New History of the Marathas v2.c31.24

v2.c31.24

But these admonitions could not turn Raghunathrao from his guilty ambition. He considered the Patwardhans at Miraj as the chief offenders, and called upon them to surrender that place. Govind Hari defiantly replied he would not evacuate Miraj, unless he was recompensed for the huge expenses that he had incurred in raising troops for the Peshwa and strengthening the defences of Miraj. This insolent defiance of his commands drew on the Patwardhans the full weight of R’rao’s wrath. From Satara he marched upon Miraj and with a mighty horde of forty thousand laid siege to it on 29th December. Govind Hari stoutly defended the place and his son Gopalrao harassed the besiegers from outside. Raghunathrao sent a detachment under Nilakanthrao Purandare to chastise Gopalrao, who was defeated near Jamkhindi and ran for shelter to Nizam Ali. The siege of Miraj was hard pressed and Govind Hari after negotiating for terms surrendered it on 3rd February (1763).