“No footing for an elephant or horse, but waist-deep water for the warrior”— if such a variation were introduced to the old riddle, it would be a fitting description for Wellesley in the Battle of Assaye.
Arthur Wellesley, later famously known as Lord Wellington, was one of the most distinguished commanders in world military history. This British commander, who finally defeated Napoleon Bonaparte, the conqueror of Europe, in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, spent his early military career in India. His clash with the forces of Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu is also well-known.
Many believe that his elder brother, Richard Wellesley, being the Governor-General of India at the time, was helpful in his official career. However, it is also a fact that what made him a brilliant war strategist was his keen observation skills and an uncanny ability to think beyond the knowledge he had acquired in training and experience. Both of these can be seen in the actions he took in the Battle of Assaye.
The battle was against the Maratha army. In 1803, Wellesley captured the city of Poona (modern-day Pune) and was marching towards Ahmednagar in pursuit of the Marathas when he received information that a large enemy army was waiting to attack him at Assaye, a place where the Kaitna River and the Juva River converge.
It was the time after the monsoon, and the rivers were in full flow. He learned from the locals that there was only one place where the Kaitna was shallow for the army to cross. When he went to inspect that spot, he found Maratha cannons guarding the other side. It was almost certain that the attack plan would have to be abandoned.
But he couldn't let it go. As he rode his horse back and forth along the riverbank several times, he noticed two villages facing each other on both banks. If there were villages facing each other on both banks, there must be a way to cross the river – Wellesley concluded. He sent his engineers to inspect the spot, and they confirmed it was true.
He brought his army across the river slowly, in small groups. By the time the Maratha army realised what was happening and rushed over, the bulk of Wellesley's army had already reached the other bank. Having crossed the river, he began a cannon attack on one flank of the Maratha army. The Marathas, turning quickly, fought fiercely. The battle lasted three hours, at the end of which the Marathas admitted defeat.
Although his most famous victory was Waterloo, Wellesley himself admitted later that Assaye was the most difficult battle in his career.