Wellesley followed close after them, and they then turned and took
up a position to the north of Julnapoor, a town lying east of
Aurungabad. On the 2nd of September, Julnapoor was captured by
Colonel Stephenson; who afterwards made a night attack upon
Scindia's camp, inflicting considerable loss.

On the 21st the whole Mahratta army, with sixteen battalions of
regular infantry, were encamped twenty-two miles north of Julnapoor
and, the next day, the army marched against them by two routes;
Colonel Stephenson taking the western road, and General Wellesley
the eastern.

The next afternoon, when about to halt, General Wellesley learned
that the Mahrattas were encamped about six miles from him, on the
banks of the Kaitna. He determined to attack them at once, without
waiting for Colonel Stephenson; for in another day they would, in
all probability, send off their infantry, and begin to carry on a
desultory warfare with their horse.

[Illustration: Plan of the Battle of Assaye.]

The general rode on, with his staff and an escort of cavalry, and
obtained a view of the Mahratta host from rising ground. They were
in the fork formed by the junction of the Kaitna with the Juah.
Their right consisted wholly of cavalry, and was protected by the
high and rocky bank of the stream; which was, at one or two points,
impassable for guns. Their left, consisting of the infantry and
artillery, was posted in the village of Assaye, which lay near the
fork of the river.

The general determined, at once, to attack at this point. The force
under his command consisted of four battalions of Sepoys, and the
74th and 78th Regiments; with the 19th Dragoons, and three
regiments of native cavalry--in all, four thousand five hundred
men. Opposed to them were ten thousand five hundred disciplined
troops, taught and commanded by European officers; Scindia's
irregulars, and the infantry of the Rajah of Berar; with a
well-appointed train of artillery, of over a hundred guns, and some
forty thousand cavalry.

From the position in which the British force arrived they had to
march, for some distance, parallel with the river; and exposed to a
terrible artillery fire, which created such havoc, especially among
the bullocks drawing the guns, that the cavalry could not move
forward. The infantry therefore proceeded alone, crossed the Kaitna
by a ford; and then, swinging round, advanced against the village.
While they were crossing the river, the Mahratta