The 74th Highlanders at the Battle of Assaye
By David Rowlands
There was no resisting them: They captured or cut down the first line of the brave Maratha gunners
at their posts and went on to destroy the second line, despite of an audacious ruse of some first-line
men: Claiming to be dead until the red firestorm had crossed over them, they immediately jumped
back to their guns, turning them to fire into Wellesley's back. But these brave soldiers where shot
down in their turn, too.
Deprived of their guns, the Maratha did exactly what Arthur had predicted: They showed no mind to fight
such a furious enemy, turned their back and ran. This should have turned directly into his planned
terrible push from the left towards the Juah. And so it would, but for a sudden dire calamity on his right!