Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/146

138 of command having ceased in the Deccan, the Southern Army was dissolved.

The divisions under Generals Keir, Doveton, Smith, and Adams were constituted out of the subsidiary forces stationed in Gujarát, Haidarábád, Poona, and Nágpur, respectively, and the intention was to send these troops back to their proper stations as soon as circumstances would permit. To this end, part of the Gujarát corps was marched towards Baroda; but Doveton was ordered to Khándesh; and Adams was retained north of the Narbadá for a short time, and was occupied in receiving the submission of the Pindárís, and in taking possession of the districts that were ceded. The 1st Deccan Division also proceeded to Khándesh, and, on the way, reduced some forts which were held by Holkar's commanders in defiance of the treaty of Mandesar. The 3rd Deccan Division, under Malcolm, was kept in Holkar's dominions north of the Narbadá, in order to pacify that district and introduce a stable form of government there; this force, moreover, reduced the district of Soandwara, lying east of the Chambal and north of Ujjain, where the marauding spirit still survived. Holkar's troops were employed and rendered good service upon this occasion, and the fact afforded satisfactory proof that the system adopted by Lord Hastings in his dealings with the Maráthá chiefs was likely to be successful.

The only point of importance left unprovided for by the dispositions, just described, was the reduction of the fort of Asírgarh, held by one of Sindhia's