A History of the Mahrattas v2.c37.118

v2.c37.118

Moodajee, to support appearances with the confederates, had sent forward an army of thirty thousand horse towards Kuttack in the month of October, 1779, under his second son, Chimnajee; but in order to convince Mr. Hastings that his real design was not hostile to the English, they were seven months in reaching their destination; this favourable symptom, however, did not induce the Bengal Government to relax in their vigilance or to circumscribe their efforts. It had been determined at Calcutta, on the news of Hyder’s invasion of Arcot, to send a division of six battalions of Sepoys to assist in the war against him, as soon as the season permitted of their marching along the coast towards the Carnatic Payeen Ghaut. This force was to have been assembled in the month of October, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Pearse, and it was hoped that Moodajee might be induced to aid them with a body of cavalry, but as Chimnajee’s army lay in the route, it was deemed advisable to suspend Colonel Pearse’s march until Moodajee’s answer was received.