New History of the Marathas v2.c34.12

v2.c34.12

Raghunathrao had no male issue and he in order to lend colour to his cause, formally adopted on 19th April a boy from a different family and named him Amritrao. This meant that Raghunathrao had reverted to his former demand of a half share in the Peshwa’s dominion. This was an emphatic challenge to the Peshwa. Raghunathrao’s plan was to put off the campaign to a more suitable time after the rains : but the Peshwa refused to let him choose his own convenience. In May he rapidly moved in Raghunathrao’s direction giving him no chance to escape. The latter was found camping below fort Dhodap. When he heard of the approach of the Peshwa’s army, he lost his nerve and hastily took shelter in that hill fort, thus shattering the popular belief of his intrepidity as a soldier. Gopalrao Patwardhan and other lieutenants of the Peshwa dashed against Raghunathrao’s army and made a clean sweep of it on 10th June. From among Raghunathrao’s adherents Chinto Vithal was captured wounded and his brother Moropant was killed. Sadashiv Ramchandra saved his life by flight. Much booty in horses, elephants and material was secured. The Peshwa now demanded his uncle’s unconditional surrender. The latter had no alternative. He came down and surrendered his person and the fort. He was immediately made prisoner, taken to Poona and kept closely confined in the palace. It will thus be seen that this unseemly contest lasted intermittently for full seven years from June 1761 to June 1768; and the trouble and anxiety of it contributed to the break down in the Peshwa's health more than any other cause.