Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c40.s10.5

v3.c40.s10.5

A little before 11 o'clock the distant cannonade ceased, as if by mutual consent. Then a tumultuous shout was heard on the enemy's right, and through the smoke screen burst four thousand Rathor horsemen at the gallop. These desperadoes, after taking a last lingering pull at their pipes of opium, drew their swords and charged the Maratha left with wild cries of “Hān! Hān! Kill them! Kill them!” The Maratha batteries ploughed through their dense ranks, opening bloody lanes at each discharge. But heedless of their comrades who fell, the survivors swept up to the Maratha guns, sabred the gunners, and still advancing fell upon the supporting infantry. Their terrific impact broke the first line of the Maratha left wing; hundreds of Nagas and Afghan troops were slain, and even De Boigne’s sepoys after firing a few volleys were forced back in confusion along with their Maratha comrades. The cool Savoyard led his disordered ranks obliquely to the rear, formed the survivors again and reopened small arm fire, but “the Rathors heeded it not.”