A History of the Mahrattas v2.c57.25

v2.c57.25

His preparations began about seven o’clock on the morning of the 5th; but in the early part of the day, he sent (Nov. 5.) out several messages calculated to lull the Resident’s suspicions; such as, that his troops were alarmed by hearing that those at Khirkee were under arms; that he was about to perform a religious ceremony at the temple of Parbuttee,¹ and that the troops were drawn out, in honour of the occasion, to form a street as he passed. In the afternoon, when all was in readiness, the whole of his principal officers having assembled at his palace, Wittoojee Gaekwar, a personal servant of the Peishwa, was dispatched to Mr. Elphinstone, by Gokla’s advice, to inform him that the assembly of troops at Poona was very offensive to the Peishwa ; to desire him to send away the European regiment, to reduce the native brigade to its usual strength, when it must occupy a position which the Peishwa would point out, and that if these demands were not complied with, he would withdraw from Poona and never return. Mr. Elphinstone denied the Peishwa’s right to require the removal of the European regiment, explained the reason of his having called in the light battalion, and recommended that the Peishwa should send his troops to the frontier as he had promised, in which case all cause of complaint would be removed :—there was a good deal more passed, as the conversation, on the part of the messenger, was intended to engage as much attention as possible ; but he at last withdrew, warning the Resident of the bad consequence of his refusal. In the meantime the Peishwa’s officers at the palace were dispatched to their troops ; Bajee Rao, in person, proceeded to Parbuttee,¹ and Wittoojee Gaekwar had scarcely quitted the Residency, when intelligence was brought that the army was moving out on the west side of the city. There was a momentary consultation about defending the Residency, but it was instantly abandoned as impracticable, and it was determined to retire to Khirkee, for which purpose the nature of the ground afforded great facility. The river Moola betwixt the Sungum and the village of Khirkee forms two curves like the letter S inverted. The Residency and the village were both on the same side of the river, but at the former there was a ford, and near the latter a bridge ; so that the party, by crossing at the ford, had the river between them and the Peishwa’s troops the greater part of the way. From the Residency no part of the Mahratta army was visible, excepting bodies of infantry which were assembling along the tops of the adjoining heights, with the intention of cutting off the Residency from the camp, and having the southern crest of the hill contains the ruins of an incomplete palace, commenced by Bājī Rāo (1796–1817), the completed portion of which was destroyed by lightning in 1816. (B.G. xviii, pt. iii. 386–9.)]