[Sidenote: 1803] On the third of February, 1803, three companies of the EIGHTY-SIXTH, under Captain James Richardson, were detached, with other forces, the whole commanded by Major Holmes, of the Bombay army, in pursuit of the Mahratta chieftain, _Canojee Rao Guickwar_, who had taken the field with a considerable force. While in quest of the enemy, the advance-guard of the Seventy-fifth Regiment was suddenly attacked, when emerging from a defile, on the 6th of February, and overpowered, with a loss of many men and a gun. The three companies of the EIGHTY-SIXTH, being at the head of the column of march, moved forward, encountered the enemy, and, by a determined charge, routed the hostile forces, chasing them across the bed of a river into the jungle, where they dispersed, leaving their tents, baggage, camels, horses, and the captured gun behind. The regiment lost very few men in this gallant exploit. 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.