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Monday 28 July 2014

The Battle of Assaye 1803

The Second Post of mine to be inspired by Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series - The Battle of Assaye in September of 1803 is the centre of the novel - Sharpe's Triumph 


Major General Arthur Wellesley (later First Duke of Wellington) (mounted) commanding his troops at the Battle of Assaye
The Battle of Assaye - is one of the most decisive battles, and lopsided British victories I have ever read about.  It was a major battle in the fields outside of the small Indian village of Assaye, part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War, fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company in September of 1803.

Originally one large army, in August 1803 - General Arthur Wellesley separated his force, and gave half of it to the command of Colonel James Stevenson. By dividing his army, Wellesley thought he would be able to seek out the Maratha faster - and support the other Army once the enemy was located. Stevenson's army throughout the summer continued a hot pursuit of Maratha cavalry that continued to raid into Hyderbad. 

In September, Wellesley received intelligence that the Maratha had created an encampment, and he planned on attacking them while they were unprepared. Wellesley anticipated that it would take three days for his army to travel to meet the Maratha Army, but the Maratha encampment was nearly 10km farther south than Wellesley's intelligence suggested, meaning the two armies converged after two days.

The Maratha Army of nearly 70,000 infantry and cavalry was under the command of Colonel Anthony Pohlmann, a German native, who was previously a Sergeant in the British East India Company - and had sold his services to the highest bidder. Pohlmann had received word that Wellesley and Stevenson were planning to converge on his camp, and established himself on the far side of the River Kaitna and River John, and fortified the only two fords that were thought to exist - believing they would destroy the British red coats when they attempted to cross the river.

When Wellesley first say the fields that would become the battle field, he feared crossing the river at the known fords, until he saw the villages of Peepulgaon and Waroor on opposite sides of the river. Despite local intelligence that no ford existed, Wellesley knew that the two neighbouring villages must be connected. He was right. Wellesley's Army was able to cross the river with little resistance from the Maratha Army.

During the crossing, the Maratha cannons fired on the crossing infantry units - and started to do their damage - the fords did not allow the British to bring their artillery across the river - and the Infantry and Indian units would advance in a tight line within musket range of the gunners.  The Maratha had 98 cannons firing at the advancing the British line, which would cause major casualties on the advancing British line.

Where the battle was won was on the 74th and 78th Highlander Infantry Front - both units sent a battalion of pickets marching towards the firing artillery - and continued to within musket range. The Maratha had never seen a single unit so determined - as the kilted 78th continued their advance - following the volley musket fire - they charged with bayonets which caused the gunners to abandon their positions. When the awaiting Maratha saw their gunners where overrun by a single British unit - many began to run in fear. The 74th had misunderstood Wellesley's orders and on their approach came too close to the village of Assaye. Assaye - which meant they were partly surrounded by the remaining Maratha artillery and the artillery from Assaye. The 74th used the bodies of their dead comrades to protect themselves from the continued oncoming fire, while at the same time attacked by the Maratha cavalry from their rear. Wellesley realized that if the 74th was destroyed the right flank would be open - and sent in British cavalry to support them.

Once the cavalry arrived to support the 74th - the remaining Maratha Army began to flee - and Wellesley - with his Army of approximately 10,000 infantry and cavalry - had defeated the Maratha Army of 70,000 - but this came at a great cost. The British East India Company and the British Army suffered 428 killed, 1138 wounded and 18 MIA, while the Maratha army -  suffered more than 6,000 casualties and lost 98 cannons captured.

The 74th started with a strength of about 500 men - had ten officers killed, 7 more officers wounded. Another 124 men from the ranks were killed and another 270 wounded. the 74th Picket Battalion only had 75 men remaining.

Stevenson and his Army never made it to the Battle - although they were only 10 km West - he was mislead by his guide - who he later executed believing that he was purposely mislead. Wellesley for the rest of his career described Assaye as his Greatest victory, but the "bloodiest for the numbers that he ever saw"

Remembering History - The Battle of Assaye - 1803 

Sunday 20 July 2014

The Siege of Seringapatam 1799

I have recently taken to reading Bernard Cornwell's Richard Shape novels. In his first novel, Sharpe's Tiger the main character Private Sharpe serving in the Kings Army in India takes part in the Siege of Seringapatam. Following finishing the book - I opted to do some research on the battle that was the main focus of the novel.

The Last Effort and Fall of Tippoo Sultan by Henry Singleton
The Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 was the second siege of the great fortress city by the British Red Coats - the first occurred in 1792. In 1799, after several years of the Tipu Sultan's rule, the British decided that it was time to replace him as the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore - and the siege ended the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, which had been waging for a year, and was the final of the Anglo-Mysore Wars.

The Tipu Sultan believed that with Napoleon's landing in Egypt in 1798 would lead to France challenging British rule in India. The Tipu had several French officers in his service, and believed that if he could defeat the British and their allies, he would be welcomed by Napoleon for making his conquering of India easier. Colonel Arthur Wellseley (later the 1st Duke of Wellington) had other ideas, and marched his Army towards Seringapatam to end the Tipu's rule.

When the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War broke out, the British assembled in to large armies under General George Harris, with troops from the British East India Company, and local Indian Sepoys - mainly supplied by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The two forces together numbered some 50,000 Infantry and cavalry. They faced a fortified city with the Tipu's forces numbering 30,000 - largely diminished following the third Anglo-Mysore War.

Although outnumbered the Tipu had planned to massacre the British troops when they breached the walls of Seringapatam. During the siege of 1792, the British breached the North-West Wall and captured the city. Harris and Wellseley planned to breach the same part of the walls, as it had been poorly rebuilt - not knowing the Tipu had planted a large mine beneath the wall, and built a secondary wall behind the first. The Tipu planned to ignite the mine when the British breached the exterior wall, and got themselves trapped between the two walls.

Over night on May 1st, the British established their batteries and began their breach on May 2nd at Sunrise. The batteries of Hyderabad opened a practical breach in the outer wall early in the morning hours, and they were lucky enough that one of their artillery rounds struck the mine beneath the wall, causing it to detonate prematurely.

On May 4th in the mid afternoon- the British 73rd and 74th Highland Regiments climbed the breach and the ramparts attacking the city - and the Tipu's forces quickly surrendered to the fearsome Scottish troops. The British attacked during the hottest hour of the day - as it caught the Tipu's forces re-hydrating. Within 16 minutes of assaulting the great city - the British had complete control of the city - and the Tipu was found dead in the Water Gate - having been shot several times.

Two of the Tipu's cannons which were caputured during the battle are now displayed at the Royal Military College in Sandhurt, and the Tipu's Tiger - an automaton was captured and is now on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Add captionTipu's Tiger in the V&A Museum, London showing the prostrate European being attacked

Remembering History - The Siege of Seringapatam 1799