A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.114

v2.c51.114

(Nov. 29.) As General Wellesley approached his intended ground of encampment, a few of the enemy’s skirmishers appeared in front, and were opposed by the Mysore horse. General Wellesley, not intending to pursue them, was, after a long march, about to pitch his tents, when the Mahratta cavalry appeared in greater force, and it became necessary to support the Mysore horse with the picquets. General Wellesley, moving out at the head of the latter, descried the army of the confederates drawn up in line on an extensive plain in front of the village of Argaom. Though late in the day, he immediately advanced to the attack, and marched on in column until near the enemy, when he formed his army into two lines, the infantry in the first, and the cavalry in the second. Some confusion ensued in forming the lines, when the Mahratta guns first opened upon them, but when formed, the whole moved on with steadiness and order. A body of about five hundred infantry, supposed to have been Persians, in the service of the confederates, rushed upon the 74th and 78th with desperation, and were destroyed to a man. Sindia’s cavalry under Gopaul Rao Bhow charged the 1st battalion, 6th regiment of Madras Sepoys ; but they were repulsed, and their commander was wounded ; on which the whole army retired in confusion, pursued by the British cavalry and by the Mysore and Moghul horse. In this action, the loss of the British was 346 men in killed, wounded, and missing ; that of the Mahrattas is nowhere stated, but was very considerable.