The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c10.154

c10.154

The Governor General had for some time been concerting measures for suppressing the Pendháris and restoring order in Central India. Accordingly by the end of the rains the greater part of the British troops were sent north to take part in the operations. The Peshwa, seeing his opportunity, proceeded rapidly with his preparations for war, promising all the time to send his troops north to aid the British forces. At last, as the Resident suspected his sincerity, the small force at Poona was moved to a position at Kirki, and was reinforced by a European regiment from Bombay, and on the afternoon of the 5th of November A.D. 1817 the long-determined attack was made by the Peshwa’s troops; 26,000 Maráthás assailed a British force numbering 2800 men, and were decisively repulsed. General Smith who commanded the subsidiary force, had already begun his march from the Gangthari on Poona, and on his approach the Peshwa returned to Máhuli near Sátára, and there brought the rája of Sátára into his camp. The English commander, after occupying Poona, followed Báji Ráo, who returned hastily to Pandharpur, and then up the Bhima, past Junnar, and on to Bráhmanváda, where he occupied a strong position in the hills; but General Smith, marching round by Ahmadnagar and Sangamner, headed him, and he again fled south. On the news of his approach a detachment of the subsidiary force had been summoned from Sirur to Poona, and on the 1st of January 1818 reached Koregaon on the banks of the Bhima, and found the Marátha army of 25,000 men on the opposite bank. Though only 800 strong, the detachment held the village all day long against the assaults of the Marátha army, and at night the enemy retired baffled and continued their flight south. After a long and futile chase, it was determined to reduce Sátára, and the fort surrendered on the 10th of February 1818. A detachment was then sent to take the other hill forts, and the rest of the army under General Smith resumed the pursuit of Báji Ráo, who had been staying near Sholápur. He was overtaken on the 20th of February at Ashti, and in the skirmish Bápu Gokhle his general was killed and the rája of Sátára taken. Thence Báji Ráo fled to Kopargaon on the Godávari and waited for help from Holkar; but being disappointed, again started, and after long wanderings surrendered to Sir John Malcolm at Dholkot in May 1819.