Volume 36: First Anglo Maratha war
This contains a set of letters relating to the First Anglo Maratha War 1776 - 1782. It draws from two sources. The Peshwe Daftar Volume Volume 36, and Historical Papers relating to Mahadji Shinde.
In 1772, Peshwa Madhavrao passed away, and his younger brother Narayanrao was appointed as the new Peshwa. Raghunathrao, Madhavrao's uncle, always wanted to be the Peshwa, and the two had even come to blows once in early 1760s. Subsequently, Madhavrao had successfully disarmed his uncle's schemes, and kept him at bay. Narayanrao failed to see the trap set for him, and was assasinated. After his passing, Raghunathrao was the seniormost member of the Bhat family, and thus became the Peshwa. Narayanrao still had many well wishers, and his murder shocked many in the land. The Nyayadish (Chief Justice) of Swarajya, Ram Shastri Prabhurane, investigated the murder over the course of the year, and pronounced his judgement - Raghunathrao was responsible, and must be punished. He could no longer serve in his office, and retired to Varanasi.
Despite this, there was no united opposition to Raghunathrao at the time. But it set in motion a chain of events. A year later, on a campaign against Hyder Ali, one by one, his ministers and generals made excuses and hastened back to the capital, Pune. Once they had assembled, they announced that Raghunathrao had been deposed, and an infant boy born to Narayanrao's widowed wife, is the new Peshwa. Nana Fadnavis, Sakharam Bapu, Trimbakrao Pethe, Haripant Phadke, and a few others, together made the Barbhais. (12 men). There was much panic in the land, as every sardar was unsure which side to pick. Of the 12, Trimbakrao Pethe was their best general. He was tricked and murdered by Raghunathrao right at the onset, in 1774. After multiple battles, Raghunathrao was forced to flee, and he fled to the security of the English at Mumbai. The English declared their support for him, and thus joined the war. In the meanwhile, hostilities with Hyder were still on till 1776.
The war with the English was fought in 3 phases. In the first phase, there were fights at Bassein, and Gujarat. It ended with the treaty of Purandar. It was not to last, and hostilities resumed soon. This second attempt ended with the treaty of Wadgaon. Yet again, hostilities resumed, before finally ending in 1782 with the treaty of Salbai. By this time, Hyder Ali had switched sides, and also joined the war against the English. The second phase saw multiple theatres- on the Konkan coast, Gujarat, Malwa, and Bundelkhand. While this civil war and external war raged on, the Holkar family was split in internal feuds, as were the Gaekwads of Baroda, and the Bhonsles of Nagpur. Multiple pretenders also turned up, claiming to be the surviving Sadashivrao from Panipat, and created more unrest. The final treaty brought a long period of peace until the battle of Kharda in 1795.
P.D 42 - December 1774
Dattaji Narayan writes about English losing 300 men in a skirmish ,
I have just received news that the army has departed Baroda and is marching here. But I do not know for sure if this is true. Narrotam should be detained until we find out the truth. In my opinion, there shouldn't be such uncertainty and risks in the army. Gaekwad's troops will also arrive today. Please write to us when you will march, and when you will arrive here at the city.
News from Sashti is that their officer Watson had arrived with his troops, and was killed. They lost about 300 men killed, and more wounded. They have abandoned their batteries and withdrawn. The government's troops at every fort were proven useful, as well as the Huzurat. The English don't have any edge here.
P.D 88 - 23 December 1774
Dattaji Narayan writes about the defense put up by the Marathi at Sashti.
Your letter has been received. Narrotam's detainment is a good development. Soon he will be imprisoned. I was ordered to keep sending news about Sashti (Salsette/Vasai forts). Off late, communication has been cut off since yesterday. The English blockade is tight, and no informers are able to get through. The fort had been fighting well. Yesterday's news said that the English set up some batteries close to the lake. The fire from the fort forced them to vacate and retire. They took a few casualties. The reinforcements may have also reached. I will restock items as mentioned in the list. Gunpowder and bullets are being resupplied. We received 5 man gunpowder, and 2 man bullets. My sister came to us from Kohajgar after hearing the sound of the battle. I am ordering a small escort to accompany her.
If Sashti falls, they will train their cannons on us here, which has not happened yet. The English landed more reinforcements from their ships, they were also driven away. The fort is fighting hard. 2 bastions were lost, but after much cannon fire, they were taken back.
There is also news that the English will be at our city soon. There are only 40-50 artillerymen and gardis ( line infantry) here at the gates. They will not last if their army arrives. We are unsure of whether to retreat.
P.D 126 - 20 January, 1775
Battle of Mahi - Raghunathrao and Haripant Phadke
Shrimant Raghunathrao (Dadasaheb) marched on us. Govindrao Gaekwad also joined forces with him, and crossed to the north bank of the Mahi. Rajashri Haripant was ready to face them. I marched in haste and joined him. On Tritiya, we fought a battle. It lasted well into the evening. They had deployed close to the river bank. We are facing the south. In a few days, they will either surrender, or cross the river and retreat.
P.D 143 - 3 February 1775
Visaji Keshavrao reports Raghunathrao's flight
Dadasaheb (Raghunathrao) came to Gujarat, and I have been ordered to send updates regarding his movements. Dadasaheb made his way to Baroda. Rajashri Haripant Phadke and his army reached Champaner, joined forces with Govindrao and crossed the Mahi. They have seized the crossings. Rajashri Fatesingh brought his army and artillery and joined Raghunathrao. Before they could make junction with the English, they got cut off.
P.D 148 - 18 February 1775
Another clash between Raghunathrao and Haripant Phadke
On Friday, Haripant crossed the Mahi and marched towards Raghunathrao. In the third prahar of the day, the two armies made contact. They engaged for 4 ghatikas, and Raghunathrao's army was broken. Manaji Fakda, Sadashiv Ramchandra, and Sakharam Hari are severely injured. Raghunathrao , Govindrao Khanderao, Hari Bhide and others fled. We are in their pursuit. The dead and wounded are being counted.
P.D 158 - 2 March, 1775
Haripant Ballal writes about a battle with Raghunathrao after negotiations broke down.
We had been negotiating with Raghunathrao for almost a month, through Holkar, but with no results. Eventually we fought a battle that lasted till the evening, and he retreated during the night, and we were unable to catch him. With 200 men, he went to Cambay, and from there, took a 50 gallivats (small warship) and sailed to Bombay. Rajashri Vamanrao, Raste and other pathaks, totalling 10-15 thousand men have been sent after them. In our battle, we seized his artillery and 10-15 elephants. Baburao Patankar and Ganesh Vitthal are injured.
P.D 199 - 29 April, 1775
Haripant engages the joint forces of Raghunathrao and Govindrao across a river.
Rajashri Gangadhar Rao's troops have arrived. If we had 2 more large cannons, it would have been better. We have been asked to get taxes from the Mughals(?) to pay the army. News is that Raghunathrao will return in gallivats back to Surat. An English envoy came to us. We assigned a clerk to him. Please inform us of news from your side. Raghunathrao's men and Gaekwad's were together. They camped on the Sabarmati's bank. We were on opposite sides, and fought with artillery. We lost 25-30 horses in their fire, and a ceremonial elephant. Our retaliatory fire killed 100-150 of their men, and their gardis broke their formations and retired 5 kos. We will decide on when to march later.
P.D 202 - 3 May, 1775
Haripant engages the combined alliance along with English soldiers and routs them.
Shrimant Dadasaheb, Govindrao Gaekwad, Sakharam Hari, etc combined their forces and marched to the English at the Sabarmati. They continued their march along the river. One day we had an artillery exchange and both sides took losses. We stayed 4 kos ahead of them. Leaving the Sabarmati, taking the Vatra creek, they went to Khed. We had another engagement across the river. They marched with their full force of cannons, infantry and cavalry and crossed the river. We engaged them and drove them back across the river. We got 200 horses as spoils, as well as 2 elephants. Kukaji Shivram fell in battle. It is difficult to cross the river. We would lose horses, and not worth the risk. Theyve covered the fords with their artillery from the other side. I will send more updates later.
P.D 209 - 11 May, 1775
Another engagement between the Peshwa's forces and the English.
Describes the same, but also mentions that the English took 500-1000 dead. Haripant mentions that the fire from the closed formations of the English made it difficult to rout them.
P.D 218
Haripant describes the battle of Adas/Napad.
We deployed our artillery. Their infantry marched towards our cannons. As they got closer, they got charged and cut down by our cavalry. They lost 1000-1500, and 5 officers wounded or dead. They routed and fled. We are counting our dead and wounded. This battle happened close to Napad. After this fight, Raghunathrao has retired towards Bhadoch. We are in pursuit, 5 kos behind. He will probably halt at a village of Padre. If possible we will engage again. Hari Bhide was charged with treason by the English and executed, despite Raghunathrao's protests. Rukna-ud-daula was murdered treacherously, and the Nizam has written of his good intentions.
P.D 230 - 22 June 1775
Sidoji Shitole writes to Nimbalkar about the defeat of Haripant Phadke by Raghunathrao.
The Shrimant (Raghunathrao) and Haripant fought 7 or 8 times total. In the end he was defeated. He lost 1 or 2 thousand horses and men. On the Bhavpira ghat, Haripant himself arrived with his army. When Shrimant learnt of it, we marched by night and made contact early day at dawn. We attacked and routed them, drove over 2000 of his men and horses into the river. His camp followers and Darkoji Nimbalkar were plundered by the kolis. About 500-1000 horses were taken as spoils, along with 7 or 8 field pieces. Haripant was able to flee, and has retrated to Malwa. The Shrimant has restored his administration in this region. Fatehsingh and Khandoji Gaekwad will meet today or tomorrow. 30 thousand cavalry, and some English troops, 20 thousand infantry, 5 to 7 thousand more horses, and about 100 artillery pieces have been assembled. Dabhoi and Baroda were taken and our administration set up. Shahji Naik Nimbalkar was hit by a cannonball and died. Rajashri Maloji Ghorpade and some other sardars have been wounded by bullets, and some died, as per our information. They have not met us yet. We came to this province in the month of Ashwin.
P.D 351 - 23 December 1778
Bhivrao Panse repels the English troops somewhere in a pitched battle.
We attacked the English force with everything we had. We started with artillery fire and rockets. They advanced but were forced to retreat under heavy fire. The Pratinidhi's infantry and cavalry had not yet arrived, but will arrive soon.
P.D 359 Holkar repels a night attack by 3 English battalions.
P.D 366 Nana writes to Panse about their artillery not being useful at long range, as the cannons are small.
P.D 403 - 29 November 1780
Goddard's failure at Mumbai at Bandra.
The English took severe losses at Vasai. Two gallivats with gunpowder were sunk at Dharavi. (Colonel) Goddard set up batteries at Bandra. 3 batteries were made ready. Just as they were about to start bombardment, a thousand men marched from the fort and charged one of the batteries- wiping it out entirely. The English lost 250-300 men, we lost 300-400. But this scared Goddard, and he was wary of making another attack. As long we have life in our bodies, they won't seize this fort. Barbhais have mobilized a force of 25k. The English Amil at Khopoli was driven away. Now Kalyan, Belapur, Kalve, Parsik have amils. The site of the next battle will likely be Kalyan. The force there has taken casualties of around 200, while another 200 fled. As of now, it doesn't look like any victory for the English.Share