Volume 37: Madhavrao's Mysore campaign I
Peshwa Madhavrao, took the seat at the young age of 17 a few months after the disaster at Panipat in 1761. He was challenged by his uncle Raghunathrao for the post, and faced multiple rebellions and unrest all over, as sardars tried to take advantage of his inexperience. He proved an able commander. Neutralizing his uncle, defeating the Nizam, and not only reversing Hyder Ali's gains but also adding more territory. In his last years, Mahadji Shinde brought the namesake Mughal emperor from the British territories back to Delhi, under Maratha protection. Other sardars reconquered lost territories in the North. By the time of his passing, in 1772, all the losses of Panipat had been erased. This set of letters covers the battles and campaigns in the south, against Hyder Ali. There were 2 major wars. One in 1764, and the second lasting from 1769 to 1772.
First Maratha-Mysore War
7 - 20 March 1762
Murrarao Ghorpade suffers losses against Hyder and retreats
Rajashri Murrarrao Hindurao Ghorpade Mamlatdar have sent 2.5-3k cavalry with Rajashri Shivrao Ghorpade and Khanderao Ghorpade to Silgade. From there, 3 kos away is Balapur. They marched to a distance of 2 kos from Balapur. Haider Khan had erected batteries and deployed his army there. He had 3k infantry, 1200 turkish cavalry, 200 small field pieces. His cavalry assembled and marched forward. On 23rd, Saturday, a battle took place. Haider lost a number of soldiers. On 24th, Sunday, on Ekadashi, early in the morning, Naikji Thorat , Mukundrao Venkat-Girikar took 150 cavalry with them and went to Udalkonda, at a distance of 2 kos. From there, Silgat, 5 kos. Taking the men gathered there, we sent the injured men with Shivrao Ghorpade to Kodikode(?). Anas Khan and the firangis are at Gudibida, along with Rao and the army. This is 5 kos from Balapur. Rajashri Gopalrao Sabnis with 2000 infantry and some troops from Balapur were sent to Nadigad. At night, a signal will be fired from the fort. The infantry should watch for the signal and march in.
Haider's men have started filling the trenches around Balapur. Our men are few. Even among them, many are dead or wounded. One or two times, Ghorpade had to retreat, so Anas Khan will march on them.
Shivrao Ghorpade has 5 minor injuries. He has fought a lot. They have sent back their dead and wounded, and left with few. The Swami's (Madhavrao's) army is at the Tungabhadra, so our soldiers fought hard. Haider khan also knows of it, so he has advanced the batteries fast. The fort is unable to get supplies. If the army arrives in time, he will retreat to Bengaluru. Sarkar's vakil with him- Anandrao Kaivarkar has been sent to Bengaluru.
9 - 15 July 1762
Raghunathrao writes about a reversal faced by Haider against Madhavrao.
Haider and Madhavrao met in the field. Haider had to retire into the forest. We couldn't pursue his forces there. The remaining letter is about revenue matters in the North, and not covered here.
14 - 19 February 1763
Ramaji Mahadeo acknowledges receipt of a letter from Raghunathrao, about the fort of Miraj being surrendered by Govind Hari Patwardhan.
17 - 1764
Raghunathrao writes about dispatch of men and artillery to Karnataka.
Trimbakrao Khanderao's gardi infantry have been sent with Abaji Naik and Renko Anaji. If there are any still available, they should be sent to Karnataka along with one or two more regiments of cavalry. The cannons have also been sent with Khanderao and Abaji. You have summoned Renkopant. His clerk was with me. He is being sent to you. 4 of Khanderao's cannons are being sent with him.
20 - 1764?
Visaji Baburao reports on Haider's advance.
Rajashri Rao Mamlatdar had 2k cavalry, 2k infantry, 400 areb(?). He has 2 small cannons as well as the Raya's 10 cannons. The 2 cannons are 4 ser each - (8 pounders), the others are of smaller bore. With this force, we cannot face a pitched battle, only skirmish.
Haider captured the Raya's men like Khanderao and his officers. They have been imprisoned at Bengaluru. He is fed well but not allowed any freedom. When the Shrimant's army arrives, their release can be negotiated. For this, the Raya has already written to Rajashri Nagorao Shrinivas, the vakil. The arrival of the army is anticipated.
There is news that Muhammed Ali Khan has come to Arcot from Chennapatanam.
(misc news and gossip excluded here.)
The local chiefs are also causing unrest, seeing Haider's advancing army. Just then, news of the Peshwa's army being in Manoli has dampened their spirits. Haider was very elated at seizing Ghorpade's lands. He has 5k karnataki infantry, 12-13k regular infantry, 2-3k officered by firangis. In addition, he has 2-3k turkish cavalry, 500 polygars, and some cannons. In total, he outnumbers our men locally everywhere, so we can't engage him. However, we have garrisoned all the places as heavily as we can. When the Raya's army gets to the Tungabhadra, any vacillating chiefs and scattered men will return. Some forts like Penugonda, Madakshire, Maharajgad are unreliable. They will capitulate once the siege begins. The Rao will not move without specific orders.
The Raya should lead the army himself , and not delegate it, and crush the polygars and Pathans. The Rao will take to the field again, but his confidence is shaken, and needs a bigger force.
BasalatJung is at Kampili, Haider Khan at Bednore.
27 - 19th March 1764
Moro Baburao writes about the siege of Manoli.
We have set up batteries at Manoli. It has been 4 days. The fort is good. They have a garrison of 2000 infantry. If they resist, it will take a week more. After it capitulates, we will march on Haider, he is still at Bednore.
31 - 6th May 1764
Madhavrao Sadashiv skirmishes with Haider Ali's army and repulses it
We intercepted Haider Naik on Pratipada. We fought well, the enemy's army was driven away. He lost at least 200 men and even more horses. More injured. He abandoned his tents as well, and retired to a fort. We Met the Nawab of Savnur, his forces will arrive today. Rajashri Murrarrao Ghorpade's men will also join today. Harpanhalikar's men will join in 4 days. By the Swami's blessing, the enemy will be destroyed entirely soon.
32- 6th May 1764
Krishnarao Ballal , Ramchandra Ganesh report to Raghunathrao, the big battle of Ratehalli between Madhavrao and Haider Ali.
I am writing news from the vicinity of Ratehalli, near Bednore. Apologies for not writing earlier, there was nothing of note to write. The khas swari ( special army / Peshwa's own army) arrived at Savnur. They met the Nawab of Savnur. He came with 1000 cavalry and 1200 infantry. Haider was camped near the forests of Bednore. Our army moved towards the Tungabhadra. Just then, Haider marched with 25,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry on us. Our army advanced 3 kos ahead of the suburbs of Haveri town. On hearing of this, Haider marched to Ratehalli, near Bednore. Gopalrao and Vitthal Shivdeo also marched and joined our army at Ratehalli. We showed Haider a small army , and he marched on them immediately, advancing 2 kos. The full army was still taking positions. At 2 praharas, we made contact. For 1.5 prahars, it was artillery fire. They lost 150-200 infantry dead, and another 600-700 injured from our fire. We lost 50 men dead and 200 injured, as well as 100 horses dead. At 4 ghatikas in the evening, the armies closed in. Since he had a very large body of infantry, they formed dense squares, and did not let our cavalry get close. When a lot of men got injured, our cavalry retired. No high ranking officers were lost. However, Babuji Naik's nephew was hit by a bullet and died.
While Haider held off the Maratha cavalry, he likely took substantial casualties, and did not continue the battle, but retired instead.
47 - 29th October 1764
Siege of Dharwar
We are writing from the Swami's camp at Dharwar. We have laid siege to Dharwar for a month and half. Half the work is done, but we have more to do. Mir faizullah's brother is in the garrison. Faizullah is arriving with a relief force of 2000 cavalry, 4000 infantry. He is 12 kos away. We have Gopalrao and Raste, so he is not advancing on us yet. The work on batteries is progressing slowly. Haider Naik is at Jade-Hanavati ( Anavati today) . He is on good terms with the Moghul (Nizam). After Dharwar is taken, I will write with the details of the new administrative arrangements. We might seize it in a couple of days.
51- 5th November, 1764
Capture of Dharwar, and checkmate of a relief force.
We set up batteries and began the assault. Mir Faizullah came with a relief force of 2000 cavalry, 5 to 7k gardis and 7 cannons to Murgod. He intended to raid at night. As soon as he reached Murgod, Gopalrao, Anandrao Raste, and Shahji Bhonsle were dispatched with their regiments at a distance of 4-5 kos in the forest. The presence of this force checkmated his advance, and he did not risk moving from his position. When the garrison realized the relief force is not coming, they captitulated. Today, on Karthik shuddha Dwadeshi, Monday, the sarkar's flag flew on the fort.
55 - 2 December, 1764
Battle of Jadi Hanvati ( Anavati)
Haider Naik is at Anavati. We are 2-3 kos away. Every day there is artillery fire on each other. Yesterday, on Tuesday, the Shrimant and his entire force marched on Haider. They began with a focus fire from their artillery. Haider advanced with 7000 gardis and a few field pieces to seize our artillery. Murrarrao Ghorpade bore the brunt of the attack. They were counter flanked by Shrimant's army bearing the Zari Pattka. In this charge, some 1500 of his gardis were slain, countless injured. We seized 6 field pieces, and a few hundred horses. It was a big victory. It was a very costly defeat for him. I will write more later.
59 - 28th February 1765
The Maratha army presses on and captures more forts to get to Haider Ali.
The Shrimant and Haider had negotiated a peace terms with Haider paying 3 million rupees as tribute. But he has become unresponsive. So it was decided to march on Bednore and destroy his army. As we marched, Harnahalli surrendered on our approach without a fight. Kumshi fought for 3 days and then surrendered, now it flies the sarkar's flag. 6 kos from Anantpur, Mir Faizulla Khan with 4000 cavalry and 4000 infantry departed, and marched 10 kos back to a fort. Haider's elite guard is at Bednore. We will depart for Anantpur tomorrow. Once it is taken, next stop is Bednore. The Shrimant's victory seems certain. There is a crunch for funds to pay salaries here. We are unable to secure any loans in this distant province. Each month costs 5 lakhs ( 0.5 million) in expenses. But we don't get revenue from anywhere. Chitradurg remitted some tax, so we were able to pay salaries. The weather in this Bednore province is very bad. People fall sick often.
60 - 12 March, 1765
Peace treaty negotiations.
Kumshi, Haranhalli, Yenur, were all garrisoned. We found a large stock of gunpowder, shot and rockets. We set up batteries at Anantpur. Ramchandra Kanbi is at 6 kos. It has been 4 days since we started siege operations at Anantpur. Haider's vakil had already arrived in our camp, and started discussing a treaty. Discussions were about a ceasefire after the fall of Anantpur. In return for peace, a tribute of 28 lakhs, with 5 lakhs paid upfront as nazar, and 2 lakhs for expenses, was discussed. He will surrender Bankapur, vacate the occupied lands of Murrarrao, as well as of the Nawab of Savnur. Yesterday, Naro Shankar and Hari Gopal have gone to meet him. Mir Faizullah will represent Haider on his behalf. Half the total will be paid immediately, the other half as a guarantee from a banker.
61 - 12 March 1765
Peace treaty signed.
Haider Khan has signed a peace treaty. 28 lakhs was realized as tribute. Of sarkar's talukas, Bankapur, Harihar, Basavpattan will be vacated by Haider. In addition, Gopalrao's brother (captured in the early phase of the war) will be released. Murrarrao Ghorpade and the Nawab of Savnur's lands will also be restored.