occupy the country, and thus to deprive the Peishwa of places of retreat and means of subsistence.
While these last operations were actively carrying into effect by General Pritzler and other officers, General Smith, with the light division, resumed the pursuit of the Peishwa, and by forced marches arrived unobserved, within hearing of the Mahratta kettle-drums, at Ashtee on the 19th of February, 1818. Concealed for some time by the brow of a hill, General Smith, to the astonishment of the Mahratta leaders, appeared on its summit with the 2nd and 7th regiments of Madras Light Cavalry, and two squadrons of H.M. 22nd Dragoons. Bajee Rao immediately quitted the field with his attendants; but Gokla, his general, determined to hazard a battle rather than sacrifice the whole of his baggage. He, therefore, attacked the British with the greatest vigour, outflanking Smith's small force, and at one moment threatening it in the rear. But the British Dragoons charged his gole,[1] and Gokla in the mélée fell mortally wounded. From this moment all was confusion and panic; each mass of cavalry breaking as our Dragoons approached it, till at last the whole army fled, and the British obtained possession of the Rajah of Sattara, who had before been a prisoner in the hands of his rival. Some faint resistance was attempted in the camp; but our Dragoons dashed in, put the Mahrattas to flight, and made good booty. Twelve elephants and fifty-seven camels formed part of this prize. General Smith was slightly wounded on the head; and Lieutenant Warrand, of the 22nd Dragoons, was wounded by Gokla, who fought fiercely and wounded several of our men before he fell.
After the battle of Ashtee, the Peishwa wandered in almost every direction, in continual dread of some portion of the British force. On the 13th of April he became aware of the position of Colonel Adams's force, and, to avoid him, moved to Soondee. On the 16th he was alarmed by intelligence of the approach of General
- ↑ A mass of Mahratta cavalry.
