Page:Our Indian Army.djvu/305

Rh at Poonah for the protection of the capital and person of the Peishwa.

The weather prevented General Wellesley from marching as early as he wished; but on the 8th of August it cleared, and, early in the morning of that day, he despatched a message to the Killadar of Ahmednuggur to require him to surrender the fort. This ancient town, which was considered one of the bulwarks of the Deccan, was defended in the Eastern fashion, with a high wall flanked by towers at its bends and angles, and garrisoned by some of Scindia's infantry, and an auxiliary force of Arabs, while a body of the chieftains' cavalry occupied the space between the pettah and the fort. The Killadar having refused to surrender, the pettah was immediately attacked at three points, and, after a severe contest, carried by escalade. On the following day preparations were made for attacking the fort, and on the 10th a battery of four guns was opened, the fire of which soon had the effect of inducing the Killadar to make an overture of surrender; and on the 12th he, with his garrison of 1,400 men, marched out, and the British commander took possession. This fortress, from its locality, was valuable; it secured the communications with Poonah, made a safe depôt for military stores, and was centrically placed in a district whose revenue was above 600,000 rupees. The effect of this capture was to place at the command of the English all Scindia's territories south of the Godavery.

A few days after the fall of Ahmednuggur, General Wellesley had the satisfaction to hear that his orders for the attack of Baroach had been successfully carried into effect. This duty was performed by Colonel Woodington. He had expected assistance from a schooner with two eighteen-pounders, which was to have been brought to anchor within a short distance of the fort. It was, however, found impracticable to bring her up, and Colonel Woodington was consequently compelled to make an arrangement for bringing up the