DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.34827#0018
2 q/" on. XII,
operations, to withdraw his advanced postings from the Ghauts
and concentrate his forces at Fooltumba, a little in the rear of
his present position, arranging at the same time with the Resi-
dent that, if he did not hear from him daily, he should con-
clude that the communication was cut off, and that something
unfavourable had happened, and he would immediately move
upon the city.
On November 1 he wrote: 'The want of discretion from
the Commander-in-Chief has perplexed me a good deal; yet I
could not be so ignorant of the public interests as to hesitate,
and I have taken the liberty to use a copy of your private
letter in a personal address to his Excellency, copy of which I
now enclose for your information. If you will fully explain
what I have decided upon—and which I trust and hope is for
the best—in three days I shall be in a condition to move upon
you if required, in ample strength to meet anything. But I
shall not leave the Godavery unless I cease to hear from you,
and have undoubted information of your being attacked. This
I think you will approve, as my advancing without some posi-
tive act of hostility might embarrass your future political pro-
ceedings, and might not be acceptable either at headquarters.
In the meantime I have neglected nothing of a precautionary
character. I have written to detain extensive arsenal supplies
on their way from Bombay without escort, and to stop also all
officers coming to join in the same circumstances. ... I hope
anxiously you will approve all I have decided upon, for I am
somewhat alarmed lest the Commander-in-Chief should take
offence at my having used a discretion which he has never
authorised. ' Believe me, &c.,
' LIONEL SMITH.'
The letters of the following day show the struggle passing
in the General's mind between his unwillingness to interfere with
the general operations of the army and his fear lest, by obeying
orders, he should defeat the whole plan of the campaign. ' I
was half inclined,' he wrote, ' on the 4th to start south when I
got no letters ; but I saw there were Poona letters that, you had
operations, to withdraw his advanced postings from the Ghauts
and concentrate his forces at Fooltumba, a little in the rear of
his present position, arranging at the same time with the Resi-
dent that, if he did not hear from him daily, he should con-
clude that the communication was cut off, and that something
unfavourable had happened, and he would immediately move
upon the city.
On November 1 he wrote: 'The want of discretion from
the Commander-in-Chief has perplexed me a good deal; yet I
could not be so ignorant of the public interests as to hesitate,
and I have taken the liberty to use a copy of your private
letter in a personal address to his Excellency, copy of which I
now enclose for your information. If you will fully explain
what I have decided upon—and which I trust and hope is for
the best—in three days I shall be in a condition to move upon
you if required, in ample strength to meet anything. But I
shall not leave the Godavery unless I cease to hear from you,
and have undoubted information of your being attacked. This
I think you will approve, as my advancing without some posi-
tive act of hostility might embarrass your future political pro-
ceedings, and might not be acceptable either at headquarters.
In the meantime I have neglected nothing of a precautionary
character. I have written to detain extensive arsenal supplies
on their way from Bombay without escort, and to stop also all
officers coming to join in the same circumstances. ... I hope
anxiously you will approve all I have decided upon, for I am
somewhat alarmed lest the Commander-in-Chief should take
offence at my having used a discretion which he has never
authorised. ' Believe me, &c.,
' LIONEL SMITH.'
The letters of the following day show the struggle passing
in the General's mind between his unwillingness to interfere with
the general operations of the army and his fear lest, by obeying
orders, he should defeat the whole plan of the campaign. ' I
was half inclined,' he wrote, ' on the 4th to start south when I
got no letters ; but I saw there were Poona letters that, you had