Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s13.24

v4.c56.s13.24

We shall survey Lake's operations first, because be achieved decisive success for the British arms before Arthur Wellesley won his first battle. During the months of June and July 1803, the Governor-General had discussed the war with Lake by correspondence, fully instructed him about his policy and plans, and invested the commander-in-chief with supreme authority in war and diplomacy for every conceivable contingency. Lake's headquarters were at Cawnpur, about 185 miles from Perron's capital Aligarh. Determined to strike the first blow, the British General left Cawnpur on 7th August for the Maratha frontier on the northwest, and on the 25th of that month reached Sikandra-Rao, 160 miles distant, from which Aligarh was only 24 miles in a straight line. Here he next day received a letter from the Governor-General authorising him to attack Sindhia's forces unless in the meantime he should hear from General Wellesley that Sindhia in the Deccan had made peace. But six days before this Lake had received a despatch from Collins reporting the final rupture of the peace in Sindhia's camp on 1st August. The British commander-in-chief now saw his course clear before him, and immediately resumed his march against Perron, reaching Bijegarh next day (the 27th), from which Aligarh was only 14 miles distant. The day following, the grand army arrived at Nanow, from which the dome of the mosque at Koil could be seen, five miles to the northward. That night orders were issued for crossing the frontier and attacking Perron’s camp.