Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s25.13

v4.c56.s25.13

Even as regards musketry, it is evident that the campoo sepoys were behind the British sepoys in the accuracy and rapidity of their fire. Their French and mestizo officers, bent solely on making their private fortunes, not only stole the money in the regimental chests—as Lestenneau and Bourquien had done,—but peculated the funds allotted for buying powder and shot for their men’s target practice. Hence most of Sindhia’s soldiers were poor marksmen, who shot wildly and could not stop the British advance with bullets.