Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s9.2

v4.c56.s9.2

During winter Lake's headquarters were located at Kanauj, 50 miles north-west of Cawnpur. In the vast plain on the bank of the the Ganges here, the various cavalry regiments, British and Indian, were assembled and exercised together, according to a uniform system under the eyes of the Commander-in-chief himself, throughout the winter months of 1802-1803. Chief among the exercises was the use of galloper guns,* the efficiency of which was proved shortly afterwards in this war, by the terror which they produced on the Marātha horse. "Two of these guns, six-pounders, were attached to each regiment of horse, and nothing could exceed the speed and exactness of the manoeuvres made with them at full speed by this large body of cavalry, whose combined movements were conducted with the most perfect order and in a spirit of rivalry. Such continuous training gave Lake an opportunity of testing the capacities of his officers and men, and inspiring them with much of his fearless and confident spirit." (Thorn, 80, Pearse, 151.) At the same time he won his officers' hearts by frequently joining them at table and the hunting field, while his soldiers loved and admired him for his personal touch with them, his good humour and his sharing their hardships in campaigning. His principle of war was always to attack and attack with impetuous vigour, at the same time that he maintained strict discipline in the ranks and cohesion among the different divisions. (Pearse, 132, 416, 151-154 ; Pester, *War and Sport* ; Shipp's *Memoirs*, ch. 6-8.)