Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/125

Rh was gradually contracting; Marshall was on the upper Kana river, where he awaited the advance of the Deccan army and opened up communications with Hoshangábád; Donkin had pushed up the left bank of the Chambal towards Kotah, leaving Dholpur guarded; the Central Division watched Gwalior, and the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Divisions of the Deccan Army were preparing to cross the Narbadá. It was hoped that, about the 22nd, all would be ready to make a simultaneous and general attack upon the position occupied by the Pindárís.

But this arrangement was partially interrupted by the Peshwá, who rose to arms, and by the Bhonsla Rájá, who about the same time manifested signs of unmistakeable hostility. To provide for these events a detachment was immediately despatched towards Nágpur on the 12th, but as the revolt in Poona was much more serious, Sir T. Hislop adopted other measures in the emergency which had thus arisen. Convinced that Asírgarh would not submit, even though ceded by Sindhia by the treaty of Gwalior, and that its occupation was important in the present juncture, he determined to support the forces which were directed upon Poona by retiring with the 1st Division to Burhampur (close to Asírgarh), and ordered up Doveton's battering train to reduce that stronghold. Lord Hastings heard of the revolt in Poona on the 14th, and fearing lest operations in Málwá might be dislocated by the news, urgently directed the commander in the Deccan on no account to suspend