I 



422 



A HISTORY OF CAVALRY. 



[period IV. 



: 



commander. Frederick had already invented horse - 

 artillery. Lake adopted this idea, and attached two 

 light six-pound guns to each regiment, worked by men 

 selected from the ranks. These guns were also supplied 

 with spare horses, so that nothing should delay their rapid 

 movement, or prevent them being always able to keep 

 up with the cavalry. 



During the winter of 1802, and spring of 1803, this 

 general carefully drilled and exercised his force, which 

 consisted of three English dragoon regiments, and five 

 regiments of auxiliary light cavalry, with sixteen guns, 

 equipped and horsed, so as to be able to accompany the 

 horsemen at speed. The result was that Lake had an 

 effective force, which combined fire with rapidity of 

 movement. 



A force of this kind was necessary to meet the enemy 

 which it was intended to encounter. The Mahrattas, as 

 we have said, had in their armies large bodies of 

 light horse of predatory instincts, who fought like the 

 Parthians or Cossacks, and moving with a celerity far 

 greater than that of the English troops, could attack 

 unguarded points, and escape when beaten or pursued. 



Holkar, who, after the defeat of the Scindiah and the 

 Berar Rajah, in the bittles of Assaye, Argoum, Delhi, 

 and Laswarie, commenced operations against the English, 

 had under his command over 60,000 light horse of the 

 true Mahratta type, and about 130 guns.' 



The campaign opened in 1804. At first the Mahratta 

 chieftain was successful, for he defeated a combined 

 movement made against him by Colonels Murray and 

 Monson. On the approach of the main army, however, 

 under Lord Lake, Holkar separated his army, sending 

 the regular infantry and guns southwards, while he 

 Btarted himself, with his immense force of horsemen, on 

 a raid towards the north. 



Lake's measures were promptly taken. Leaving his 

 own infantry and heavy guns, under General Eraser, to 

 look after the enemy's foot-soldiers, he set out with six 

 of the regiments of cavalry he had so carefully trained, 



> Havelock, 129. 



