Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c58.s3: § 4. The war in the Godāvari valley, September 1-10
Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c58.s3
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§ 4. The war in the Godāvari valley, September 1-10
v4.c58.s3.1
On 1st September, Sindhiā and Bhonslé themselves came from Jālnā southwards to Paithān on the Godāvari, with their cavalry only. This revived the threat to Punā. But Arthur Wellesley had crossed that river on the 24th and reached Aurangabad on the 29th of the preceding month. Thus the two divisions of the British army were now operating in the same district, but apart. For the British operations during the first ten days of September, it will be enough to say that their alert and quick marches kept the enemy ever on the run, without the Maratha light horse being able to do any harm to the Nizām's districts. The two Rajas' cavalry were so much distressed by scarcity and shaken by fear of British surprises that "they swore that they would not serve unless supported by the infantry and the guns." [Gurwood, ii. 287.]
v4.c58.s3.2
Stevenson's campaign need not be described in detail. Though General Wellesley censured him, and the historian Sir John Fortescue concurs in the censure, Colonel Stevenson had done work not without value inspite of his weaker force and poorer grain supply compared with his superior's. Up to 24th August he had kept the enemy out of the Nizām's territory, and when they did come after that date, he had kept them on the run, in accordance with Wellesley’s strategy. On 2nd September he stormed Sindhia’s fort of Jālnā after a severe fight. Thereafter he made rapid marches and beat up the camps of Sindhia’s Pindhārī horse by night-attacks on the 6th, 7th, and 9th, though an earlier attempt at surprise at the end of August had failed because his guides missed the way and he arrived at his objective after sunrise, when Gopāl Bhāu was on the alert and gave him a bloody repulse. [Kharé, xiv. 6678, 6692, 6693. Gurwood, ii. 286-288.]
v4.c58.s3.3
But the scarcity of grain caused indescribable suffering in Stevenson’s corps.* The iron control of Arthur Wellesley reserved his provision supply for fully rationing his fighting forces and transport service, but the camp-followers were left to fend for themselves. The auxiliary force too was told to live as best they could in that famine-stricken district.
v4.c58.s3.4
Arthur Wellesley’s policy of keeping the enemy on the run, instead of rushing headlong into a regular battle, made his constant marching and countermarching seem erratic and hesitating to the Marāthas. In the pride of ignorance, they reported, “General Wellesley’s spirit has been damped on seeing the vastness of the Maratha forces, and he is deliberating what to do.” It would have taken something more than mere numbers to freeze the heart of “the great world-conqueror’s conqueror” of the days to come, and Daulat Rao knew it. Hence a later report from Punā tells us, “The two sardārs (Daulat Rao and Raghuji) were near Paithān (on 1st September), when news came that the Sea-dwellers would make a surprise attack on them; so both Chiefs went away towards Bir (3rd September.)”† They were at Partur on the 3rd and 4th. Stevenson's night attacks on their Pindhāris frightened them still more. But soon afterwards their regular infantry and guns began to come up the Ajantā pass and join them, and after some more puzzled and futile movements the two Rajas set their faces back to the Ajanta pass, and even thought of returning to Burhānpur. We find them near Badnāpur, north-west of Jālnā, on the 12th.
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∗ Stevenson was an old officer of the E. I. Co. whose health had broken down during long years of service in India. Sindhia recovered Jālnā from the English about 10th September after Stevenson had marched away from that battered fort, leaving a weak garrison in it. Kharé, xiv. 6702, 6711, 6717. “I think it capital that you should have played their own game upon the Marathas and should have been the first to cut off supplies going to their camp.” A. W. to Stevenson, on 26 Aug. (Gur. ii. 243).
v4.c58.s3.6
† Kharé, xiv. 6695 and 6708. Partur is on the Dudnā (a feeder of the Godā), 30 m. s.e. of Jalna.