Star.
London, England, 1818-07-17 00:00:00

•
of the action. The enemy's cavalry having moved
Off, a panic seized their infantry, and on the advance
of two columns under Majors Richards and Purven,
they fled in all directions, abandoning all their guns
and much luggage. Lieutenant- Colonel Macmonne
says, " the loss of the enemy has been severe ; it may
be estimated at from 300 to 400 killed and wounded,
two Sirdars, Meer Mamoodee, and Juggeradge Sing,
are among the slain."
Exuma from a Dispatch from the Governor in Council at Pam-
bay, to the Select Committee, dated 4th March.
We have the satisfaction of transmitting 'to Your,
Honourable Committee the Copy of a Letter to our
Chief Secretary from the Hon.l%fr. Elphinstone, en
closing a copy of a dispatch he has received from
Brigadier-General Smith, dated the 21st of the
last month. reporting the operations of the troops
under his command, and particularly his having sur-
prised and defeated the enemy •at Ashta, near Pun-
derpoor (1); Bapoo Gokla, the Chief of the Mahratta
army, and two other Sirdars, have fallen in the ac=
tions, with between 200 and SOQ men; and the
Rajah of Sattara, his brothers and mother, have, to
their great satsifaction, been rescued, and brought
into General Smith's camp.
We moat cordially congratulate your Honourable
Committee on the brilliant success which has fleas
attended the zealous and gallant exertions of the,
troops employed on this occasion, front •which the
most important consequences may be expected to
result. Badjee Row, it appears, quitted his palan-
quin, and mounting his liorse, fled at the early yell
of the action, and is reported to have bent his course,
to the northward.
The following dispatches and papers, connected
with the operations of your armies, are now trans-.
rnitted for your information, viz.
Copy of a letter from Lieutenant. General Sir T.
Hislop to the Governor General dated 22d January,
in consequence of the action at Coregaurn.
From the Resident at Poona, dated the Kith ult.
transmitting a report made to him by Brigadier-Ge-
neral Smith, of his proceedings between the 7th of
January and the 12th of last month.
From Sir T. Hislop to his Excellency the Gover-
nor-General, dated the 28th of January, on the ope-
rations of the force under the command of Briga-
dier-General Doveton, in the vicinity of Nagpore.
From Major-General Sir NS miain I;.eir to the Ad-
jutant General of the Bombay army, reporting his
proceedings up to the 11th ultimo, particularly the
disper.i... of the force of Bheema Bhye, sister of
Mulh.tr Row Hoihar, who, after acquiescing in the
terms xnich had been prL.pesed to her, and coming
into the British camp had proceeded to Rampoorah (5;.
The dispatch from Brigadier-General Smith, re-
feo-ed :o in the above, contains an account of his
adva .ce in pursuit of the enemy, subsequent to the
intelligence from him dated January 7, (seethe STAR
of June 10), and up to the 12th of February. On
the 9:h he reconnoitred the fort of Sattara, and after
summoning it, and throwing a few light shells into
it, the Killedar agreed to surrender it, on being per-
mitted to march out with his troops under arms.—
General Smith says, " The garrison consisted only of
about 400 Sebundy troops. who seemed so littly dis-
posed to use their arms on this occasion, that it ”ias
immaterial what became of them hereafter, while
time was very valuable tb me.
." About 25 pieces of ordnance of different calibres,
with a few swivels, gingals, and rockets, were taken
in the fort.
" Sattara is strong, and, as the ancient seat of the
Islahratta empire, carries greater consequence with it
in the estimation and prejudices of the natives, and
may therefore prove of great value to us in the war
against the Peishwa than in its mere local importance."
Copy of a Dispatch (corn Brigaditr-General Smiih, C.B. com,
manding the 4th diviiion of the army of the Deccan, to the
Hon. biountstuart Elphinstone, the R:sid mt. at the Court of
the Pcishwah, dated Camp, Kurkumb, Feb. 21.
Sta—My letter to your address, under date of the
12th inst. went to acquaint you with the operations
of the troops under my command up to that period.
The enemy, after having been pursued through
the range of Ghauts. on which Sattara is situated,
marched by Punderpoor to Solapoor (6), on the
Seems, where he remained during the time I was oc.-
cupied at Sattara, and for some days longer. I pro-
ceeded gradually upon Punderpcor on the 13th icst.
with the liht division, intending to avoid forced
' marches tilt I approached them within t 5 or SO miles.
At Yellnpoor, the day before yesterday, I had
been informed of his (pining Solapoor, and of his
moving in a westerly direction, which determined me
to make a night march, in hopes of corning upon
him near Punderpoor.
On the route, however, I received information of
his having turned upon Kirkurnb (v). to which 1 im-
mediately change A my route; also I crossed the
Ilheemah, at Karouln (8), near Goorsulla, and I now
heard that the Peishwa had encamped the preceding
evening near Ashta, and I immediately pushed on
with all the cavahy, horse artillery, and gallopers.
My intelligence was confirmed, and my hopes con-
siderably raised, at Maudopoor (9), when I heard the
enemy was only then preparing to move from Ashta,
and at abont half-past eight o clock yesterday morn-
ing, we had the satisfaction of hearing their nagras
beating below a hill which covered us from their
view. It seems, however, they had some information
of our approach, but not in sufficient time to enable
them to avoid us without losing their baggage. In
these circumstances, Gokla took the resolution of
risking an action.
As we descended the hill, we saw one body rather
near us in mass, to the number of between 2000 and
5000, and the number of streamers implied the pre-
sence of several Sirdars. The ground was so rocky,
and uneven, I hardly expected to be able to bring
any guns into action, but directed them to keep on
the nearest road, ready to form as required. The
two squadrons of his Majesty's 22d dragoons formed
the centre column, and were directed to attack the
enemy's centre ; the 7th light cavalry were in column
on the right, and the 2d light cavalry was the left
column. We descended the hill in this order upon
(4) Punderpoor is situate upon the Beans river, about 110
miles R.E. of Poonab, in a straight line.
(5) A town belonging to the Dollar family, about 70 miles
south of Jypour, or Jyeoaghur.
1 A fewll fortymil milese
north east
of Punderpoor,ofn uponr the opposite bank
of
(a) A kw miles, north-west of Punderpoor, spots the same
hank of the 13beenn.
k-,) Situated between Emitting) and Funderpeos.