A History of the Mahrattas v2.c57.43

v2.c57.43

postponed by General Smith, in consequence of unforeseen difficulties at the ford. About sunset on the evening of the 16th, an advanced brigade was ordered to cross the ford, and take up a position to the east of the Peishwa’s army, at the village of Ghorepuray,¹ for the purpose of co-operating in an intended attack on the ensuing morning: it was opposed by a body of the Peishwa’s infantry, supported by parties of horse and two guns, but having succeeded in getting to its station, though with the loss of eighty-four men in killed and wounded, it was no longer molested during the night. In the morning, when General Smith moved towards the camp, he found it abandoned, and that the Peishwa had fled towards Satara. During the day the city was surrendered, and the greatest care being taken on this, as on every occasion, by General Smith for the protection of the peaceable part of the community, order and tranquillity were soon re-established.² General Smith remained at Poona for five days, during which time the communication with Bombay was opened, and a party, being detached for the purpose, succeeded in capturing several guns in the neighbourhood of the fort of Singurh. Some of the inhabitants of Poona, who fled as usual with their property towards the hill-forts, were sufferers on this occasion, as a great quantity of baggage was taken at the same time with the guns, and became the booty of the army.