184 MAHRATTA WAR. 



cloud of dust, speedily threw themselves into an advanta- 

 geous position, which they strengthened hy cutting; the 

 embankment of a reservoir in their front. The cavalry were 

 led on, and had gained some advantages, when they suf- 

 fered so severely by the fire from a numerous and well- 

 served artillery, that it was judged necessary to withdraw 

 them, and Wait till the infantry came up. That force ac- 

 cordingly advanced ; but the 76th regiment, with a few 

 companies of sepoys, having arrived earlier than the others, 

 were exposed to so destructive a fire, that the general felt 

 it his wisest as well as safest plan to lead singly to the 

 charge " this handful of heroes.".' They accordingly carried 

 all before them, though with severe loss ; and when the 

 Mahratta cavalry attempted to break their thinned ranks, 

 the British horse triumphantly n ■;■• lied the charge. The 

 remainder of the foot soon appeared, and after a desperate 

 stand, the enemy, for the most part, were either destroyed 

 or made prisoners. In short, by this brilliant success 

 the entire army, formed and disciplined under Sindia by 

 British officers, and considered the finest possessed by any 

 native power, was completely annihilated. 



Besides these achievements, the detached expeditions 

 sent under Colonel Woodington into Guzerat, under Colo- 

 nel Harcourt into Cuttack, and under Colonel Powell into 

 Bundelcund, were all conducted with the most favourable 

 results ; though we have already hinted our doubts whether 

 these troops might not have been more advantageously 

 employed in strengthening the armies in the principal Bert 

 of war, and rendering the success there more prompt and 

 decisive. 



.Sindia, thus vanquished at every point, deserted by the 

 Rajah of Berar, and seeing his finest levies destroyed, felt 

 the necessity of finally relinquishing those expedients by 

 which, till now, he had Doped to avert the necessity of a 

 humiliating peace. On the 80th December, 1803, a treaty 

 was signed in General Wellesley's camp, by which he 

 ceded the Doab, or territory between the Ganges and the 

 Jumna, with considerable provinces beyond the latter river, 

 surrendering thereby to the British dominion Delhi and 

 Agra, tho two capitals of the Great Mogul, and with them, 

 the person of the nominal emperor. He ceded also Ba- 

 roach, and the rest of his maritime territory in Guzerat. 



