rapid and wearying marches ensued, the Peishwa's army flying in a sort of zig-zag, which he continued without intermission, ranging over the wide extent of the Deccan; at one time approaching Mysore, at another nearly proceeding to the Nerbudda, always distancing his pursuers by the skill and rapidity of his march, and even passing between corps advancing from opposite quarters.
At last the Mahratta succeeded in turning Smith's division, and passing between Poonah and Seroor, moved northward as far as Wuttoor, where he was joined by his long-lost favourite Trimbuckjee, who brought him a considerable reinforcement of horse and foot. When General Smith discovered the direction the Peishwa had taken, and had recruited his own worn-out cattle, he started again in pursuit on the 22nd of December. This headlong race to the northward brought Smith close upon the rear of the Mahrattas; but with the lubricity of eels they slipped through his fingers, and, making a flank movement behind some hills, they turned suddenly to the south, and retraced their steps towards Poonah.
Colonel Burr, who commanded in that city, apprehending an attack, solicited the reinforcement of a battalion from Seroor; and Captain Francis French Staunton, of the Bombay army, was forthwith detached with about 600 Sepoys, 300 auxiliary horse, and two six-pounders. Staunton began his march from Seroor at eight o'clock on the evening of the 31st of December, and at ten on the morning of New Year's Day, 1818, he reached the heights of Corregaum, about half way to Poonah. Here, looking down upon the plain which lay between him and that city, he saw it occupied by the Peishwa's army, estimated at twenty thousand horse and eight thousand foot. His march to Poonah was intercepted, and he himself was in great danger of being cut off.
It was a moment that called for the full exercise of that presence of mind which is the soldier's best quality; and in this Staunton was equal to the emergency. He
