pappabearbooks 47. Battle of Asayer 1
47. Battle of Asayer 1
Time quickly passed to September 1803, and the weather on the Deccan Plateau began to change from the dry season to the rainy season.
Meanwhile, Dugan's 108th Infantry Regiment had completed its expansion and, according to plan, began its advance toward Kanur.
The 108th Infantry Regiment spent more than 20 days "playing and fighting" along the way from Bangalore to Kanur.
Given Dugan's record of massacres against the guerrillas in Omarachi, no Marata group dared to go and die upon hearing that Dugan was coming.
The 108th Infantry Regiment almost entirely ended their journey by sightseeing along the way.
On the afternoon of September 8, when the 108th Infantry Regiment arrived at its designated garrison in Guti, Dugan ordered the troops not to enter the city and instead choose to remain stationed in the wilderness.
By September 12, under Lord Congriffin's unified command, the commanders of the various infantry and cavalry regiments besieging Kanul came to Guti to learn from Dugan how to use a scorched-earth policy and repeated sweeps to suppress the guerrillas.
Of course, Dugan was not stingy with his knowledge and shared his experience with his colleagues without reservation.
By the end of September, a tight encirclement had been formed around Kanur.
The number of local residents killed by British troops for refusing to relocate has not decreased; some say it is several thousand, others say tens of thousands.
But none of this has anything to do with Dugan.
Because Dugan received new orders, Major General Wellesley ordered him to immediately take his 108th Infantry Regiment to a place called Asaya.
"Assaye? The Battle of Assaye?" Dugan recalled the name of the place, the very place where Wellesley had become famous.
According to the Duke of Wellington's own memoirs, Wellington felt that the Battle of Assaya was his masterpiece, not Waterloo.
"By order of a forced march to Asaye," Dugan said to Major McKenzie, who looked to be in relatively good health.
"Yes, sir." Major McKenzie's splint had just been removed from one of his hands.
According to the map, it would take at least 15 days to get from Kanur to Asay, but Dugan demanded that they arrive within 10 days.
So when Dugan arrived in Asay on the 10th day, he discovered that at least 200 people in his group had fallen behind or gone missing.
Dugan summoned the officers and gave them a severe dressing-down. "If you can't manage your troops in the next 15 days, I don't mind hanging you all and promoting your deputies to replace you."
When Dugan arrived at the location designated by Wellesley for the military meeting, he was immediately shocked by what he saw.
"Look at our opponents, the combined forces of Cynthia and Bornsler."
Major General Wellesley lowered his binoculars and waved towards the distance.
All the officers looked in the direction he was pointing.
On the vast plain between the Kelna and Joa rivers, the allied camps of Cindia and Bornsler stretched for miles, campfires blazing like stars across the land. Tents dotted the ground, flags fluttered, and horses neighed—a scene of pre-battle clamor.
A rough estimate suggests that the enemy forces numbered over 40,000, while Major General Wellesley, including the newly arrived 108th Infantry Regiment, had fewer than 18,000 men.
This four- to five-fold difference in troop strength is enough to put any commander under pressure.
Even if Dugan was a time traveler, and even if he knew that the British had won the battle in history, he still felt his heart racing and his breathing becoming rapid.
Dugan didn't speak, just stood there silently, then exchanged a glance with Colonel Stevenson, who was standing to the side.
Compared to the others, Major General Wellesley seemed full of confidence at this moment. He pointed to the Maratha camp and said, "Gentlemen, this is our enemy. Their vanguard, commanded by Colonel Anthony Boullmann, a French mercenary officer from Cindia, has crossed the upper reaches of the Narmada River and established an outpost near Burhampur."
"According to reports, the total strength of the Allied forces was between 40,000 and 50,000. Among them, the Sindia forces numbered about 28,000, including eight standing infantry regiments trained by French officers, equipped with French-made eight-pound field guns and a small number of howitzers; the Bornsler forces numbered about 15,000, mainly Maratha cavalry, but poorly equipped with outdated artillery. In addition, there were about 3,000 mercenaries of various origins—Arabs, Afghans, and even a few retired British artillery officers, who were hired at high salaries to train gunners."
"French-trained infantry regiments," Wellesley repeated the phrase, a cold smile playing on his lips. "They're copying us. Our tactics, our formations, even our commands. But they're only scratching the surface. Gentlemen, when have the French ever won a firefight against us?"
Wellesley's witty remark was met with scattered laughter, which could be considered as agreement.
Blake took the binoculars and observed carefully for a moment: "General, their gun positions are... very standard. The field of fire covers the entire open area in front. If we attack from the front, we'll suffer at least three volleys of fire before we even get within range of the muskets. And..."
Captain Blake paused. "Their artillery appears to be commanded by Europeans; the way they move ammunition and clean the breech is very professional. At least it looks that way."
Major General Wellesley nodded.
"As you can see, Cynthia spared no expense in hiring French officers and training infantry and artillery according to the European model, all for this day: to confront the British head-on on the open plains using European tactics."
Wellesley then waved his arm and said, "But we will crush them inch by inch with our bayonets."
Wellesley waved again, and the staff officer signaled for the regimental commanders to follow.
Back in the makeshift command tent, we spread out the map.
Inside the tent were only him and a few key staff officers: Captain Black, infantry commander Colonel John Blackney, and his adjutant and close friend, Major John Malcolm.
"Gentlemen..." Arthur pointed to the Allied artillery positions on the map with a pencil. "This is the key. Cynthia has concentrated his best artillery on the left flank to protect his flank and cover the center with crossfire. If we can take down this artillery position, his entire left flank will be exposed, and the central line will lose vital fire support."
"But how do we take it down?" Colonel Blackney frowned. "That artillery position is in front of open ground, and it's protected by cavalry on the flanks. If we launch a direct assault, we'll be exposed to enemy fire from the center and right flank."
Arthur's pencil drew an arc on the map, extending from the right flank of the British positions, making a large circle, and finally pointing to the rear of the Allied artillery positions on the left flank.
Dugan understood Wellesley's intention, and Wellesley said, "So we can't attack head-on, we have to launch a surprise attack. Use the Highland Infantry Brigade. They are good at fighting in mountainous and complex terrain. Tonight at midnight, under cover of darkness, have them set out from our right flank, advance covertly along this dry riverbed, and reach this position before dawn."
The group bent down and saw a pencil mark on a spot labeled "Old Brick Kiln".
"Lie in here. When the general offensive begins tomorrow, and the enemy's attention is drawn to our feint attack on the front, the Highland Brigade will suddenly burst out from this position and head straight for the artillery positions. The distance is about 800 yards, all downhill, and the charge will take no more than three minutes. Within three minutes, we must rush into the gun positions, take out the gunners, and destroy the artillery."
The group straightened up and began to look at each other; the tent fell silent.
Everyone knows how risky this plan is.
The Highland Brigade was to penetrate deep into enemy territory alone, lie in ambush on the enemy's flank and rear all night, and then launch an attack on one of the enemy's most fortified positions without any support.
If they are discovered in advance, or if their charge is thwarted, the entire brigade may be wiped out.
"General, this is too risky," Major Malcolm finally spoke up.