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288 encountered at Assaye; but the presence of the General soon restored their courage, and the whole then advanced in the best possible order.

The battle of Argaum was not marked by any of those vicissitudes which lend interest to the narrative of such events, where victory seems to hover between the combatants. The conflict was short and sanguinary; but, from the moment when the temporary confusion in part of the British line was dispelled, the result was not for an instant doubtful. The King's 74th and 78th regiments were fiercely attacked by a large body of Persian troops, but the latter were entirely destroyed. Scindia's cavalry made a charge on the first battalion of the 6th Madras Native Infantry; but being repulsed with great slaughter, the whole line of the enemy gave way, and fled in the utmost disorder, abandoning to the victors thirty-eight pieces of cannon, and all their ammunition. They were pursued, and great numbers of the fugitives destroyed. But though the close of day gave some advantage to the flying, the light of the moon was sufficient to enable the pursuers to add to their previous captures many elephants and camels, and a considerable quantity of baggage, military stores, and arms of every description. The loss of the English in killed and wounded amounted to three hundred and forty-six; but the enemy suffered dreadfully; and General Wellesley declared his belief that, with one hour more of daylight, not a man would have escaped.

The battle of Argaum was fought on the 29th of November, 1803, and, on the fourth day after, General Wellesley and his army arrived within view of the strong fort of Gawilghur, which is situated on a range of mountains between the sources of the Poorna and Taptee rivers. It occupies a lofty and conspicuous eminence, and consists of one complete inner fort, which fronts the south, where the rock is most steep, and an outer fort, which covers the inner to the north. The outer fort has a third wall, which covers the approach to it from the north, by the village of Labada. All the walls are