A History of the Mahrattas v2.c49.29

v2.c49.29

A.D. 1801.—Sindia’s progress was tardy, and Jeswunt Rao continued to plunder and levy contributions throughout Malwa. Hearing of Sindia’s great army, Holkar called in his detachments and concentrated his force in the neighbourhood of Oojein, with an intention of plundering it. During this period there was a pause in their hostilities, and Sindia, in hopes of ensuring the protection of his capital, detached for that purpose four battalions from his own camp at Burhanpoor under Colonel John Hessing. Two battalions and six companies, under Captain M’Intyre, were ordered on to support Hessing; but Holkar, who saw that it was impossible to avoid extremities and of the highest importance to strike a successful blow at the outset, first made a show of opposing Hessing and drew him under the walls of Oojein, where, leaving some troops to amuse him, he pushed on to cut off the detachment under M’Intyre, in which he succeeded, having compelled them to lay down their arms at Newree. With his troops thus (June.) encouraged, he returned to the more arduous attack of Hessing, and a most obstinate contest was maintained by that officer, until his men were completely overpowered. Of eleven European officers in Hessing’s four battalions, most of whom were British, seven were killed and three were made prisoners. Hessing alone escaped, and four-fifths of his corps are said to have been killed and wounded.¹