Siege of Bharatpur (1805)

The Ruler of Bharatpur, Ranjit Singh had promised to join the British but instead formed an alliance with the Ruler of Indore Yashwantrao Holkar, who was allied to the Maratha Empire. Holkar suffered setbacks with the British at the Battle of Deeg and the siege of Deeg. However, Ranjit Singh "came out openly on Holkar's side after the defeat of Monson." Lake arrived at the Bharatpur fort on 2 January 1805.[2]

The British bombardment started on 7 January, 1805, and a breach was effected on 9 January. The first British assault took place that night, led by Col. Ryan, Maj. Hawkes and Lt. Col. Maitland. The assault failed with 400 British casualties, including Maitland being mortally wounded. A second attack on 16 January was also thrown back, after the Marathas added water to their moat. British casualties were 500, including the assault leader, Lt. Col. MacRoy. However, Lake continued to receive supplies and reinforcements, including Maj. Gen. R. Jones force of 1600. This helped Lake deal with Amir Khan, Holkar's general, who was raiding Bundelkhand. A third assault on 20 February also failed, as did a fourth assault the next day. British casualties for all four assaults were 3,292. "The worst part of it was that many of the wounded were left behind where they had fallen. The defenders sallied out from the fort and killed them."[1]

Ranjit Singh decided to accept the British offer, and paid the British an indemnity, which allowed him to retain all his possessions, including Deeg. Caught between three British armies, led by Lake, Gen. Jones and Col. Ball, Holkar sent emissaries to Lake. A treaty was signed on 24 December 1805, in which he gave up any claim to Tonk, Rampura, and Bundi.[2]

Bibliography

• Naravane, M.S. (2014). Battles of the Honorourable East India Company. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. ISBN 9788131300343.

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