Anglo-Nepalese War - First Campaign - Soldier Morale

Soldier Morale

The final Gorkhali Army success of this period was in a way the most devastating to the opposition's morale. On 17 February word reached Martindell at Jaithak of the approach of a small party of two hundred Gorkhali Army reinforcements moving from Malaon to Jaithak. Lieutenant Young with some two thousand irregulars was sent out to intercept them. Contact was made, and the Gorkhali Army was surrounded. The Gorkhali realized that there was little hope of victory, so they decided to die in battle rather than face the ignominy of surrender. With khukuri in hand they charged the irregulars, even though they were outnumbered ten to one. The irregulars broke before them, their morale shattered. From that time on the Gorhkali Army treated the irregulars with contempt and whenever they encountered a force of irregulars, no matter how strong, they charged. Regardless of numbers, the irregulars were never once able to withstand the hill men and their khukuris. By the same token, a strong sense of mutual admiration started to take hold between the British regulars and the Gorkhali.