The Battle of Argaum

After the hard-won victory at Assaye in September 1803, Wellesley spent two months reorganising his battered force and pursuing the broken Maratha armies across the Deccan. The Bhonsle of Nagpur’s army, though damaged at Assaye, had not been destroyed. Wellesley needed a decisive follow-up action to end the campaign before the monsoon season made further operations impossible.

The Maratha infantry initially held firm, and for a time the issue was in doubt. Some of Wellesley’s sepoy battalions wavered under the weight of Maratha fire. But Wellesley’s disciplined attack, pressing home with the bayonet, broke the Maratha line. Once the infantry gave way, the cavalry completed the rout.

Argaum was a more decisive and less costly victory than Assaye. The Maratha army broke and fled, losing its artillery and baggage. Wellesley’s pursuit was vigorous and the Berar army was effectively destroyed as a fighting force.

Argaum completed the destruction of the Berar army and opened the road to Gawilghur, the cliff fortress that was the Bhonsle’s last stronghold. Without Argaum, the campaign might have dragged on through the monsoon. With it, Wellesley could move immediately against Gawilghur and end the war.