Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/203

Rh The attack was irresistible. One by one the hostile positions were carried. At nine o'clock the enemy were in complete flight, utterly disorganised, having lost all their guns — ten battalions of their infantry having previously surrendered.

De Boigne then received orders to invade Jódhpúr. He proceeded at once to the siege of Ajmír, but learning that the Rájpúts had assembled a considerable army at Mírtá, he left about 2700 men to blockade Ajmír and started to attack the enemy.

At daybreak on the 12th September, de Boigne assailed the enemy's position. By nine o'clock he had obtained a complete victory. He gained this victory notwithstanding a false movement made by one of his lieutenants, and which for a time left his right wing exposed to the incessant charges of the Rahtór cavalry. The Savoyard, however, showed himself quite equal to the occasion. At nine o'clock, as I have said, the Rájpúts were beaten; at ten o'clock their camp and all their guns and baggage were captured; at three p.m., the town of Mirtá was taken by assault. Peace followed this decisive victory.

Sindia had now satisfied himself as to the immense advantage he had derived from possessing a corps d'armée armed and disciplined on the European principle — and commanded by a de Boigne. The troops thus disciplined and thus organised had disposed of his Mahomedan and Rájpút enemies, but he still looked for more at their hands. It must never be lost sight of