New History of the Marathas v2.c32.8

v2.c32.8

To collect a sufficient army and equip it with arms occupied the Peshwa’s time in January, and it was not before February that he was able to cross the Krishna. During the Peshwa’s journey to the south Haidar Ali was busy making his preparations to resist the Maratha advance. He sought Nizam Ali’s co-operation but did not succeed in obtaining anything from him beyond hollow promises. Leaving Bednur in April Haidar Ali marched to the vicinity of Savanur where he prepared to meet the advancing Marathas in an open engagement. The Nawab of that place had long since accepted Maratha over-lordship, and the advance of Haidar’s troops threatened his very existence. This meant an open call to the Peshwa to save his vassal from imminent danger. Gopalrao Patwardhan was immediately detached with two thousand select troops in advance to hold up Haidar’s march and defend the Nawab.