Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s17.6

v4.c56.s17.6

The entire British force of 4,500 men—of whom only one-third of the cavalry and one-eighth of the infantry were Europeans and the rest Indians,—marched against the enemy in the face of a tremendous fire of round, grape and chain shot from nearly 80 guns. But such was their steadiness that their infantry advanced as if on parade, without taking their muskets from their shoulders, till they came within a hundred paces of the enemy. Then the order to charge was given, the infantry fired a volley, the drums struck up, and amidst the ringing cheers of the troops, they rushed upon the enemy, Lake as usual riding before them. Sindhia’s infantry did not wait to face the bayonets flashing under the noonday sun, but fled away in all directions. The enemy’s first line was captured.