ture, or indeed that they can collect again, as they have lost every thing which could enable them to subsist when collected.

The troops bear with the utmost cheerfulness the extraordinary fatigue of this short, but active expedition*. The infantry under Major Swinton, of the 74th regiment, arrived at the point of attack at the same time with the cavalry ; but from the nature of the action, they could not co-operate further in it than by moving into the enemy's former camp, which they did with great regularity.

The advance of the British cavalry, when formed, was in the best order, and very rapid, notwithstanding the fatigue to which both men and horses had been exposed for the last twenty-four hours. Our loss, of which I enclose a return, is but small.

I have given the four guns which we have taken to the killadar of Perinda, who lost them about six weeks ago. I have the honor to be, &c.

The Governor General.

'ARTHUR Wellesley.

Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Missing of the Troops under the Command of Major General the Hon. A. Wellesley, in the action near Munkaiseer, on the 5th February, 1804.

N.B. The Man and Horse returned killed, died of fatigue.

SIR,

COLIN CAMPBELL, Act. Brigade Major.

To Lieut. General Stuart.

'Camp at Munkaiseer, 15 miles N. E. from Perinda,

5th February, 1804.

I this morning attacked in this neighbourhood, and defeated and dispersed, a formidable band of freebooters, who have been for some time on this frontier.

This expedition has often been remarked by the Duke of Wellington as the greatest march he ever made.

I left my camp on the 3rd, about thirty miles s.E. from Ahmednuggur, and I arrived by forced marches at Sailgaon, near Perinda, on the 4th. I there heard that the enemy were at this place, twenty-four miles from me, and although I had marched twenty miles that morning, I determined to march on in the night. The road was very bad, and till one o'clock the night was very dark, and we made but little progress. The consequence was that we did not arrive till nine in the morning, instead of at daylight. The enemy had received intelligence of my approach; I believe from my own camp. They had struck their camp and had begun their march, but were still in sight. I pursued them with the cavalry, cut up some, and took all their guns, baggage, bazaar, &c., and followed them as long as they remained collected. I had with me the cavalry, the 74th regiment, the 1st of the 8th, and 500 men from the other regiments.

6

The camp is at Nimgaum, where I left it on the 3rd. The infantry were up with the cavalry when we advanced to the attack. The Marhatta and Mysore horse were very active and got much booty. Our loss is trifling. I shall send you a regular account of this expedition, as soon as it can be made out.

I have the honor to enclose a letter to the Governor General, which contains an account of the attack and defeat of a band of freebooters who have been for some time on this frontier, under the command of Viswaz Row Ghautky, heretofore in the service of Dowlut Rao Scindiah, and of Gopal Bhugwunt, heretofore in the service of the Rajah of Berar, of Hurry Punt Bhony, a plunderer from Poonah, and others of inferior note.

I beg you will explain the circumstances of this action to the Soubah of the Deccan, and tell him that I was happy to have had an opportunity of rendering him a service, and of restoring to him the guns lately lost by his own officers. I have the honor to be, &c.

'Major Kirkpatrick.'

ARTHUR Wellesley.

MY DEAR SIR,

To Major General Campbell.

Camp at Munkaiseer, 6th February, 1804.

I enclose a copy of a letter which I wrote yesterday to the Governor General, giving an account of the destruction of a band of freebooters near this place. I endeavored to imitate you, and to surprise them; but the night was dark, the road desperately bad, and my allies, like true Marhattas, gave them information.

others.

This party consisted of Sirjee Rao, or Visvaz Rao Ghautky, Gopal Bhugwunt, Nimbajee Bhoonslah, and Mulwa Dada is in the Solapoor country. Baba Phurkia is not with him, as you suppose. He has always been to the northward, and I understand has lately separated his troops and quitted the Nizam's territories.

I received yesterday your public letter of the 12th, containing an address from the officers of the division under your command, to the Governor of Fort St. George. I rather believe that address would never have been written, if it had not been imagined that we had taken a large prize. But I do not believe the accounts of every thing amount to ten lacs of rupees. At all events, it is not necessary that I should write any answer upon the subject; and I notice it only to apprize you that I have received it, and that I propose not to communicate it to the troops under my command, as it is possible that every body may not be equally disinclined to enter into discussions. These never can do good, and may do much harm; and they have been discountenanced, if not positively forbidden, by Government. Between ourselves, therefore, I think it best to leave to Government the consideration of a question, which Government alone can decide.

Major General Campbell.

To Colonel Stevenson.

'MY DEAR COLONEL, Camp at Munkaiseer, 7th February, 1804. I have this day received your letters of the 23rd and 27th of January. A duplicate of my letter to Major Kirkpatrick on the subject of your allowance from the Nizam shall go to him this day. I had recommended to the Governor General

that you should have additional prize money, and I tink that he will attend to my recommendation in this inDSTETICE However, this is between ourselves.

My idea respecting your entering the King's serviE VIS this, that you should get your rank in England, and a regiment in what is called the army of reserve.

If you should succeed in that obiert, you might then resign your regiment or brigade of cavalry in this country. but not your pension on retirement. If you should not succeed, you ought not to give up your regiment or brigade here, without having a further provision. These are my opinions; you will see how affairs stand when you get home. and can arrange accordingly.

'I am anxious, first, that the publie should continue to enjoy the benefit of your services, in a country of which the climate may be more favorable to your health; and next that you should have the satisfaction of serving in a war which goes to the existence of Great Britain as a nation. But you must not lose your income by it.

'I destroyed on the 5th a formidable band of freebooters near this place. The march we made was terrible. I send you the copy of my letter to the Governor General on this subject.

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Stevenson.
· Believe me, &c.

'Colonel Stevenson."

'ARTHUR WELLESLEY.

To Major Shave.

'MY DEAR SIR, I have received a paper from General Campbell, being the copy of an address from the officers of his division of the army to the Governor of Fort St. George, in which they claim to share in the prize taken by the troops under my command.

'Camp at Munkaiseer, 7th February, 1804.

I have declined to answer this paper, or to procure an answer for it, by communicating it to the troops under my command. However, there is one short and simple answer to it: I am, by the orders of the Governor General, Commander in Chief of an army. General Campbell and the troops under his command can form no part of that army, as he is senior to me.

I could receive no orders from him, or from any person

whatever, excepting General Lake, if I had communicated with him; or General Stuart, if he had remained in the

I have already answered your different letters on the subject of Canojee, the last of which is dated the 23rd of January, by letters which have gone to you before this time. The arrangement with that chief must be made in concert with the Guickwar government.

I should wish to decline to give any opinion upon the subject of the claim of any part of the troops under my command to share in prize, as that question must depend upon Government. However, I must say, that as far as they could do so, the troops in Guzerat have decided it for themselves. At all events, the question is not deserving of consideration, as all the prize taken does not, I believe, amount to ten lacs of rupees.

On the day before yesterday I destroyed a band of freebooters, who had for some time plundered the Nizam's territories, and had become very formidable, had beaten his Highness's troops, and taken from them four guns.

I marched on the morning of the 4th, twenty miles; at night, twenty-four miles, and arrived here at nine o'clock on the morning of the 5th. Some of our faithful allies in my camp had given them intelligence of my march, and they had struck tents and were going off. But I pursued them, cut up many, took all their baggage, bazaars, guns, ammunition, &c., and entirely dispersed them.

The 74th regiment, one battalion of native infantry, and five hundred men from the other corps in camp were up in the pursuit. The whole was over by twelve o'clock on the 5th. I think that by that time the troops had marched sixty miles, from six in the morning of the 4th, in which time they halted ten hours, from twelve at noon to ten at night of the 4th.

If the night had not been very dark, and the road very