Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c58.s4.12

v4.c58.s4.12

There was besides, a secret reason for General Wellesley’s confidence in at once hastening with his own small force to give battle to the myriads of the full Maratha army. The far-sighted diplomacy of the Governor General had contrived that Begam Samru’s five battalions, now with Sindhia in the Deccan, would come over to the English as soon as they could separate themselves from him with safety. The shock and confusion of a British attack on one part of the Maratha camp would give the Sardhana contingent this opportunity and cripple Sindhia’s strength for the future, even if the Maratha army was not fully defeated. Pohlmann, who led one full brigade at Assaye, had also made up his mind to desert Sindhia and share the Governor-General’s very liberal promise of bounty.[*] Thus it