DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0407
1810-17.
Kirkee.
We were scarcely otlt wlien the Vinchoorkur sent 1,500 horse
to skirmish, and have a sham fig'ht between the Sungum ancl
the Sait’s Garden. Muddun Singh Pindarra came with 700
or 800 horse to the place wliere the dead are buried, and sat
half-an-hour examining the Sungum at liis leisure, while we
were at breakfast, and Grocla pushed on 20,000 men and
threatened to form a camp on the river in front of Garpeer.
All this could not be borne without leading to more insult,
so I very prudently remonstrated and ordered in the Light
Battalion from Seroor. About the same time General Smith
of his own accord concentrated on Fooltumba.
4 The Peshwa, who had perhaps been flattered by Gocla
that all his preparations would be made without his getting
into a scrape, now saw that he must throw off the mask.
Accordingly he sent a very bullying message to desire I would
move the cantonment to such place as he should direct, reduce
the strength of the Native Brigade, and send away the Euro-
peans ; if I did not comply, peace could not last. I refused,
but said I was most anxious for peace, and should not cross
the river towards Poona, but if his army came towards ours
we should attack it. Within an hour after, out they came
with such readiness that we had only time to leave the
Sungum with the clothes on our backs, and crossing the river
at a ford under Clieland’s, march off to the bridge with the
river between us and the enemy, and a iittle firing but no
real fighting. The Sungum with all the records and all my
books, journals, letters, manuscripts, &c. jvere soon in a blaze,
but we got safe to the Kirkee bridge, and soon after joined
the line. While the men and followers were fording, we went
ourselves to observe the enemy. The sight was magnificent
as the tide rolled out of Poona. Grant, who saw it from the
height over the powder cave, described it as resembliug the
Bore in the Gulf of Cambay. Everything was hushed except
the trampling and neighing of horses, and the whole valley was
filled with them like a river in flood. I hacl always told Colonel
Burr that when war broke out we must recover our character
by a forward movement that should encourage and fix our own
Kirkee.
We were scarcely otlt wlien the Vinchoorkur sent 1,500 horse
to skirmish, and have a sham fig'ht between the Sungum ancl
the Sait’s Garden. Muddun Singh Pindarra came with 700
or 800 horse to the place wliere the dead are buried, and sat
half-an-hour examining the Sungum at liis leisure, while we
were at breakfast, and Grocla pushed on 20,000 men and
threatened to form a camp on the river in front of Garpeer.
All this could not be borne without leading to more insult,
so I very prudently remonstrated and ordered in the Light
Battalion from Seroor. About the same time General Smith
of his own accord concentrated on Fooltumba.
4 The Peshwa, who had perhaps been flattered by Gocla
that all his preparations would be made without his getting
into a scrape, now saw that he must throw off the mask.
Accordingly he sent a very bullying message to desire I would
move the cantonment to such place as he should direct, reduce
the strength of the Native Brigade, and send away the Euro-
peans ; if I did not comply, peace could not last. I refused,
but said I was most anxious for peace, and should not cross
the river towards Poona, but if his army came towards ours
we should attack it. Within an hour after, out they came
with such readiness that we had only time to leave the
Sungum with the clothes on our backs, and crossing the river
at a ford under Clieland’s, march off to the bridge with the
river between us and the enemy, and a iittle firing but no
real fighting. The Sungum with all the records and all my
books, journals, letters, manuscripts, &c. jvere soon in a blaze,
but we got safe to the Kirkee bridge, and soon after joined
the line. While the men and followers were fording, we went
ourselves to observe the enemy. The sight was magnificent
as the tide rolled out of Poona. Grant, who saw it from the
height over the powder cave, described it as resembliug the
Bore in the Gulf of Cambay. Everything was hushed except
the trampling and neighing of horses, and the whole valley was
filled with them like a river in flood. I hacl always told Colonel
Burr that when war broke out we must recover our character
by a forward movement that should encourage and fix our own