Battle of Assaye 1803
Graham Priest looks at the arms and armour of the 1803 battle that followed Seringapatam
More tales of the man who would become the Duke of Wellington as Graham Priest looks at the arms and armour of the 1803 battle that followed Seringapatam.
The Honourable Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) acquitted himself well at Seringapatam in April/ May 1799 so became governor of the captured city after the siege. As a Colonel he received about 10,000 sultany pagodas in jewels and cash (£5,000) as Prize Money. Technically he owed his elder brother Lord Mornington, Governor General of India, more than this, but was released from the loan. On 11 September his superior, Lieutenant General George Harris, was transferred and so Wellesley was given overall command of the area.
Around Mysore, Mornington began to disenfranchise other rulers with the intention to gain control of all Northern India. A treaty of 25 October 1799 reinstated the Raja of Tanjore Serfoji II’s lost throne with an annual pension of four lakhs of rupees, but the East India Company (EIC) absorbed his kingdom as the Tanjore District (Madras Presidency). Umdat ul-Umara, Nawab of Arcot, was accused of supporting Tipoo Sultan so forced to allow EIC administration of his estates. On the succession of Azim-udDaula on 31 July 1801 all his lands in the Carnatic were ceded entirely. Company control now surrounded Oudh towards the Himalayas and abutted Maratha (Daulat Rao Scindia) domains. An EIC mutual defence treaty with the Nizam of Hyderabad Asif Jah II caused more concern as Maratha irregular cavalry (pindarries) were paid with 16.7% of spoil gained during raids across their borders.
The Maratha ethos was based on sophisticated military systems. Any innovation or agent of advantage, regardless of creed, nationality or social status, was absorbed quickly. Particular focus on artillery and infantry techniques had already trounced Mughal adversaries in the past. Renegade French, English, Dutch and American officers helped in the circumvention of EIC attempts at arms control. By 1785 Scindia had encouraged metalsmiths to cast cannon (instead of temple ornaments) and forge
flintlock musket parts. New muskets were created from scrapped EIC components after an attempt was made to deactivate them before sale in Bombay market. In 1792 some were obtained complete when dishonest storekeepers connived with mercenaries, like Captain Peter Gossan, to supply the Marathas. A Maratha arms manufactory was set up in Agra by George Sangster in 1790. Frenchman Benoit de Boigne was hired by Mahadji Shinde in 1784. Lucknow arsenal, under French superintendent Claude Martin, supplied English style muskets to de Boigne until 1787. He was required to train infantry and artillery along European lines and had a force of 27,000 with 130 cannon by 1793.
De Boigne organised his infantry into compoos.A compoo originally had 10 infantry battalions of 4,000 men, each with one howitzer and four 6pdr cannon. Officers and gunners were European, often French, Portuguese or English. In addition a compoo had three 12pdr-24pdr siege guns (many bronze), mortars and camel-mounted rampart guns. Some Arab or Sikh sharpshooters (hetkari) used very accurate matchlocks. By 1803 there were five compoos and a battalion consisted of 700 musketeers (paek) led by 40 sub-officers (saat, hazari, jamdar, halvadar, naik) under one or two European generals.
Less emphasis was placed on cavalry but horsemen were more numerous than any other force. Regular bargirs were fully financed by the kingdom, silladars maintained their own mount and weapons and irregular pindarries were basically horsed bandits. Official ranks were panch hazari, hazari, jumledar and havaldar all led by a sarnobat.
Artillery was largely integrated with the infantry, usually commanded by Goan captains with Maratha lascar labourers. Some of the cannon made from iron and brass were very advanced.
After 5 April 1771, when Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Windus became Inspector of Small Arms and Accoutrements for the several Presidencies, a simplified EIC flintlock musket was introduced. He supervised until October 1787 but the weapon remained in production until 1817. The firearm was adopted by the Board of Ordnance (BO) as the India Pattern in 1797. Due to the perceived knowledge that sepoys were of lighter build than European soldiers the barrel was reduced in length from 42in to 39in to reduce weight. The matched socket bayonets had 16in blades, unlike the regular 17in of the BO models. The EIC bayonets had more secure fixation by means of an external spring on the tube. It is likely that the Madras infantrymen and Maratha musketeers carried the same weapon. Madras received 59,000 new muskets between 1775-79 and by 1780 all but 5,225 had been issued from the arsenal at Fort St George. Royal troops in India originally carried the Short Land Pattern musket with its higher quality production, longer barrel and socket bayonet retained by a simple zig-zag mortise. By 1803 this had been exchanged for the India Pattern built to BO specifications with its catchless 17in bladed bayonet.
Maratha swords, spears and daggers were of prolific designs, many unique, as were matchlock firearms. Many were finely decorated and worn with matched shields, armour and helmets. As some European artisans, especially French, were involved in production knowledge of other national muskets might have influenced the weapons. The reconstituted Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales might have produced fusils d'infanterie between 1785 and 1794 that were on Maratha inventories.
Mornington noticed the animosity
between the dominant Maratha factions under Yashwant Rao Holkar and Scindia and the potential for unwanted French involvement. When the former overcame the latter, together with Maratha overlord (Peshwa) Baji Rao II, at the Battle of Poona (25 October 1802) he saw his chance. Baji fled, with a call for help, to Bassein in EIC territory. Scindia went home. The 31 December 1802 Treaty of Bassein gave the EIC control, and Poona a garrison of 6,000 men, in return for restoration of the Peshwa in the city. Wellesley fulfilled the treaty with an army of 15,000 and 9,000 Hyderabad supporters. However when Baji was enthroned on 13 May 1803 the other Marathas were deeply offended. Despite ongoing negotiations Holkar raided the area of Hyderabad and the various chieftains formed a confederation, together with the Rajah of Berar Raghuji Bhonsle II, against the EIC and then gathered troops. More discussions failed to calm the situation so on 6 August Wellesley declared the start of the 2nd Anglo-Maratha War.
Wellesley gathered an army of 19th Light Dragoons with nine squadrons of EIC Native Cavalry (NC), two battalions (bn) of Royal 74 and 78th Foot, five bn of EIC Madras Native Infantry (NI) (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 and 1/10), 28 cannon and 5,400 Mysore and Maratha irregular cavalry. A subsidiary force, commanded by Colonel James Stevenson, had six squadrons of NC, a 94th Foot bn and six bn of Madras NI (2/2, 1/6, 2/7, 2/9 and 1 and 2/11) with 16 cannon. They followed Maratha horsemen when they moved south to raid Hyderabad. Ahmednugger was captured from Scindia on 12 August. Two days later an erratic pursuit of Scindia and Berar began around the valleys of the Rivers Godavery, Dudna and Purnar. The combined Maratha army planned to concentrate at Borkarden.
Spies discovered two or three compoos of infantry (20,000 men), 40,000 cavalry and some 100 artillery pieces. Wellesley’s force was about 9,500 with 17 cannon. Stevenson’s force was similar but planned to manoeuver elsewhere. On 21 September the location of the Maratha encampment was uncovered and a pincer movement started to be fulfilled within three days. However after the units divided much of the opposing army was found to be at Assaye on the bank of the River Kailna 6 miles (9.7km) closer than expected.
Maratha forces were spread along the north bank of the Kailna with rear protection provided by its Juah tributary. Scindia and Berar so outnumbered Wellesley’s troops that they moved many men away but left Hanoverian mercenary Colonel Anthony Pohlmann with a large contingent at the river junction. He had a compoo of six well-trained battalions, 500 horsemen and 40 guns. With him was Dutch Major John Dupont’s (Filoze compoo) four bn with 20 cannon, Swiss Colonel Jean Saleur's (Begum Somru compoo) five more with 25 pieces and Bapoji Scindia’s artillery with 125 guns, 20% heavy. Some 16,000 cavalry supported the infantry. Berar left 20,000 riders and a Beni Singh compoo of seven bn with 35 field guns.
Pohlmann formed the Scindia infantry and artillery on the bluffs defending a ford over the Kailna. Most cavalry was
posted to their rear with a smaller group on the south bank and the Beni Singh compoo arrayed around Assaye, also behind the main force.
Much to Maratha amazement, after a swift reconnoitre on 23 September, Wellesley left his baggage, guarded by
1/2 Madras NI, at the village of Naulniah and headed for a second ford to the east of their positions. In a column, which he led, picquets preceded the 74th over the Kailna. Madras troops followed and then the 78th rearguard. Irregular cavalry remained behind but Dragoons and NC crossed too. Enemy cannon were quickly deployed to enfilade the crossing and Pohlmann’s infantry used their welltried routines to wheel left and face the oncomers. Wellesley’s men, with their small group of 6pdrs, formed into two columns to approach a continuous line of Marathas that stood from the river to the heavily fortified village of Assaye. Heavy gunfire from the Maratha artillery in front of the infantry began to duel and damage the EIC cannon.
An oblique advance, led by the
78th on the left and 74th on the right was ordered; with cavalry support on the right flank. Before column to line deployment to oppose the guns was completed the picquets and 74th strayed too far to the right and approached the village. Cavalry support followed up as the 78th paused about 50yd from their opponents and fired a volley at the cannoneers. The four Madras NI bn fired in sequence. The entire force then passed through the gun line bayoneting as they went. A second volley crashed into Pohlmann's infantry and the two bn adjacent to the river broke and fled. The remainder withdrew in good order and some 20,000 cavalry looked as if they would fill the gap but halted when two cannon came up and the 78th stood-to as the NI infantry rallied. The 74th and picquets were not so fortunate as they faced some 20,000 stalwart opponents with 40 guns who poured in a volley.
The survivors formed a square as they were attacked by Maratha cavalry too. Wellesley directed the 19th Light Dragoons and NC to counter-charge but the enemy gunners did not retreat so there was severe slaughter as the attack went home. Luckily the horsemen saved the day and the bargirs and others were driven off over the Juah River.
Action had not ended on the field as many Maratha gunners from the original assault had feigned death so when they were behind the victorious infantry they rose up and reversed their artillery. Fusillades hit the 78th and others in the rear. As the Maratha cavalry and Pohlmann's survivors were still a threat the NI remained to oppose them and the 78th reversed to retake the guns. Wellesley gathered the 7th Madras NC to attack the cannon from behind. Close-order fighting ensued until the pieces were regained. This time they were guarded by the NC as the 78th resumed its original position.
Pohlmann anchored his troops on the village and swung back to the banks of the Juah with the others, many of whom had yet to be engaged. This time he had lost all but 15 guns.
Wellesley’s dragoons and NC charged in from the right near Assaye and his infantry advanced en echelon to meet Pohlmann’s troops. The Marathas stood firm and raked the cavalry but when they saw the determined foot soldiers approach their resolve broke and they retreated across the river. After a few rounds, Berar’s men in Assaye joined them. The victors were too exhausted to follow up so the Marathas escaped to fight another day.
In later years Wellesley was to state that the Battle of Assaye was: ‘The bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw’. His forces lost some 428 killed, 18 missing and 1,138 wounded. As was often the case at the time only an estimate of about 6,000 casualties was made for his opponents. Despite the losses his reputation was enhanced and the experience was to stand him in good stead in the years to come.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to the individuals and organisations mentioned in the captions.