Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c51.s1.4

v4.c51.s1.4

As was to be expected, the Maratha light horse refused to face the campoo* unless it was given fire-protection of its own. In the Lakheri campaign (1793) before the final battle was joined, Holkar’s men avoided battle and only tried to “go round the battalions” of De Boigne by carefully keeping out of the range of their enemy’s guns. The impotence of horsemen against musketeers was proved on the field of Panchilas, which preceded the battle of Lakheri by three days and determined beforehand the result of the latter battle. At Panchilas, the wild Malhar Rao Holkar II with his indigenous cavalry made a detour round one flank and threatened the rear of De Boigne’s army, but being confronted by steady musketeers and quick-firing light guns on that face, he broke and fled away; and then the rest of Holkar’s army, which had been waiting to profit by the success of this cavalry charge, left the field without striking one blow! [*Holk. Kaifiyat.* 62-63, “gherāgheri”.]