i actually have been keeping the enemies fairly weak.  The orc fighters only had 6 hit points each, and there fighting skills were only around average.  I imaghie one of the reasons this fight was so slow was because a few people didn't participate, while several where taken down by the laughing gas spell.  I think it probably would be better to simply decrease the number of battles.  But i suppose i could also maybe drop some of the enemies to One-hit kills.  SOmething for me to think over before the next fight.