Battle of Assaye: Difference between revisions

The sound of the guns at Assaye was heard by [[James Stevenson (soldier)|Stevenson]] who immediately broke up his camp {{convert|10|mi|km}} to the west in an attempt to join the battle. However, he was misled by his guide and marched first on [[Bhokardan|Borkardan]] before he reached the battlefield on the evening of 24 September. Suspecting that his guide had intentionally led him astray, Stevenson later had him hanged.<ref>Biddulph p. 146.</ref> He remained with Wellesley to assist with the wounded&nbsp;– troops were still being carried from the battlefield four days after the engagement&nbsp;– until ordered to recommence the pursuit of the Maratha army on 26 September.<ref name="Cooper117" /> Wellesley remained to the south while he established a hospital at [[Ajantha, Maharashtra|Ajanta]] and awaited reinforcements from [[Poona]].<ref name="Corrigan78" /> Two months later, he combined with Stevenson to rout Scindia and Berar's demoralised and weakened army at [[Argaon]], and shortly afterwards stormed Berar's fortress at [[Gawilghur]]. These victories, coupled with Lieutenant General [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|Lake]]'s successful campaign in the north, induced the two Maratha chiefs to sue for peace.<ref>Holmes p. 82.</ref>

Wellesley later told Stevenson that "I should not like to see again such a loss as I sustained on the 23rd September, even if attended by such a gain",<ref>Gurwood p. 170.</ref> and in later life he referred to Assaye as "the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw".<ref name="Holmes81" /> Lieutenant Colonel [[Sir Thomas Munro, 1st Baronet|Thomas Munro]], the Company's [[district collector]] at [[Mysore]], was critical of the high proportion of casualties and questioned Wellesley's decision not to wait for Stevenson. He wrote to Wellesley: "I am tempted to think that you did it with a view of sharing the glory with the smallest numbers".<ref name="Bradshaw121">Bradshaw pp. 121–132.</ref> In response, Wellesley politely rebuffed Munro's accusations and defended his action as necessary because he had received and acted upon incorrect intelligence regarding the Maratha position.<ref name="Bradshaw121" /> Assaye was 34-year-old Wellesley's first major success and despite his anguish over the heavy losses, it was a battle he always held in the highest estimation. After his retirement from active military service, the [[Duke of Wellington]] (as he later became known) considered Assaye the finest thing he ever did in the way of fighting even when compared to his later military career.<ref name="Holmes81" /><ref>Wellesley p. 20.</ref>