Emptv Threats. He Plundered Pushkar and Ajmer and Descended Upon
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221. emptv threats. He plundered Pushkar and Ajmer and descended upon Jaipur like a storm. ’’Tne reduction of that predatory power” wrote Welleslev, "thereTore, was manifestly a measure of not only of just policy and necessary security, but of ultir&ate economy with reference to the finances of the Conpany. Wellesley had curefullv prepared a plan for war with Holkar. Th«* basic of that plan wan u combination of the novements and operations of the British troops and those of Oaulatrao Shind« and the Gaikwad, acting against the forces and territories of Holkar from Gujarat, Kalwa and the Deccan, while the main army, under the personal direction of General Lake was to pursue the enemy from north India. In the South General Wellesley had realised that he was unable to advance ae^ainst Holkar. He suggested that Colonel Murray should advance from Gujarat into Kalwa. The main reason for his inability lay in the fact that there were famine conditions in the Ueccan and due to lack of rains, there was no fodder available for animals. If the operations could have been delayed until after the rains were over, he himself would have marched from the south with his own army and at the 29 head of Murray*s force. On 2 3rd M a rc h , i S o u , Lake marched to Ballahira, Yashwant Rao*s policy was to avoid a pitched battle against Lake,but at the same time to devastate the Company’s provinces. That the euerilla tactics were effective is obvious from a letter written by Lake to Wellesley, in which he expresses that he 225 wan in a most awkward situation the initiative was with Holkar, who wa3 expert Pt fruerllla v;arfare. If Lake d«cld«di to take tV\p offensive the n.oment he advancud Itaving an oi'enirr for Holkar, he would ret into British tarritoriaa with hl'j horse and burn and destroy the territory. Marathi Records reveal that '^Yeshwant Rao was caaping near Sambhar Take near Jaipur. He devastated Jaipur diatrict, col'^ected I.s. P5 lakhs and with « force of one lakh infantry end one and a Quarter lakh cavalry force reached Kota. U« wanted to advance towards the t;ast and collcct taxes froa Bengal 'f he was chased by the tnpllsh, he planned to retire through Bhosle’s territory and descend on the Niaam’s territory and f^o south via Arcot, Chennapattan and Shrlrangapattan. If the Enrliih ill nof chase him, he planned to camp either at Kota or Cadh Mandala district. fhe families and heavy artillery were to be kept «*t Marwad where harnath iingh and Nago Jeewa.ji were caraplnf^ with troops, f'lrkhan Kohilla was camping in Aimer district with ?o,rnr Patnans. Jlvlal had attacked Kashlrao Holkar who was caiujjint!: near Tnalnera with two thousand soldiers. As a result Kashlrao was captured end the army was dispersed. !ord Take started his forward movement, early in February In rntlcl^atlon of a var with Holkar. He sent his heavy artll’’erv par^ to A«^ra ani hlmaelf started froni liavana on tne 9th of the month. After a strenuous journey over bad roads he reached fiindaur on the 2^th of February. Aftor a few days j. 2.^ M Map N( WAH AGAINST m iU \( 1604-05 9 RAMPOOft^ ! • V . APPIWXlMATe » f SUNDRY-« I I / yf1^4 9'ff JULlffo4 \ / N y ouglin CUPPSI^UWGEE JU H 1 ^ 4 « fNDOR-E /'X <S B AR O O a .'^- ' „ „ /' • • <" NAaPOoP^ V ' i . ✓ ✓ N f T 4 ^ u i . e ' 0 ) .905 t:,-CAH9Ay ^ CHAN PORE • • A S S ^ ■i OCT. W#4'' ^ ' r « AURAMfrABAP 226 rei^L, Lhe ar:r.v starLei off arain on the ®th y.arch and reached iiamp-ai via \ani;.v)i' ani halted there until the 22nd. He reached Ballar.ira on the next JaV. On thf 0th /.pril , lake croaaei the >.tt33 of iialliijiilra and and ercuiii; e 1 at ''.arnaVi. vi.en I ori .I'elleale/ issued orders to comr.ence war arairat Holkar in the middle of April, 1^04, Take was in camp sore 25 miles northeast of Tonk. On 17th April, lake marched to Jowsah.^ Next day a detachment consist in g of the two battalions of the 12th (tejs!:lment and th o fe c o n d battalion of the Second Kerin,ent of native infantry under the con.ir,and of l ieutenant Colonel I-.onson se t o u t for J a i p u r . On A p r i l 27, Take advanced to Drianah and continuing his march on 32 the day followinp: reached i‘one:a, about 15 miles from Jaipur. He reached Nawai or; **th of Kav. On li^th of Mav-, Tt. Col. Jon with 2/f^th Regiment, 2/21st Ret^iment and Third Reeiirr.ent Native infantry with artillery proceeded towards Tonk Hampurd, 6^ miles south-east of Jaipur. As he had no sies^e train, Don decided to capture the place by a direct attack. On 15th .'.av a t 2 a.a., uon marched with eight com,>anie3 of infantry ahd a 12 pounder Pun. Captain Habar, with one twelve and four six-pounders ani three companies of 2/21at Repiment was piven the task of dealine with any force coming froa. Tonk. .’'.alor joveton was in charp:e of reserves w h ic h c o n sisted of 3 Regiment of *'ative cavalry. K i s task was either to reinforce the main body or to pursue the enemy in case he was defeated. Althon(?h Don carried out a silent march when he can* 227 to thp main paLewa/, a ^licouet of the Tonk battalion op«n«d fire. This alerted the rarrl^on. Jon brok« the gatawa/ by uslnF hi*! 1? povinder whlltt his Infantry kept u steady fire on the enpmv crowilnr on the rampart. Don’ s stornlng party entered the first Pate, found the second pate open and brok* Ch« third and the fourth f>;ates with artillery. The Garrison tried to escape but, were charired by Wajor Doveton with the 3rd Caralry and thus Tonk '<ampura was captured. Tonk Ranpura was «trat«- rlcally important as this was the only administratlTO bas* which Holkar possessed in North India. 3eins: the r.onth of Kay, the heat in Rajasthan was unbear able to &\iropean soldiers* General Lake now decidcd to suspend the operations for a few months until after the rains and leaving a strong fo,rce behind withdrew to the permanent canton- raents at Arra and Kanpur. A force of five battalions was detached under Colonel Monson, which was deemed sufficient to contain Holkar in Kalwa and even deal with him if he decided to advance. 'General Lake chose Colonel Monsoon because he had distinguished himself in the battle of Aligarh against the Marathas. He had loncrer experience of the Indian Army than General Lake h i m s e l f . Besides, as General Ware and Colonel Vindeleur were killed in earlier actions, Monson was now the seniormost since General St. John had retired. Unfortunately, Monson though phvsically biave lacked brains and had no judfe- ment. Knowing hlni General Lake should have given him cleercut and orders/not left the decisions to him. ?2^ Mccordlnp' to Baawan Tal In rtmlrnaii.ah, lak* l«ft six battalions and Captain Iucan with hla newly raised Native cavalry, two thousand n.en, Bapu Shlnde's an&y, the Baherich sowars and 1oro men from Jaipur Horse making altogether one force of ten thousand cavalry and Infantry. Tashwant Pao Holkar's position was no better. His urmj also suffered terriblv due to heat and lack of water in their retreat from Jaipur. On 2Vth of May, an action was fought at Bailor Khery between Captain Gardiner's detachsenc and latya, a partisan of Holkar. The ;-.arathas surrendered. Another fore* of two battalions under Oomajl Shlnde also was defeated by It. Iucan and surrenJered. Tashwant Rao now retreated to Mandasaur. On the way Harnath Singh Joined him with his force and Tashwant. FUio collected U5 lakhs of rupees from that district* Mlrkhan RohiHa who was operating with his caralry on the frontiers of Bundelkhand in February ^ot into a skimish with Colonel Shepherd and retreated. On 22nd Kay he attacked two British Battalions beslefring Aminta Kulaya, a fort near Koonch. Mlrkhan killedi fifty punners and carried off all the artillery conslsLln^ of tvo twelve pounders, one six pounder, 37 two howitzers and forty timbrlls.'^ But on the 2Uth June, Mir ’Chan suffered a rey«»r?je. One of his officers with a party attacked Colonel jhepher* Bear Koonch but was defeated. The officer and one hundred Karathas were killed; many were wounded 33 and many horses were captured. Jaswant who knew the weakness of the British am y 229 appreciated that Treneral Take ?/il] not operate in Suauner. He called a war conncn «>nd the consensus of opinion was 'Trofii dalTv runnir*’, our atr nrth Is e^one. Relyini; on the p'race of Ool, we onp-ht now to fif^it a pitched battle, b«caus« wherever we retreat, the enemy will hasten behind ua and •stab* lish their rv;lt in the Kahala and i’aluqas. If the battlt la IQ put off, all c'.r troopa will disperse without striking a blow." As coni/>arei to the Company's army Holkar had aevtral advantages. His army consistins: of local Indians from Ottar Pradesh, Haryana, '^ajaathan, Malwa and the D e cca n was wall acclimatised and could stand the rip-ours of sunmer.