MARCH OF THE BRITISH ARMIES. 155 



and be able to cut off all connexion between their European 

 and native enemies. 



Such was the general plan of the campaign, which cer- 

 tainly had a very grand object, combining a great variety of 

 interests ; and the issue proved, that at every point adequate 

 means of success had been provided. Yet it may perhaps 

 be questioned whether it was founded on the wisest prin- 

 ciples of military policy. Would it not have been more 

 advantageous to have brought the main strength to bear 

 upon that vital part in the centre of Mahratta dominion, 

 where the armies of Sindia and of the rajah were assem- 

 bled ] By such a movement these would have been more 

 easily and completely crushed ; after which the secondary 

 objects might have been effected without difficulty, either 

 by conquest or cession. The destination of any part of the 

 force against points so insulated as Baroach and Outtack 

 seems liable to particular objection. 



On the 9th of March, 1803, General Wellesley marched 

 from his position at Hurryhur, and on the 12th entered the 

 Mahratta territory. Colonel Stevenson, at the same time, 

 broke up from Hydrabad with the subsidiary force of about 

 8000 men, and 15,000 troops furnished by the nizam. On 

 the 15th April the two divisions united at Akloos, about 70 

 miles south-east of Poonah. Holkar, on hearing of the 

 approach of the English, determined not to involve himself 

 in hostile proceedings, but retreated to Chandore, a place 

 130 miles to the northward of Poonah, — leaving Amrut Kao, 

 whom he had invested with the dignity of peishwa, with 

 only a small detachment in that capital. The general then 

 judged it unnecessary to lead his whole army to a place 

 where it could not without much difficulty procure subsist- 

 once ; but being informed by Colonel Close that there was 

 reason to apprehend Amrut Rao would set fire to the capital, 

 where part of the family of the peishwa still resided, he 

 formed a select corps of cavalry, and advanced with such 

 speed, that in thirty-two hours he reached Poonah, which 

 Amrut had hastily quitted without attempting any violence. 

 The English power being thus established in the Mahratta 

 capital, the peishwa was escorted from Bombay by a detach- 

 ment under Colonel Murray, and resumed his seat on the 

 musnud amid the congratulations of the British and native 

 armies. 



