retreat along the left bank of the river, skirmishing with some Mahratta horse that followed them, and passing under the fire of the battalion which had been thrust between the Residency and the camp at Kirkee. As soon as Mr. Elphinstone was safe in the camp, it was resolved not to stand there on the defensive, waiting the arrival of the troops that were marching from Seroor, but to recross the river and attack the Mahrattas immediately. The brigade, commanded by Colonel Burr, was now about 2,800 strong, and included the Bombay European regiment; the Mahrattas mustered at least 25,000 men, and they had many guns; but the Peishwa himself was a coward, and the mass of his force little better than an armed rabble. The British accordingly crossed the river: the action commenced late in the afternoon, and before nightfall it was ended by the flight of the Mahrattas, who either threw themselves into Poonah, or into a fortified camp near the town. They left about 500 on the field; our loss being eighteen killed and fifty-seven wounded.
It now became necessary to obtain possession of Poonah; and General Smith having arrived with his force on the 13th of November, arrangements were made on the 14th for attacking the enemy, who were encamped on the opposite side of the river; but the design was abandoned, owing to the occurrence of unexpected difficulties. On the 16th all the disposable corps, after providing for the camp and the position at Kirkee, were formed in divisions of attack. The passage of one of the divisions over the ford was obstinately resisted by the Peishwa's troops; but the ill-success of this resistance seems to have completed the panic excited by the previous defeat from Colonel Burr: in the course of the ensuing night the Peishwa fled, and on the following morning, when our troops marched up to the intrenched camp, they found the tents all standing, but there was not a single Mahratta to be seen.
The British force then recrossed the river, to take the most favourable ground for bombarding Poonah; but
