At the Point of the Bayonet | Page 8

soon."
"The matter is all settled, though I think we were wrong to grant any
terms to the English. We had them in our power, and should have
finished the matter, straight off."

Delay and inactivity, the natural consequences of utter incompetence
and of divided councillors, had occurred. Colonel Egerton, in
consequence of sickness, had resigned the command; and had been
succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Cockburn. On the 9th of January they
were within eighteen miles of Poona, and they had still three weeks'
provisions with them. Two or three skirmishes had taken place, but
without any result; yet Mr. Carnac, without having suffered any reverse,
and now within a day's march of the capital, proposed that a retreat
should be made, at once.
The proposal was combated by Captain Hartley, a gallant young officer,
and Mr. Holmes of the Civil Service. Cockburn, being called upon for
his opinion, said he had no doubt the army could penetrate to Poona;
but that it would be impossible for it to protect its enormous baggage
train. Mr. Carnac, however, persisted in his opinion, in spite of the
prayers of Rugoba and, at eleven o'clock on the night of the 11th of
January, the heavy guns were thrown into a large pool, a quantity of
stores burnt, and the force began its retreat, in face of enemies
estimated differently at from fifty to a hundred thousand men.
Against such vigilant foes there was but little hope, indeed, that the
movement would be unnoticed and, at two o'clock in the morning, a
party of horse attacked the advance guard. Cockburn sent forward two
companies of Europeans to support them, but the Mahrattas had
succeeded in plundering part of the baggage.
In a very short time the rear was also attacked. This was covered by
some six companies of Sepoys, with two guns, commanded by Captain
Hartley. These received the charge of the enemy's horse and foot with
great steadiness and, several times, took the offensive and drove their
assailants back.
When morning broke, the little force found themselves altogether
surrounded by the whole army of the Mahrattas. Hartley's Sepoys were
now sorely pressed, but still maintained their position, and were
reinforced by five companies of Europeans and two more companies of
Sepoys. With this support, Hartley beat off every attack. At ten o'clock
he received orders from Colonel Cockburn to retreat, but the officer

who carried the message returned, begging that he would allow Captain
Hartley to await a more favourable opportunity. Cockburn agreed to
this, but sent Major Frederick to take command of the rear, with orders
to retire on the main body. This movement he effected without serious
loss, and joined the rest of the force at the village of Wurgaom.
It was already crowded with camp followers, and the wildest confusion
reigned. The enemy's horse took advantage of this and charged through
the baggage, and the troops were unable to act with effect, being mixed
up with the crowd of fugitives. However, they soon extricated
themselves, drove off the enemy, and placed the guns in commanding
positions round the village. At four o'clock the enemy retired.
Early the next morning the Mahratta artillery opened fire on the village.
Some of the Sepoy troops now became dispirited; but Hartley's men
stood firm, and the Mahrattas did not venture to attack. The loss on the
previous day was found to amount to three hundred and fifty-two killed,
wounded, or missing; including many who had deserted during the
night. Among the killed and wounded were fifteen European officers,
whose loss was a great misfortune for, although the Sepoys fight well
under their European officers, they lose heart altogether if not so led.
Mr. Palmer, the secretary of the committee, was now sent to negotiate
with the enemy. The first demand made was the surrender of Rugoba;
which the committee would have agreed to, but Rugoba had privately
arranged to surrender to Scindia. The next demand was that the
committee should enter on a treaty, for the surrender of the greater part
of the territory of the Bombay Government, together with the revenue
of Broach and Surat. These terms were so hard that even the craven
committee, who were entirely responsible for the disaster, hesitated to
accept them.
Cockburn was asked whether a retreat was wholly impracticable, and
he declared that it was so. Captain Hartley protested against this
opinion, and showed how a retreat could be managed. His opinion was
altogether overruled, and Mr. Holmes was sent with powers to
conclude the treaty--which, however, the committee never intended to
observe.

Scindia took the principal part in arranging the details, superseding the
authority of Nana Furnuwees, the Peishwa's minister. Scindia's favour
was purchased by a private promise to bestow upon him the English
share of Broach, besides a