than now.