Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/401

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OUR ANGLO-INDIAN ARMY.
377

operations were still impeded by delays in the Commissariat department, while the hesitation of the General in the choice of a route interposed fresh ones. He was next inveigled by a treacherous Brahmin to attack a redoubt at Jeetgurh, which, though he carried with considerable loss, he could not keep possession of, being deterred by the apparent force of the enemy on the hill behind it. General Wood then proceeded in a westerly direction, with a view of creating a diversion of the enemy's force, and penetrating, if possible, into the hills by the passes of Toolsepore. But his progress was arrested by the movements of the enemy, who advanced into the country, burning the villages and committing horrible devastations in their route. The approach of the rainy season now indicated the necessity of suspending all offensive operations, and General Wood retired towards Goruckpore, to make arrangements for the defence of the frontier; but sickness spread amongst the troops to an alarming extent, and the division separated and returned to cantonments without effecting a single object for which it had been brought together.

We have now to notice the operations of General Marley's division, which was destined to march through Muckwanpoor, direct upon the Nepaulese capital. This corps, on the equipment of which the greatest care and expense had been bestowed, as the one on which the Governor-General had fixed his strongest hopes, had assembled at Dinapore and crossed the Ganges before the end of November, 1814. Its advance was distinguished by a brilliant affair, which secured the immediate possession of the Terraie of Sarun; but when General Marley joined the division, which was not until the 11th of December, his proceedings were so dilatory that the Goorkhas were emboldened to make a simultaneous attack on two of his advanced posts situated at Pursah and Summundpore. These posts were about forty miles asunder, and about twenty-five miles from the position which General Marley had taken up at Lowtun. The