156 



with considerable precipitation: but this untoward event, instead 

 of evil, appears to have produced good; for in this interval of 

 time, it seems all the other bodies, both of horse and foot, had ad- 

 vanced so far, as on Purseram Bhou's retreat to present an in- 

 surmountable obstacle to the advance of the pursuers, who in- 

 deed were not very numerous. It also appears, that although 

 doubtless the whole mass of the Mahratta cavalry might have 

 overwhelmed that small part of the Mogul army which had 

 advanced, yet, so far from taking that advantage, it is certain the 

 cavalry did not advance after Purseram Bhou's retreat; and 

 that the falling back of the corps advanced from the Mogul 

 army, was caused entirely by the cannon with Sindia's infantry 

 on the left, and the effect of the Bhosla's rockets on the right. 

 At all events there does not appear to have been a concerted 

 plan of action, or order of battle ; but, except in the act of gene- 

 ral advance, every chief acted as circumstances and inclination 

 prompted. In like manner I have no reason to think that, ex- 

 cept the small parties left at the different baggage camps, and 

 the body with the peshwa, upwards of twenty miles off, there 

 was any corps allotted for a reserve, any plan fixed for a 

 retreat, or place appointed for a rendezvous, in case of de- 

 feat. 



Although there appears to be a total deficiency in the com- 

 mon measures used by armies on such occasions, I am assured 

 that the particular division consisting of Sindia's quota, Perron's 

 brigade of infantry, and the corps of Michael and John with 

 their guns, preserved a tolerable degree of order, both in their 

 march, and during the action, being supported by their cavalry, 



