The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c11.122

c11.122

The end of the Peshwa's "robber-government"¹ was at hand. By the treaty of Poona, made in June 1817, he agreed to cede to the English territory in lieu of the contingent he was bound by the treaty of Bassein to maintain; and Dhárwár and Kushgal, together with the districts south of the Varda, were among the cessions. Colonel T. Munro was appointed Commissioner of the ceded districts and made Dhárwár his head-quarters. He was there when the war with the Peshwa broke out at the end of 1817, and thence he started to perform one of the most amazing exploits that have ever been performed, even in India. With five companies of regulars and two field-pieces he calmly proceeded to wrest the Southern Marátha Country from the Peshwa, and to settle it as he went on. Having augmented his scanty force with some sibandi or revenue messengers, he began by raising the siege of Navalgund near Dhárwár, which enabled him to get some more troops and a small battering train from the south; after which he took the various strong places in the vicinity of Dhárwár and garrisoned them with peons. He then moved north, taking Bádámi and Bágalkot, and advanced to Gokák. After the battle of Koregaon Báji Ráo had fled to this place with the intention of invading the ceded districts and opening communications with the rája of Mysor.² He found that Munro's exertions, popularity, and skilful military arrangements had rendered an attack on the country south of the Ghatprabha hopeless and was forced to retrace his steps. From Gokák, Munro, who had been made Brigadier-General when the war broke out, marched south to Belgaum, where he arrived on the 14th of March 1818. Owing to the smallness of his force and the inefficiency of his battering train,³ the garison felt themselves secure; and after the siege began, on the 22nd of March, various accidents to the besiegers, the blowing up of a magazine and the bursting of a gun, seemed to render the latter's chances of success even less than before. The besieged however soon found, to their dismay, that notwithstanding all obstacles the enemy made rapid progress; and on the 9th of April the garrison sent out a flag of truce to propose terms, which were refused. The siege went on, a practicable breach was made, and on the 11th of April the garrison gave up the fort and marched out with their arms and private property.⁴ After resting a few days General Munro advanced towards Bijápur. As he advanced, to use the words of the historian of the Maráthás, he sent his irregulars to the right and left of his column of march, who occupied the villages, fought with spirit on several occasions, stormed fortified places, and took possession in the name of "Thomas Munro Bahádur." The Peshwa's troops in the vicinity retreated as Munro advanced, and finally took refuge in the fort of Sholápur. The capture of the fortress formed a fitting close to Munro's campaign and completed the conquest of the Southern Marátha Country.