Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/150

142 again, and shaking himself clear of Smith and Pritzler, who were both at his heels, he got to Sholápur by the end of January, not much the worse for his hurried flight, and having only lost a small part of his troops in rear-guard skirmishes. Here he was joined by the broken bands of Apá Sáhib's horse, who after their defeat at Nágpur marched across the Nizám's dominions and reached the Peshwá in safety.

The plan hitherto adopted by the British commanders had been unprofitable. Encumbered with long trains of baggage, supplies, and guns, they imposed great fatigue upon their troops by arduous marches, and failed to reach an active enemy who was everywhere at home in his dominions, and who moved with little to arrest his progress. It was therefore determined, on the suggestion of Mr. Elphinstone, to proceed on a more rational principle; the two divisions were accordingly brought together, and a lightly equipped column was formed therefrom, prepared to make rapid marches, while the remainder was constituted into a force destined to undertake the reduction of the numerous strongholds that studded the south-west of India, and to bring about the regular military occupation of the country. Waiting till Pritzler should join him, Smith summoned Sátára, which surrendered on the 11th February.