Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/138

130 to give effect to the negotiations should they prove successful. The Peshwá's defection however, on becoming known, produced its inevitable result, and Holkar's troops, exhibiting the greatest enthusiasm in Bájí Ráo's cause, and hoping to obtain their arrears of pay through his bounty, began to move southwards to his aid, when they were met by the Pindárí Chítu, closely pursued by Sir J. Malcolm. The movement of the latter upon Ujjain, and his junction with Sir T. Hislop, 12th December, have already been noticed; after which the two British divisions advanced to a point near Mehidpur, where Holkar lay with his army. Attempts to enter into negotiations with him failed; his followers, divided among themselves, and torn by faction, would listen to no accommodation, and, on the 20th December, they combined under the leadership of the Pathán, Gafur Khán, to seize and murder the Bái, whom they suspected of being favourable to a British alliance.

Hostilities were now inevitable, and Hislop, finding peace impossible, determined to attack a troublesome and disorderly army, whose conduct resembled more that of a band of plunderers than the operations of the forces of a responsible state. On the 21st he advanced to Mehidpur, where the enemy were found strongly posted in two lines on the Siprá river. Crossing a ford in front of the position, he assaulted it with his divisions, and, though the enemy's artillery was well served and did considerable execution, their flanks were soon crushed, and the whole army put to irretrievable flight. Their losses amounted to 3,000 men,