Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c58.s4.11

v4.c58.s4.11

Therefore, if these regular battalions could be crushed, the defeat of Bhonslé would be an easy task, as the victorious English would then be free to invade Bhonslé’s Berar territory and force the Raja to hasten back for its defence. The problem for Wellesley was how to overtake Sindhia’s disciplined infantry before it could run away with its powerful artillery. If he had put the battle off to the 24th as originally planned for the joint attack, then the enemy were sure to have given him the slip in the day’s respite thus gained, or at least concentrated all their forces for presenting a united front. The success of Wellesley’s plan depended entirely on its being a surprise for the Marathas. As he writes, “In all military operations, but particularly in India, *time is everything*.” [MM. v. Mar. War, 328.]