The forces concentrated in 1817, amounting to nearly 120,000 men and 300 guns, — the largest army collected up to that time for one purpose under the British flag in India, — included some 29,000 irregulars and contingents furnished by native princes, and of these 19,000 horse were under English officers; there were also 13,000 European troops distributed evenly among the different divisions, and of these 8,500 were infantry, more than 2,000 cavalry, and the remainder artillery[1].
Lord Hastings reached Cawnpur in September and intended to have at least two divisions on the Narbadá early in October, in order to fall upon the Pindárís when their power of rapid movement was hampered by swollen rivers. But although there had been a drought in the north, the rains were more than usually severe in the Deccan and the concentration of that army had in consequence been delayed; Sir T. Hislop arrived at his head-quarters at Haidarábád in August, and. leaving early in October, did not reach the position close to Handiá he meant to occupy, till the 10th November.
On account of these delays, the Northern Army moved a little later than was at first intended. Lord Hastings attached himself to the Central Division, crossed the Jumna 28th October, and advanced to Siunda on the Sind river. The Right Division left Agra about the same time and marched to Dholpur on the Chambal, and thus early in November two strong corps were posted on the northern frontiers of Sindhia's territories, about sixty miles apart, and
- ↑ Blacker, p. 25.
