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The following history of H.M. 22nd Light Dragoons' exploits of 1817-1819 is extracted from the 'The Mahratta and Pindari Wars' compiled by the General Staff, India and published in Simla in 1910. It was transcribed by Cathy Day. The archaic language and values of the document reflect the times in which they were written. For the most part Cathy has extracted the history verbatim, and added some clarifying comments and explanations where appropriate.
Brigadier-General Thomas Munro, the Commander of the Reserve of the Deccan Army, exercised both civil and military jurisdiction in the country between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra where his forces were disposed, his headquarters being at Dharwar. In October 1817, prior to the outbreak at [[Poona]], the Peshwa had asked the assistance of the British Government in the reduction of the valley of Sundur, which was in a state of insubordination, and contained a temple of great sanctity which he occasionally visited. For this purpose the force then at Dharwar was most conveniently situated, and preparations were made early in October for its movement. On the 11th October all the artillery marched from Dharwar for Hampsagar on the Tungabhadra, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple; followed on the 13th by Colonel Munro with the remainder of the force. On the 20th October Colonel Munro divided his force into two parts, of which one, consisting of all the cavalry except half a squadron of Dragoons, and half a Squadron of Native cavalry, was placed on the left bank of the river in charge of the sick and heavy baggage, and the other crossed over by basket boats to Hampsagar, which took 3 days. These boats were wicker boats made by the troops in the jungle, and covered with skins. The material used in their construction was probably sambalu, a plant resembling willow, which grows in profusion on river banks in Southern. India. The force was there joined by the headquarters and three companies, 2nd Battalion of Pioneers, from Bellary. On the 27th October Colonel Munro entered the valley of Sundur, when the fort was surrendered, and the same day was occupied by a British garrison. On the 16th November the greater part of Colonel Munro's force was formed into the reserve of the Army of the Deccan under Brigadier-General Pritzler; the former officer having returned to his headquarters at Dharwar.
In December Colonel Munro was reappointed to the command of the Reserve with the rank of Brigadier-General, but he had only one battalion at headquarters, the remainder having taken the field under Brigadier-General Pritzler. Munro found himself at Dharwar opposed in the first instance by the influence of Kashi Rao Gokla, lately appointed by Baji Rao civil and military Governor of the Southern Mahratta country. The country was studded with forts, and probably no territory of similar extent in any part of the world possessed so many of these strongholds as that belonging to the Peshwa before the war. They had most of them been constructed as secure retreats in the time of Sivaji, whom Aurangzeb called "the Mountain Rat."
The approach was now well advanced, and on the 3rd April a breaching battery opened within 550 yards of the wall with great effect on the left of the gateway. The enemy garrison had still two effective guns, with which they annoyed the breaching battery, but these were silenced, and on the 4th a large portion of the outer wall and part of the inner wall were brought down. A few days later an effective breach was made on the right of the gateway, and on the 10th April the commandant of the fort surrendered. The garrison lost 20 killed and 50 wounded during the siege; the British had thirty-six casualties. Thirty-six large guns and 60 small guns and jinjals were taken. The walls, it was found, were solid and massive and upwards of a mile and half in extent; affording the garrison ample cover from fire. In his despatch the General commended Lieutenant-Colonel Newall " for the judgement, zeal, and energy with which he personally directed every operation."
Brigadier-General Munro and his force marched to Nagar Manaoli, where he was joined by the Remainder of the Reserve under Brigadier-General Pritzler, who in January had taken the important fortress of Wassota, releasing the family of the Raja of Satara and the two British officers who were confined there. (Coronets Morison and Hunter, 1st and 2nd Madras Cavalry, were captured on their way to [[Poona ]] in November 1817. They had undergone such hardships as to be scarcely recognisable when released.) Many other places surrendered to Brigadier-General Pritzler on his march from Satara to join General Munro.
It will be remembered that a force of infantry and guns of Baji Rao's army had marched to Sholapur. These formed the next objective of Brigadier General Munro's operations. The enemy had been encamped south-south-west of Sholapur, but withdrew on the approach of the British. On 8th May 1818 the force crossed the Sina at Patri, and encamped on the 9th within two miles of the enemy's position which was under the walls of the town.
