Wellington said that of all, the battle of Assaye from the Second Mahratta War (1803-05) in central India, was 'the bloodiest for the numbers that I ever saw'. The East India Company's army of 19,000 men, under major-general Arthur Wellesley, was sent to put down a rebellion in October 1802 of Mahratta warriors. On 23 September 1803, Wellesley encountered what he had thought to be an infantry force, but which turned out to be the entire army of his opponents in a strong position near to the Kaitna River. This book examines the bitter 3-hour battle, which was won by Wellesley's coolness and inspiring leadership.