Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/119

Rh and on the west from Gujarát, — and to keep the native states in check. An extended movement, therefore, was about to be made inwards, from the circumference of a great circle, whose centre was somewhere near Handiá and whose diameter was nearly 700 miles in length; the enormous distances which separated the different bases of operations, the absence of rapid means of inter-communication, and the necessity of simultaneous action, all contributed to render the task which had been undertaken an exceedingly difficult one.

Lord Hastings commanded the whole grand army destined to perform this vast concentric operation. It was divided into two armies, the Northern or the Army of Hindustán, and the Southern or that of the Deccan. The latter was placed under Sir Thomas Hislop, to whom was given all military and political authority in the south, subject of course to general directions from the Governor-General; Sir John Malcolm, who also commanded a division, was appointed Political Officer in the Deccan under Hislop.

The Northern Army, led by Lord Hastings in person (29,000 infantry, 14,000 cavalry, and 140 guns), was composed of four divisions and two corps of observation, posted at Mirzápur and on the frontiers of South Behar against an irruption into Bengal. The Central or 1st Division (General Brown) was formed on the Jumna between Kálpi and Etáwah, and was to advance southwards towards Gwalior; the Right or 2nd Division (General Donkin) at Agra, to