On the same day five companies of the regiment, under Captain Cuyler, marched from Baroda to reinforce Major Holmes’ detachment, leaving two companies behind under Captain Grant.
The Chief Canojee was at the head of a considerable force, but he avoided an engagement, which occasioned many harassing marches in endeavouring to come up with him. On the 25th of February, a party of the Eighty-sixth was detached against the fort of Kirrella, which was captured without experiencing serious opposition.
On the 1st of March, when near Copperbund, information was received that Canojee’s force was not far distant; and by extraordinary exertions, the detachment came up with the hostile bands, which were in full retreat. The Mahratta horse, attached to the British detachment, did not act with spirit; but the Eighty-sixth, though nearly exhausted with the march, made a gallant effort, and encountered the enemy, who was in the act of passing the bed of a river. The adverse bands being nearly all cavalry, and the British nearly all infantry, the enemy escaped with little loss. The Eighty-sixth had two men killed; Lieutenant Alexander Grant, and a few men wounded.
The forces of Canojee Rao Guickwar having been, in a great measure, dispersed, the Eighty-sixth were allowed a short period of repose; and these districts were annexed to the British possessions in India.
Operations having commenced for the restoration of the Peishwah, the Eighty-sixth were stationed a short time in Guzerat, where a force was detained to afford security to that valuable and important province, and also a reserve disposable for active operations. The regiment formed part of the disposable force stationed in front of Brodera, the residence of the Guickwar, and to the northward of the Nerbudda river.
In May, the regiment advanced and pitched its tents before the fortress of Keira, belonging to one of Doulat Rao Scindia’s chiefs, where some native infantry and battering guns also arrived; but the garrison surrendered without waiting for a breach having been made in the works.
From Keira the regiment marched to Nerriade, where it was joined by two companies left at Baroda under Captain Grant; but the rains setting in, the operations were suspended.
Information having been received that a body of the enemy was levying contributions about thirty miles from the quarters of the regiment, Captain Grant performed a forced march with four companies and some sepoys, and making a night attack with great success, killed and took prisoners many of the enemy, and captured some horses, &c. Lieutenant Procter and a few men of the regiment were wounded on this occasion.
A body of Canojee’s troops threatening to cross the river about fifteen miles above Baroach, and plunder the country, four hundred rank and file of the regiment, with a battalion of sepoys, and four guns, under Captain James Richardson, advanced, on the 14th of July, during the heavy rains, in search of the enemy. The gun-bullocks failed, and the country being inundated by the rains, the soldiers had to drag the guns, up to their waists in water; but by extraordinary efforts they arrived at the bank of the river on the 16th of July, and attacking a number of Canojee’s troops which had crossed the stream, routed them, and forced them into the water, where many lost their lives, the river being full and rapid.
The river having fallen considerably during the night, the soldiers passed the stream on the following day, under cover of the fire of the guns, and assaulting the breast-works of the main body of Canojee’s legions, carried them at the point of the bayonet, and pursued the routed enemy two miles with great slaughter. A body of Arabs disdaining to seek their safety in flight, fought with great desperation until overpowered.