A History of the Mahrattas v2.c52.19

v2.c52.19

The news of this first success in the war against Holkar was shortly afterwards followed by intelligence of a different description from the province of Bundelcund, where the refractory chiefs in that strong country occupied the troops for a considerable period after its transfer to the British Government. Lieutenant-Colonel Fawcett, the officer in command, had detached seven companies of Sepoys, with some artillery, for the purpose of reducing a small fort. Whilst operations against it were in progress, the Killidar sent out an offer to surrender on the ensuing morning on condition that the firing should cease. The proposal being accepted, the Killidar apprised Holkar’s general, Umeer Khan, of the circumstances, and invited him to send a detachment and fall by surprise on the British troops. In this scheme they were partially successful; the horse approached the battery before they were discovered, and two companies of Sepoys with fifty artillery-men, their officers and guns were completely cut off. The remaining five companies, under Captain Smith, supported by their only remaining gun, effected their retreat to the headquarters of Lieutenant-Colonel Fawcett. Umeer Khan, encouraged by this success, made an attack on Kalpee and attempted to pass the Jumna, for the purpose of plundering the Dooab, but he was checked by two companies of Sepoys stationed on the bank, and was shortly afterwards attacked and routed by a party of horse, and a battalion of infantry which had been received into the British pay from the service of Ambajee Inglia. Umeer Khan, however, continued to act for some time on the side of Bundelcund, where the numerous refractory Zumeendars facilitated the means of predatory warfare.