Shri Brahmendra Swami's charitra
This is a set of letters from Bajirao and Chimaji Appa to their guru, Shri Brahmendra Swami. They provide valuable details of Bajirao's expedition to Delhi, and the Vasai campaign against the Portuguese. The letters are contained in the Appendix, categorized by sender.
Letters from Bajirao
No. 27
A letter from Bajirao to Chimaji Appa, forwarded by him to Swami. This covers the details of the Delhi expedition.
I am writing from the vicinity of Sawai Jainagar (Jaipur). We kept the camp followers with Raja Jagatraj (the second son of Raja Chhatrasal). From there, we marched in separate columns. The letters dispatched with the messenger Chaturbhuj, about the battle with Sadatkhan must have been received. Sadat Khan crossed the Yamuna and camped near Agra. We wanted to engage him in battle, but he took shelter of the town. It would have been difficult to fight with the cover of the town. We could march along the Gambhir (a tributary of the Yamuna river), but the terrain is full of obstacles. Khan Dauran and Md. Bangash were also marching with their armies to Agra. Their combined force would be too great to fight. So it was imprudent to stay there much longer. Secondly, Sadat Khan had written to the Mogul emperor, Khan Dauran, Kamruddin Khan -
"The Maratha army that crossed the Yamuna has been routed. We slew 2000 cavalry, and another 2000 drowned in the river. Malharji Holkar and Vithoba Bule fought well. Bajirao's attempt to attack has been repulsed. His force is no more. After defeating this force, we will now cross the Chambal."
In addition, he has boasted much. He has ingratiated himself to the emperor. The emperor has honoured him with ceremonial robes, pearls, daggers (sirpav) and elephants. Even his envoy (vakil) was given daggers. He has also boasted to many other sardars. Rajashri Dhondo Govind (the Peshwa's envoy to the Mughal court) has written to me about it. In short, he says our force is lifeless, and incapable of doing anything more. He thinks we are in hiding. You have seen how the Mughals act. They talk much, but do little. Their emperor should know the truth. Either I can attack Sadat Khan and face his army, or march to Delhi and burn it down. Then my presence will be felt. Seeing that Sadat Khan is not leaving Agra, I resolved to go to Delhi. With this intention, we left the Royal road and instead marched through the province of Damansingh Chudaman Jat from a mountainous route. Khan Dauran and Md. Bangash went to Agra and met Sadat Khan. Dhondopant was with Khan Dauran. Sadat Khan told Khan Dauran -
"I have destroyed Bajirao's force. His camp followers fled. He and his elite guard also retired beyond the Chambal. Yet you honour him by keeping his envoy with you. This is improper behavior, you should dismiss him."
Subsequently, Dhondopant was informed of this discussion. Khan Dauran did not say so only because Sadat Khan told him. But without much thought, he dismissed him. So he left and joined us. Kamruddin Khan and Ajmulla Khan were enroute. We did not stop to engage them. They were at a distance of 7 kos (about 21km) to our right. We marched very long, 20 kos at a time, twice. Keeping the Kalika Devi temple and Barapulla to our right, and leaving it behind, we camped at a place called Kushbandi near Delhi.
Delhi is a great ancient city. Burning it to the ground would severely hurt the Mughal emperor, which is not of any benefit to us. His sardars have prevented signing a new treaty. Once we cross the point of no return, the thread of diplomacy is broken permanently. So I decided against burning the city, and instead only sent letters to the Mughal and Raja Bakhtmal. A few ceremonial horses, elephants, camels had come from the city, which we seized. A lot of the city's residents were outisde for the Bhavani Yatra, who were panicked by our army's presence and fled back into the city. The next day, without informing the Mughal emperor, Raja Bakhtmal sent a reply asking to send Dhondopant. So we moved closer to the city. There was chaos in the city, so we did not send anyone. I sent a letter-
"Send a high ranking envoy to negotiate. My army's presence so close to the city will cause problems, so I am moving camp to the Jheel tank.".
While passing the city, the emperor sent Mir Hasan Khoka daroga, the elite guard, Nawab Amir Khan, Khoje Rojafjukhan , Raja Shivsingh jematdar risal-e-amir, and Muzzaffarkhan naib-bakshi ahadi, along with Khan Dauran's brother with a force of 7 to 8 thousand elite cavalry near Rikabang(?). Rajashri Satvoji Jadhav was marching ahead of the column. He skirmished with them and retired to inform us. He sent a messenger to inform us. Rajashri Malharji Holkar, Ranoji Shinde, Rajashri Tukoji Pawar, Jivji Pawar, Yashwantrao Pawar, Manaji Paygude, and Govind Hari were dispatched in response. They engaged the Moguls and destroyed their force. 12 of their important sardars were slain. Nawab Mir Hasan Khan was taken away by them injured. At one outpost, the Mughals lost 300 men dead, many more injured. The rest fled to the city. We captured about 2000 horses from them.
Rajashri Ranoji Shinde's man, Indraji Kadam was hit by a bullet and lost two fingers. No major sardar was killed on our side, though some were injured. We halted again at the Jheel water tank. Only 4 ghatikas of daylight were left in the day. Just then we received news that Kamruddin Khan has arrived in the vicinty. We readied the army and immediately formed up to face him. We fought a battle. Rajahshri Yashwantrao Pawar seized one of their elephants. We routed him and captured more horses and camels. We thought of using the night to encircle the Mughal force. But the Jheel tank is 16 kos in length. On its right is Kamruddin Khan, ahead of it is the city. Secondly, messengers had left Delhi already informing Sadat Khan, and Nawab Khan Dauran of my presence here. They immediately marched with a force of 25 to 30 thousand and had already covered 32 kos. The next day they were 25 kos from Alivardi canal. On Thursday, all their armies will combine- Khan Dauran, Sadat Khan, Kamruddin Khan and Bangash. They will have the city, and their combined force is too large to fight. Leaving the Moghul behind, we marched 4 kos. Firanjogi Patankar was shot by a bullet in the earlier battle and passed away. Few more men and horses had been injured.
On Thursday, all their armies combined. They have now camped near the Jheel tank. We tried to bait their vanguard to follow us and separate it and destroy it, for which we moved near Revari(?), Kotputli, Manoharpur. But the Mughals refused to leave the Jheel tank. We received news that Mir Hasan Khoka, who had been injured earlier, died of his wounds. Khan Dauran was sending letter after letter to Rajashri Sawai Jaisingh. In response, he mobilized a force of 15 to 16 thousand, along with artillery, and camped at Basava, near Jaipur. He is going to meet Khan Dauran. Sawaiji has separately written to me requesting me not to damage his provinces. Our envoy Vyankoji Ram is with him. Our communication is through him. I have reassured him that I will not march into his provinces. In return, he will supply us with grain and fodder. Abhay Singh is at Jodhpur.
We will first collect the pending tax dues from Bhadavar, Gwalior. If the Mughals follow us, we will keep skirmishing with them and ravage their lands. Do not worry about us. The main object was to build good ties with the Mughal emperor and Khan Dauran, (while he alienates others). The Mughal is now panicked, and has lost the trust in Sadat Khan entirely. If the Mughals want to negotiate peacefully, well and good. If not, we are ready for war. We will eventually negotiate for the lands with the exception of Delhi suburbs, which are the emperor's personal lands. That leaves Sonipat, Panipat, and the lands beyond. We will overrun it all eventually. If the Mughals stay in Delhi, we will go to the doab via Agra and sack it. If the Nawab Nizam ul Mulk arrives here, you should checkmate him in the Deccan, and ravage his lands, that will force him to retire.
No. 33
Letter from Bajirao to Chimaji describing the battle of Bhopal. Forwarded to Swami.
When we heard that the Nawab Nizam ul Mulk has moved to Malwa, we marched to face him. When we were at a distance of 8 to 9 kos, the Nawab's army changed course, and marched to the safety of the Bhopal fort. They deployed with a lake behind them, and a broken ground/canal in the front. We marched and reached them on the same day. Sawaiji's son, Sabhasingh Bundele, Jats, and the royal forces and the artillery were all deployed on the front. I was standing with our elite guard observing the enemy. Our commanders were Rajashri Ranoji Shinde, Pilaji Jadhavrao, Sayaji Gujar. Along with some other regiments (pathaks), they charged the Rajputs in center of their line. They took heavy fire on their flanks from the Nizam's field pieces. They slew 150 of the Rajputs, and we lost 50. Another 200-400 are wounded. We captured about 100 horses, but 500 to 700 are wounded.
If there had not been a canal in the front of the artillery, we would have been able to deploy our full force and wipe out their line. After the engagement on the first day, we camped at a range of 2 rockets from the Nizam. If we had intercepted the Nizam at one or two day's march from here, he would not have been able to defend himself. Alas, he was able to get here and entrench himself. After the first day's fight, we waited for 3 or 4 days. The Nawab sent his own camp followers, as well the ones with the Rajputs, Jats and others to the Bhopal city. He moved his camp and tents to the rear as well. Every day, he climbs the elephant, and the armies stand ready for battle, but don't sally out. Now all the tents and baggage has been moved behind to the fort.
They are now running short of grain and fodder. In 4 days, a whole Rupee gets them only 4 sers of grain. Let us wait and watch. Fodder for the elephants and horses is also running low. One day they fed them the greenery on the trees and the grass at the lake. Now that is depleted. All the different groups - the Rajputs, Jats, Mughals now distrust each other. They would have left his army entirely, but the Nawab had cleverly sent their baggage and camp followers to the Bhopal fort. They were unwilling to step out for battle, not knowing if one of them will turn on the other. By now, we deployed our men on all sides of their camp. All night, we send men into the broken ground to fire rockets and muskets in their midst. They are losing men, and it is creating chaos in their camp. They form up every time expecting an attack. We have kept this up for three days, and they haven't got any sleep, and completely exhausted.
The Nawab and the Rajputs tried to form up for battle, but came under heavy fire before they could deploy, and returned to their entrenchments. There is continuous dispatch of messengers to Delhi. What happened to Bangash will happen to the Nawab. The Nawab is a great amir, with an army of 30 to 40 thousand. He has hathnals (handheld rocket launcher), shaturnals (camel gun), barakandaz (matchlockmen) and rakhales (carriage mounted artillery- horse artillery) in great numbers. With such an army, to seek shelter of a fort is embarassing. He is waiting, because he is hoping that another relief army will be dispatched from Delhi. He has sent such a request to Delhi. The emperor has written to Kamruddin Khan and Khan Dauran not to leave of their own accord, and only march with the emperor. But he has stayed in Delhi, and it seems he won't go anywhere.
The second hope is another relief army from the south. Every day, a few cohorts are mobilized. Perhaps they will amass a large number and come to the Nawab's aid. If Chimaji checkmates this force right in the south, it won't be able to make it here. We have just enough forces to face the Nawab. If he gets reinforcements, it will be tough for us. Hence, exert all efforts to stop his relief army. Gather any forces you can find for this and keep them with you. Although Dabhade and Bande have not sent their forces here, summon their men and keep them with you. Bring some forces with Rajashri Swami (Chhatrapati Shahu) to your camp. Write to Chiranjeev Rajashri Mahadoba to request the king to send Rajashri Fatesingh, Rajashri Shambusingh Jadhavrav, and the sarlashkar. All of these should gather any men they can at a quick notice, and checkmate the Nizam's southern army. The Nizam should not be able to get any reinforcements from anywhere.
Once this battle is won, the south will be secure permanently. This is a great opportunity even to collect a hefty war indemnity and settle old debts. With the army we have, we fight day and night as best we can. Rajashri Avji Kavde has arrived with more supplies. Rajashri Ranoji Bhonsle's Dakde(?) has arrived. But he is on our side. He has not contributed troops for campaigns even for the king. At least he should come now. If he does not, he will only be collecting revenue from his provinces for nothing. Use whatever means to mobilize him. Shahjahanpur's Mogul (a sardar of the Nizam) marched with a relief force, which was ambushed by Rajashri Malharba and Ranba (Ranoji Shinde) and Yashwantrav Pawar, and 1500 of their army was slain, the rest fled. If Ranoji Bhonsle joins us, it is well. If not, it is acceptable if his army joins your army. Write to us of the arrangements.
No. 34
Continues with further updates of the battle of Bhopal.
The news from here is that the Nizam positioned himself defensively at the fortress at Bhopal. On Ch. 3 Ramzan, we fought a battle. The nawab then sent his camp followers to the protection of the fortress. I have written to you about this before. We have now cut off the fortress's supply and erected batteries. Food is very expensive in his camp, and they have run out of forage. In despair, the Nawab dispatched Anandrao Sumant for negotiations. After explaining my demands, I dispatched Rajashri Baburao Malhar with him to the Nawab. The Nawab asked us to send Rajashri Pilaji Jadhavrao and other important sardars early in the morning. Baburao Malhar returned to the camp.
On Ch. 14 Ramzan ( 26 December 1737), Abdul Khair Khan, Sayyid Lashkar Khan, Anwar Khan and Sumant walked to the hill ahead of their camp. We sent Rajashri Pilaji Jadhavrao, Rajashri Baji Bhivrao, and Rajashri Baburao Malhar. They met and negotiations began. Our men explained our demands. They agreed and admitted that the Nawab will agree to your demands, but the Nawab's reputation is at stake, and must be protected.
"Early in the morning, the Nawab will set out. Retire your army one kos. Our three envoys will come to meet you. They will negotiate."
We retired one kos as agreed. The Nawab marched out and halted at the lake. Abdul Khair Khan and Anwar Khan came to our army. The main points of the treaty were discussed. They announced they will get such an understanding from the Nawab, and returned to their camp. However, no further communication happened. The Nawab beat his drums and then returned to the fort. Then Rajashri Avji Kavde and Rajashri Yashwantrao Pawar opened fire. They marched ahead and engaged the Jat soldiers on the other side. The Nawab returned. We readied the rest of the army. The Nawab moved his artillery to a distance of half a kos from Bhopal and kept up continuous fire from 2 prahars in the day till night.
After this, he left even his spot at the lake, and went to the fort, where the camp followers had already been sent. He is now stuck in the fort, without any options. The Nawab has a vast force. He planned to eliminate us and proceed to the south. Many of his sardars wanted to surrender and negotiate like Md. Bangash did earlier. Others want to fight to the end, and he is unable to do either. What reputation is left to be saved?
Either way, it doesn't matter. We have now tightened the blockade, and destroyed any access to grain and fodder. We had kept them standing for battle since yesterday. We kept up steady fire on both men and horses. Their force is in no condition to fight. We also seized 2 artillery pieces from them. By the Swami's fortune, the Nizam ul Mulk has been sunk. He had high hopes from the southern army, but you have already checkmated it. Keep massing more troops and putting pressure on his southern forces. Sent a well respected envoy and bring Dabhade's forces as well. Even if they are at Ranali (a village in northern Maharashtra), it is acceptable. If their forces are at Songad (a place near Baroda in Gujarat), send a suitable envoy and get forces from Dabhade, Bande, Gaekwars. Send another envoy to Raghoji Bhonsle and secure his men as well. Once all his other forces are checked, the Nawab's army here will be destroyed anyway. By our good fortune, what will happen, shall be good. We lost about 35 horses in yesterday's fighting. No major sardars were killed, only a few junior officers.