Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c48.s5.3

v4.c48.s5.3

Early on the 29th of May, De Boigne on sighting the enemy’s position, deployed his infantry in line of battle and turning a quarter circle struck Holkar’s front and opened artillery fire on their stationary masses. Bāpu Holkar and Parāshar Dādāji well knew the futility of Malhar’s boasted charging tactics and left him alone to try them, while they kept their own divisions safe by not moving up to the attack. Malhar Holkar at the head of his own troops (the left wing) made a detour round Sindhia’s army and attacked its rear. Here, instead of finding a confused crowd of servants, transport animals and baggage, he was met by a steady line of disciplined musketeers with light guns and *chevaux de frise* before them. Malhar’s cavalry found it impossible to hurl itself upon its opponents in the one impetuous charge so long dreamt of by him. While the attack was thus halted by these obstacles to a cavalry sweep, De Boigne’s rear-guard ploughed their enemy’s ranks with grape shot and bullet. Soon afterwards, Lakhwā Dādā arrived with the Household Cavalry (the *huzurāt*) to aid the defence. Malhar’s bolt was shot, he fled away with the broken remnant of his troops.