The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.133

c10.133

The Bombay Government, whose aid had been sought by Moroba, now declared war with the Peshwa's ministry. Their first effort was disastrous. In November 1778 a force occupied the Bor Ghát and encamped at Khandála. The main body under Colonel Egerton followed in December, and marched slowly to Kárli, eight miles over level ground in eleven days, constantly engaged with the Maráthás, whose main army was assembled at Talegáon Dábháde under Sindia, Holkar, and Hari Pant, and retired slowly when the English reached that village. Here Colonel Cockburn, who was now in command, embarrassed by his commissariat train, determined to retire, and having thrown his guns into a pond, began his retreat. The Maráthás pressed closely on him, and his rear guard was perpetually engaged till the village of Vadgaon was reached. Colonel Cockburn, despairing of effecting his retreat, began to negotiate, and at last a convention was made through Sindia, by which the English army was allowed to retire on condition of the surrender of the conquests made since the year 1773. This disgraceful convention was at once disavowed by the Bombay Government, and the war was continued. For some months nothing was done, as the Bombay Government awaited the arrival of the army under General Goddard, which was on its march across India. It arrived at Surat in March, and negotiations were carried on till the end of the year. In the meantime Nána Phadnavis, with the connivance of Máhádaji Sindia, got rid of his last rival Sakhárám Bápu, who was thrown into prison and sent to Pratápgad. Before the close of A.D. 1779 negotiations were broken off, and the war was carried on successfully in Gujarát and the Konkan by General Goddard and Colonel Hartley. In the beginning of 1781, General Goddard determined to advance towards Poona, and a detachment forced the Bor Ghát; but when they reached Khandála they were at once attacked in front by the Marátha main army under Hari Pant Phadke and Holkar, while Parashrám Pant Patvardhan was sent with a strong force into the Konkan to assail the flank of the army and cut off its communications with Bombay. After a month of constant fighting, General Goddard was forced to retreat to Bombay with severe loss. The war now languished, and in the beginning of 1782 negotiations were begun with the Poona government through Sindia, and ended in the treaty of Sálbái, by which the conquests in the Konkan were given up with the exception of Sálsette, and a provision was made for Raghunáth Ráo.