Capture of Gawilghur facts for kids

The Capture of Gawilghur fort was a major event in western India. It happened on December 15, 1803. Forces from the British East India Company, led by Sir Arthur Wellesley, captured the fort. This battle was a key part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War. It helped defeat the army of Raghoji II Bhonsle, who was the ruler (Rajah) of Berar. About 3,000 soldiers defended Gawilghur. Their commanders were Beni Singh Rajput and Manoo Bapu.

Why Gawilghur Was So Strong

Gawilghur was thought to be impossible to capture. Its defenders believed no army could take it. The fort had two main parts: an outer fort and an inner fort. The Outer Fort was like a trick. Behind it was a deep valley (ravine). Across this valley was the gate to the Inner Fort.

An attacking army might capture the Outer Fort first. Then they would realize the real challenge was the Inner Fort. This inner part had many gates. The first gate was the easiest to break through. But after that, attackers had to turn sharply left. They would follow a narrow path to a second gate. All this time, defenders could attack them from above.

The Attack on Gawilghur

Sir Arthur Wellesley's army faced these challenges. Lieutenant Colonel Kenny led the attack on the Outer Fort. He was from the 11th Regiment of Foot. After taking the Outer Fort, he led the charge on the Inner Fort. He was supported by soldiers from the 94th Regiment of Foot and sepoys (Indian soldiers) from Major General James Stevenson's group.

At the same time, the 74th and 78th Highlanders created a distraction. They made fake attacks from the south. This kept the defenders busy.

The British started bombing the fort on December 12. The main attack on December 14 could have failed. The narrow paths inside the Inner Fort were very dangerous. But Captain Campbell, an officer from the 94th, showed great bravery. His Light Company climbed the "seemingly impossible southern face." This daring climb allowed them to open the gates of the Inner Fort. This let the main British force enter. The British had 132 soldiers hurt or killed. The Maratha forces lost 1,200 soldiers. This included their leaders Beni Singh and Manoo Bapu.

What Happened Next

After the Second Anglo-Maratha War ended, Gawilghur was given back to the Maratha Empire. However, it was never used as a strong fort again.

Gawilghur in Books and Stories

Lady Elizabeth Longford wrote a book called Wellington, the Years of the Sword. In it, she quotes Jac Weller about Gawilghur. He said that "three reasonably effective troops of Boy Scouts armed with rocks could have kept out several times their number of professional soldiers." This shows how strong the fort was.

The battle of Gawilghur was also made into a story. It appears in Sharpe's Fortress by Bernard Cornwell.