New History of the Marathas v2.c34.27

v2.c34.27

5. War with Haidar ‘Ali renewed (1767-1772).—The Peshwa had returned to Poona during the monsoon of 1765 after re-establishing Maratha sway over the region between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra. During the mid-sixties of the eighteenth century the Marathas, the British, the Nizam and Haidar Ali were the four powers contending amongst themselves for sway over peninsular India, some trying to form alliances with another in order to get the better of the others. Madhavrao was anxious first to finish Haidar Ali before attending to the English aggression in the north. During 1766 he made friends with Nizam Ali so as to prevent him from joining either his uncle or Haidar Ali. Towards the end of 1766 he first despatched Gopalrao Patwardhan to the Karnatak and himself followed him soon after by the eastern route, capturing Surapur, Raichur and Mudgal. Thereupon he exacted tributes from the chiefs of Kanakgiri, Advani, Bellari, Karnool, Chitradurg, Devdurg and Raidurg, and prepared to march against Shrirangapattan, the principal seat of Haidar Ali. The Peshwa was in high spirits at this time with a number of able diplomats and generals helping him. While camping at Devdurg in January 1767 he held an unexpected inspection of the number of troops and their equipment belonging to the chiefs serving in the campaign. After the inquiry he severely punished the delinquents with the result that thereafter complete discipline prevailed in his camp without any room for irregularity or fraud. In February the Peshwa captured the strong fort of Shira from Haidar Ali's possession. Nizam Ali and his son came and joined the Peshwa here against Haidar Ali. The Nawab of Shira and Mir Reza, one of Haidar Ali's principal chiefs, came over to the Maratha service.