Vaidya Daftar
This contains translations of select letters from the Vaidya Daftar Volume IV- relating to Raghoji Bhonsles' campaign into the Carnatic lands, and Bengal campaigns of 1741-51.
Volume II
No. 29 - April 26, 1741
Raghuji Bhonsle's capture of Trichinopoly. Letter is in 3 parts.
1
Salutations from your employee Nilkanth Raghunath. I am writing from Kolar. The army marched to Trichinopoly and sieged it for three months. By divine fortune, the place was surrendered to us. Rajashri Sena Saheb Subha exerted himself with great efforts to secure it. He boldly stood in the line of fire from the fort when we attacked. The army too advanced through the enemy's shots to retaliate. When Rajashri Fatehsingh Bhonsle arrived here, Chanda Khan's diwan Ramrao met us and offered 2 lakh if we retire. Rajashri Raghuji refused and announced he will capture the fortress at any cost. Rajashri Fatehsingh Bhonsle then withdrew his involvement, and wanted to see how Rajashri Raghuji achieves this.
While this happened, Chanda Khan's brother Badekhan marched with 5 thousand Pathans on our position from Madurai. When he got to within 7 kos of our position, we were alerted. Rajashri Bhaskar Pandit readied his army and marched out. Along with him, Ra. Fatehsingh's cavalry, Haybatrao Jadhav's forces, some pindaries and Gorikhoji Bhapkar marched together and destroyed this force and killed Badekhan. The honour was the force of Bhaskarpant's. God granted us victory. On Ramnavmi, Saturday, at 3 ghatikas in the night, Trichinopoly was taken and Ra. Fatehsingh's flag was hoisted on it. Chanda Khan was taken prisoner to our camp. His ransom was set at 4 lakhs. He is currently held in Ra. Bhaskarpandit's camp. Bhaskarpandit has left for Varad.
2
Ever since the capture of Trichinopoly, Ra. Raghuji was not content. He fell sick and had high fever. It kept rising and did not cool off. We lost hope. But by God's grace, after 5 to 7 days we got hopeful he will recover. Now it seems he will recover eventually. Though there is still weakness. No remedy was working. By God's will he was saved. Trichinopoly was taken but given to Ra. Fatehsingh Bhonsle. He deputed Murrarji Ghorpade as its commander and he marched away. You might say, why did Ra. Raghuji not garrison his own men and keep the fortress? How will we capture a place and raise our standard on it without the Swami's (Chhatrapati Shahu) orders? Hence it was handed to Fatehsingh Bhonsle. We will see what happens. The fortress is very strong.
3
Ra. Fatehsingh has lost a good opportunity. From the day Trichinopoly was captured, it is now his responsibility. Not a single soldier of ours is there now. But the Swami should remember our contributions and deeds. I am content with what the Swami rewards us with. Convey this to him, I have full confidence in you.
Volume IV
1743 : No. 14 - May 6, 1743
Purushottam Shevde writes to Vishwanath Bhat at Satara of Raghuji's capture of Cuttack, the defeat of Mustafa Khan who marched on them with 10 thousand, and the clash with Alivardi Khan.
(The start of the letter is irrelevant matters).
Shrimant Raghojibaba marched into Bengal. He captured the fortress of Cuttack. After arranging for its garrison, and keeping the camp followers there, he marched further ahead. Alivardi Khan had dispatched Mustafa Khan with a force of 10 thousand cavalry. We were marching slowly, and encountered Mustafa Khan's force. In the battle that followed, we routed his army and captured him. A force of 10 thousand was destroyed. From there, they intercepted Alivardi. Such is the news. I will send more updates as I receive them.
1743 : No. 18 - June 5, 1743
Raghoji Bhonsle writes to the Vaidya brothers about the clash with the Pantpradhan Balaji Bajirao, and the activities in Bengal campaign.
Rajashri Bhaskarram ( Bhaskar Pandit Kolhatkar) marched with our army to Murshidabad and back. They fought a pitched battle with Bardikhan (Alivardi Khan) who retreated to his cantonments.
I went to reinforce him, to Gaya. Pantpradhan Balaji Bajirao also arrived in the province with his army. He sent a high ranking envoy to meet me. We met him and discussed various matters. We took his leave and marched towards Murshidabad to fight the Mughals, halting at Katwa-ganj. Just then, a proposal arrived from the Mughal seeking terms, and offering rights to tax collectors (Revenue from some provinces). Just then the Pantpradhan's army marched towards us, and sent a message to the Mughal that "I am here to reinforce you. He has received a request from the Mughal emperor, and we should combine our forces and push out the invader." Saying thus, he marched on our army along with the Mughal. This has already been written to you earlier.
Then we marched to the vicinity of Ramgadh-Badami. The Pantpradhan sent the Mughals to Murshidabad, while he marched towards Gaya. Nizam Ali's high ranking envoy, Sheshrao, is with Alivardi. He has sent us a letter that the Mughals want to make peace with you, but you should retire to your lands along with Rajashri Bhaskarram. Bhaskarram has accordingly been asked to withdraw. With our own army, we camped near Bendu Ghat. Next day, we climbed the Ghat and advanced 4 to 5 kos. The army column was climbing the ghats- with some already at the summit and the others climbing. Rajashri Pantpradhan had made long marches during the night and already reached our rear. There was some skirmishing between their vanguard and our rearguard. About 100-200 men and horses were killed or injured in total. As soon as we got news of this, we turned around and returned. By then our men had pushed them back, and the day was ending, so we returned to camp. In this way, he has created disruptions. This news is being written to be reported to the Swami. (Chhatrapati Shahu). Then he will know. We have now arrived in Nagpur along with the army.
1743 : No. 24 - July 7, 1743
A document where the Chhatrapati clearly demarcates spheres of influence for the Peshwa and Raghuji.
- Murshidabad, Patna, Lucknow (Raghuji's sphere of influence)
- Malwa, Prayag, Angre, Ajmer (Peshwa's sphere of influence)
If a treaty is made for 1 crore tankas near Patna, 3 lakh rupees should be taken. If it is less, it should be proportionate. For 2 years, his army should not enter the province. Do not break treaties after sending agreements. If it (revenue) is from Antarved or Prayag, he should take it, otherwise except Prayag, it should be assigned to me. Gadhamandala and other regions should also be assigned to me. If it is Malwa, Babti, Sardeshmukhi (types of taxes) should be taken by me and Mogali(?) should go to him. Nemad, Badesarkar, and Makdai's revenue should be transferred to us. Without a treaty, he should collect from these provinces. Both should reinforce each other when requested. Each other's provinces should not be troubled. There are 4 mahals enroute to Patna, they should be given to us. Do not support the emperor's flag at Murshidabad, Patna and Lucknow, nor should his forces be present there. We will assign 3 lakhs from Patna. Each year, it will be paid to an assigned collector. Otherwise there should be no further involvement.
1745 : No. 22 - 12 May, 1745- 206
Capture of Cuttack.
Blessings from Rajamanya Shri Raghoji Bhonsle Sena Sahib Subha. I have previously written from Varad. After making arranagements at Devgadh, we marched to Bengal province. Marching via Dhamtari and Raypur, keeping Samalpur to our left, we reached the vicinty of Cuttack in the month of Phalgun. When they got news of our march, Alivardi's officers and sardars gathered in force and moved three marches ahead of the city. When we learnt of this, we kept our camp followers behind, and by making long marches, covered the distance in one day and on Dwadashi, we reached. The Mughals who were outside the fort, fled to the fort's safety. We invested the fort the same day. The fort was well stocked and built, but by the Swami's fortune, on Ch. 14 Rabilvari, the fort surrendered. The Mughal's troops and officers were removed. We deployed our own garrison and started the march to Murshidabad. I will send more updates later.
1745: No. 29 - 13 July, 1745
The capture of Cuttack after 2 months of siege, surrender of Alivardi's diwan's son.
They marched to Cuttack. As described earlier, they invested it right away. The fort was well built and stocked. After 2 months of fighting, on Ch. 14 Rabilavar, the fort surrendered. Dulabhram, the son of Alivardi's Diwan Jankiram, was captured. They took him with them and marched to Murshidabad. The Shrimant has informed me that he will quarter in that province this season.