WAR BREAKS OUT ANEW. 141 



authority to them " to assist in tranquillizing the dissen- 

 sions of the Mahratta state ;" to promote which object he 

 sent Colonel Leslie with a strong detachment to march 

 across the centre of India from Bengal to the western 

 coast. 



The authorities at Bombay were not only highly elated 

 by the sanction thus given to their schemes, but even 

 adopted the rash resolution of accomplishing them with 

 their own resources, lest the glory should be shared by the 

 troops under Colonel Leslie. In vain did Mr. Draper 

 represent the importance of delay till their forces should be 

 concentrated. Mr. Carnac, who had now the lead in the 

 council, not only carried his point of immediately opening 

 the campaign, but was himself placed at the head of a 

 committee to aid in the direction of military operations. 

 The command, in consequence of the claims of seniority, 

 devolved on Colonel Egerton, whose health was extremely 

 infirm, and who had acquired all his military experience in 

 Germany, — so that an Indian war presented a scene alto- 

 gether new to him. However, a force of 3900 men, of 

 whom only 600 were British, landed at Panwell, and ad- 

 vanced to attack the capital of the Mahratta empire. The 

 march of an army in India, encumbered with baggage, 

 bullocks, and beasts of burden, is always slow ; but the 

 tardiness of this movement was altogether unprecedented. 

 In eleven days they had not cleared above eight miles. A 

 week more brought them, on the 9th January, 1779, to the 

 village of Tullygaom, where they found in front an army 

 of about 50,000 men, who began to skirmish in their usual 

 desultory manner. They did not, however, venture on a 

 serious attack ; but though nothing had occurred which 

 might not have been foreseen with the utmost certainty, 

 Mr. Carnac and Colonel Cockburn, who, in consequence 

 of Colonel Egerton's sickness, had succeeded to the com- 

 mand, formed the determination, from which nothing could 

 dissuade them, of immediate retreat. Such a step, in the 

 face of a Mahratta host, with their clouds of cavalry, was 

 more perilous than the boldest advance. The English 

 troops had scarcely begun to retrograde when their rear- 

 guard was assailed by the whole force of the enemy. For- 

 tunately it was commanded by Captain Hartley, a young 

 officer of high rank and rising reputation, who gallantly 



