BATTLE OF ASSAYE. 159 



of this circumstance as the only footing upon which the 

 enemy could be induced to engage in regular battle. But 

 this plea is refuted by one of his interesting letters to Sir 

 Thomas Munro, where he disclaims any intention of acting 

 separately from Colonel Stevenson, and admits himself to 

 have been taken considerably by surprise when he disco- 

 vered the whole Indian army assembled on the plain of 

 Assaye. He judged, however, that had he then attempted to 

 retreat, the hostile cavalry would have pressed closely upon 

 him, and probably caused some loss, besides a depression 

 of the spirits and courage of the troops. Sir Thomas, rather 

 a severe military critic, observes, " If there was any thing 

 wrong, it was in giving battle ; but in the conduct of the 

 action every thing was right. General Wellesley gave every 

 part of his army its full share ; left no part of it unemployed ; 

 but supported, sometimes with cavalry, sometimes with 

 infantry, every point that was pressed at the very moment 

 that it was most necessary." In regard to the result also, 

 it has been said that the enemy suffered so little of actual 

 loss as to render the battle very indecisive. But besides 

 the capture of their formidable artillery, and the extensive 

 dispersion which in undisciplined armies always follows 

 defeat, it appears probable that this triumph, achieved by 

 so great a disparity of numbers, produced a moral effect 

 greater than would have arisen from a much more decisive 

 victory gained under ordinary circumstances. There is 

 something extremely sensitive in the Indian mind, that is 

 acted upon with extraordinary force by whatever is strange 

 or unexpected. Such displays of valour they never fail to 

 exaggerate, attaching to them a mysterious efficacy which 

 partakes deeply of the supernatural. It was on the field of 

 Assaye perhaps that the spirit of India was vanquished ; 

 and Hindostan, after that fatal day, was viewed by its people 

 as having passed into the hands of invincible conquerors. 



After this victory Sindia proceeded to make separate 

 overtures ; but as they were presented at first through pri- 

 vate and unaccredited channels, which he might afterward 

 disown, no proceeding could be founded upon them. The 

 commander-in-chief directed Colonel Stevenson to reduce 

 the great city of Burhanpoor and the adjoining fort of 

 Asseerghur, which bore the reputation of being almost 

 impregnable. The town yielded without opposition, and 



