Battle of Laswari explained

Conflict:Battle of Laswari
Partof:the Second Anglo-Maratha War
Date:1 November 1803
Place:Laswari village, near Alwar, Rajasthan
Map Type:Rajasthan#India
Map Relief:yes
Map Label:Laswari
Result:Company victory
Combatant1: British East India Company
Commander1: General Lake
Weir
Col. Vandeleur
Maj. Griffith
Lake's son
Commander2: Ambaji Ingle
Daulat Rao Sindhia
Ragoji Bhonsle II
Strength1:10,000
Strength2:9,000 Infantry
5,000 Cavalry
Casualties1:"slightly over 800"[1]
Casualties2:around 7,000 killed

The Battle of Laswari took place on 1 November 1803 near Laswari village, Alwar.[2] It was part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

The British under Gerard Lake were anxious to finish the war by neutralizing the last substantial force that the Maratha confederacy possessed, consisting of twelve battalions of regular infantry trained by the adventurer Chevalier Dudrenec. Dudrenec deserted the Marathas and command fell onto Ambaji Ingle, a veteran Maratha officer.

Lake decided to dispense first with his artillery and later with his infantry in a series of forced marches to catch up with the Maratha force. Lake initially encountered the enemy force with just three brigades of cavalry, but the British troopers by repeated charges were able to contain the Maratha Army until the British infantry arrived.

The British units, commanded by Lake, were about 10,000 men strong, opposing Sindhia's force of 9,000 veteran infantry and 5,000 cavalry under the command of Ambaji Ingle. The British units were also supported by additional allied troops from Alwar.

The Maratha infantry made a most gallant defence, standing their ground until the survivors laid down their arms. The cavalry also suffered heavily. The British captured 72 guns and a large quantity of ammunition and stores. Lake later wrote, "I never was in so severe a business in my life or anything like it… these fellows fought like devils, or rather like heroes".[3]

"The casualties on both sides were very heavy. The Company lost many officers, including Maj. Gen. Weir, Col. Vandeleur and Maj. Griffith. Lake's son was also killed."[4]

On 17 December 1803, Raghuji Bhonsale (II) of Nagpur signed the Treaty of Deogaon with the British after the Battle of Laswari and gave up the province of Cuttack including Balasore.

In this battle, the people of the Meena tribe of Shahjahanpur fought a lot and drove the British away.

References

27.55°N 76.9333°W

Notes and References

  1. Book: Riddick . John F. . The History of British India: A Chronology . 2006 . . 978-0313322808 . 31 . 31 December 2019 . 1 Nov. 1803. At Laswari Lord Lake defeated a force of seventeen battalions led by the French Commander, Colonel Dudrenec. British casualties numbered slightly over 800 in what was evaluated later as a difficult close run victory. The Marathas lost about 7,000 killed and 71 pieces of artillery..
  2. Web site: Laswari - british and troops.
  3. Book: Brigadier Peter Young . A Dictionary of Battles Volume 1: 1715 to 1815 . Brigadier Michael Calvert . 1977 . New English Library, Mayflower Books . 978-0-450-02842-7 . London, New York . 79 . en.
  4. Book: Naravane, M.S. . Battles of the Honorourable East India Company . A.P.H. Publishing Corporation . 2014 . 9788131300343 . New Delhi . 77–78.