Battle of Argaon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Argaon
Part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War
Plan of the Battle of Argaon
Date 28 November 1803 Location Adgaon, Akola District, India 21°04'49"N 76°56'37"E Result British victory
Belligerents
British East India Company	Maratha Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Arthur Wellesley	Raghoji II Bhonsle Daulat Rao Scindia
Strength
11,000	40,000 30,000 cavalry 10,000 infantry
Casualties and losses
345	5,000+

The Battle of Argaon (also called the Battle of Argaum) was an important fight during the Second Anglo-Maratha War. It happened on November 29, 1803. In this battle, the British army, led by Major-General Arthur Wellesley, fought against the forces of the Maratha Confederacy. The Maratha forces were led by Raghoji II Bhonsle and Daulat Rao Scindia. The battle took place near a place called Adgaon in India.

What Happened Before the Battle?

Before the Battle of Argaon, there was another big battle called the Battle of Laswari. In that fight, the Maratha leaders, Raghoji II Bhonsle and Daulat Rao Scindia, were defeated. After their loss at Laswari, they decided to move their armies south. They traveled on November 28, 1803, setting the stage for the next day's conflict.

The Battle Begins

On November 29, 1803, the two armies met. The battle started with a heavy attack from the Maratha cannons. This loud cannon fire was very powerful. It caused some of Wellesley's soldiers to panic. Three of his battalions, which had fought bravely before, suddenly broke ranks and ran away. This happened near a place called Sirsoli, just south of Adgaon.

For a short time, the situation looked very bad for the British. Their lines were broken, and they were in danger of losing. However, Major-General Wellesley was a very skilled leader. He quickly managed to get his soldiers back in order. He rallied them, which means he encouraged them and got them to fight again.

British Victory

Thanks to Wellesley's leadership, the British army was able to recover. They fought hard and eventually defeated the Maratha forces. The Marathas suffered a big loss. They had to leave behind all their cannons and baggage. This battle was a clear victory for the British. It showed Wellesley's ability to turn a difficult situation around.

See also

• Second Anglo-Maratha War