Siege of Agra (1803)

01Divided defenders

Agra had been one of Scindia’s main strongholds in Hindustan since Mahadji’s day. In October 1803 its garrison was in disorder: its European officers had been locked up by their own men, who distrusted them after Perron’s flight. Several battalions lay camped outside the walls in the town and ravines. On 10 October Lake attacked these and drove them in after hard fighting among the buildings, taking their guns.

02The fort gives in

Most of the beaten battalions took service with the Company. Lake then raised breaching batteries against the red sandstone walls of Akbar’s fort. Once they had opened fire and a breach was begun, the garrison asked for terms and marched out on 18 October. Lake took a large treasure and a park of guns, and left almost at once to hunt down the last of Scindia’s northern brigades, which he caught at Laswari on 1 November.

Battle · 11 September 1803Battle of Delhi (1803)In the Second Anglo-Maratha War, Lake’s army beat Scindia’s European-trained brigades outside Delhi. For forty years the Marathas had kept the Mughal emperor; now the Company did.Read →