THE BATTLE OF ASSYE (INDIA). [Extracted from the DUKE of WELLINGTON's Despatches.] TO THE GOVERNOR GENERAL. 1 Camp at 1 Assye, 24th Sept., 1803. I was joined by Major Hill, with the last of the convoys expected from the river Kistna, on the 18th; and on the 20th was enabled to move forward towards the enemy, who had been joined, in the course of the last seven or eight days, by the infantry under Colonel Pohlman, by that belonging to Begum Sumroo, and by another brigade of infantry, the name of whose commander I have not ascertained.2 The enemy's army was collected about Bokerdun, and between that place and Jaffierabad. I was near Colonel Stevenson's corps on the 21st, and had a conference with that officer, in which we concerted a plan to attack the enemy's army with the divisions under our command on the 24th, in the morning; and we marched on the 22nd, Colonel Stevenson by the western route, and I by the eastern route, round the hills between Budnapoor and Jaulna. On the 23rd, I arrived at Naulniah, and there received a report that Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar had moved off in the morning with their cavalry, and that the infantry were about to follow, but were still in camp 5 at the distance of about six miles from the ground on which I had intended to encamp. It was obvious that the attack was no longer to be delayed; and, having provided for the security of my baggage and stores at Naulniah, I marched on to attack the enemy. I found the whole combined army of Scindiah and the Rajah of Berar encamped on the bank of the Kaitna 1 Use de here, not à. 2 dont je ne sais pas encore le nom du commandant. 3' was,' 'had;' see page 1, page 55, note 8, and page note 31, note 1. 4 nos ordres. 5 Use the past participle of camper. river,1 nearly on the ground which I had been informed they occupied. Their right, which consisted entirely of 2 cavalry, was about 3 Bokerdun, and extended to their corps of infantry, which were encamped in the neighbourhood of Assye. Although I came first in front of their right, I determined to attack their left, as the defeat of their corps of infantry was most likely to be effectual: 5 accordingly I marched round to their left flank, covering the march of the column of infantry by the British 7 cavalry in the rear, and by the Mahratta and Mysore cavalry on the right flank. 6 We passed the river Kaitna at a ford beyond the enemy's left flank, and I formed the infantry immediately in two lines, with the British cavalry as a reserve in a third, in an open space between that river and a nullah 10 running parallel to it. The Mahratta and Mysore cavalry occupied the ground beyond the Kaitna, on our left flank, and kept in check a large 11 body of the enemy's cavalry which had followed our march from the right of their own position. The enemy had altered the position of their infantry previous to our attack: it was no longer, as at first, along the Kaitna; but extended from that river across to the 12 village of Assye upon the nullah, which was upon our right. We attacked them immediately, and the troops advanced under a very hot fire from cannon,] 13 the execution of which 14 was terrible. The piquets of the infantry and the 74th regiment, which were on the right of the first and second lines,15 suffered particularly from the fire of the plaine; or, une rase campagne. 10 A nullah,' or 'nallah' (pro perly 'nálá'), is a Hindustani word, which means 'a brook,' 'a water-course,' 'the channel of a torrent.' 11 See page 42, note 19. 13 une très vive canonnadɛ. 15 de la première et de la deuxième ligne (not lignes): When an adjective qualifies several substantives, it must be put in the plural; but the French grammar does not guns on the left of the enemy's position near Assye. The enemy's cavalry also made an attempt to charge the 74th regiment, at the moment when they were most exposed to this fire, but they were cut up 2 by the British cavalry, which moved on at that moment. At length the enemy's line gave way in all directions, and the British cavalry cut in among their broken infantry; but some of their corps went off in good order, and a fire was kept up on our troops from many of the guns from which the enemy had been first driven, by individuals who had been passed by the line under the supposition that they were dead. Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell, with the British cavalry, charged one large body of infantry, which had retired, and was formed again, in which operation he was killed; and some time elapsed before we could put an end to the straggling 10 fire, which was kept up by individuals from the guns from which the enemy were driven.11 The enemy's cavalry also, which had been hovering 12 round us throughout the action, were still near us. At length, when the last formed body of infantry gave way, the whole went off, and left in our hands 90 pieces of cannon. The victory, which was certainly complete, has, however, cost us dear. Your Excellency will perceive, by the enclosed return,13 that our loss in officers and men has allow a substantive qualified by several adjectives to take the mark of the plural. The reason given by grammarians is, that in such a case, the phrase is elliptical, as, for instance, here, it is for la première ligne et la deuxième ligne. This reason is bad, and the rule absurd; but absurd though it be, it is generally observed, except, however, when the adjectives follow the substantive (as at p. 138, n. 11), in which case the best authors have almost invariably broken through this point of grammatical étiquette. Yet, even here, good writers would not scruple to say, des première et deuxième lignes. 1 au moment où (or que); or, alors que. 2 Use tailler en pièces.—'to move on,' in this sense, s'ébranler. 3 to give way,' in this sense, plier. 4 penetrated.' 5 to break,' here, rompre. 6 et nos troupes eurent à essuyer le feu de plusieurs des canons d'où les ennemis avaient d'abord été repoussés, soutenu par. 7 Simply, que notre ligne avait laissés pour. 8 See page 4, note 1. 11 the individuals of whom I have spoken.' 12 to hover,' here, voltiger. 13 l'état (or, le compte-rendu, or, le relevé) ci-inclus.' loss;' see page 301, n. 7. been very great; and, in that of Lieutenant Colonel Maxwell and other officers, whose names are therein included, greatly to be regretted.1 A MEMORANDUM ON THE Battle of Assye. (Subsequently transmitted.) 3 1. The information which we obtain regarding the position of an enemy whom we intend to attack is in general very imperfect. We cannot send out Natives in the 2 Company's service, who, from long habit, might be able to give an accurate account, because they, being inhabitants of the Carnatic, or Mysore, are1 as well known in this part of the country as if they were Europeans and we cannot view their positions ourselves, till we can bring up the main body of our armies, because the enemy are always surrounded by immense bodies of horse. The consequence is, that we are obliged to employ, as hircarrahs, the natives of the country, and to trust to their reports. 6 2. All the hircarrahs reported that the enemy's camp, which I had concerted with Colonel Stevenson to attack,8 was at Bokerdun. I was to attack their left, where we knew the infantry was posted; and Colonel Stevenson their right. Their camp, however, instead of being at Bokerdun, had its right to that village, and extended above six miles to 10 Assye, where was its left: it was all 11 in the district of Bokerdun, which was the cause1 of the mistake. 5 4 3. My march of the 23rd was so directed as that 2 I should be within twelve or fourteen miles of the enemy's camp on that day,3 which I supposed to be at Bokerdun. Instead of that, by the extension of their line to the eastward, I found myself within six miles of them. I there received intelligence that they were going off; at all events, whether they were about to go or to stay, I must have reconnoitred.6 I could not have reconnoitred without taking the whole of my small force; and, when I got near them, it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to retire in front of their numerous cavalry. But I determined to attack them, as I really believed the intelligence I received at Naulniah to be true.10 4. When I found the intelligence I received at Naulniah was false, that I had their whole army in my front,11 and that they had a most formidable position, three or four times my number of infantry only,12 and a vast quantity of cannon,13 I deliberated whether I should withdraw, and attack on the following morning, according to the plan. 5. The consequence of my withdrawing 14 would have been, that I should have been followed to Naulniah by their cavalry, and possibly should have found it difficult 1 See page 29, note 2, and page 117, note 14. We also use causer (to cause, to occasion): être la cause de, &c., may, however, be used, and the rule at note 2 of p. 29 is not absolute in this case; but, before que, the article must be left out, as, vous êtes cause que je me suis brûlé les doigts (I have burnt my fingers through you'). — 'which; see page 8, note 6. 2 so as that,' de telle façon que. See page 10, note 3, and page 3, note 18.- within,' à environ. 4 There I received (page 254, note 1) intelligence.' intelligence,' avis, in this sense, preceded by no article. 5 de toute manière. |