all the battalions of the regiment played an important role in the early military campaigns of the east india company and were actively engaged in the wars against the french, mysore and the marathas. their first major engagement was the decisive battle of wandiwash in 1860, which ended french colonial ambitions in india. this was followed by forty years of constant warfare against the sultans of mysore, and then the marathas chieftains. in the second maratha war of 1803–05, the 1st and 10th battalions fought in the battle of assaye under general arthur wellesley, the future duke of wellington, while the 4th battalion fought in the battles of laswari and agra in 1803, and bhurtpore in 1805. the performance of the 1st and 10th at assaye was much appreciated and they were permitted the word "assaye" with the device of an elephant on their colours and appointments. the two battalions were again engaged against the marathas during the third maratha war of 1817–19, which decisively broke the maratha power in india.