Laswari
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Laswari
Village in the Ramgarh tahsil of the State of Alwar, Rajputana, situated in 27 33' N. and 76^56' E., on the left bank of the Ruparel river, about 20 miles east of Alwar city. The place is famous as the scene of the great battle of November i, 1803, which terminated in the utter defeat of the Marathas by the British under the command of General (afterwards Lord) Lake. The battle is thus described by Marshman : —
He General Lake] had received an unfounded report that the INIaratha army was endeavouring to avoid him, and, with his usual impetuosity, started at midnight in search of it, with his cavalry alone, leaving orders for the infantry to follow. He came up with the encampment of the enemy at daybreak on November i, at the village of Laswari, and found them, as usual, entrenched in a formidable position, with their guns drawn up in the front. The general led his cavalry up in person to the attack ; a fearful discharge of grape and double-headed shot mowed down column after column, and rendered the fiery valour of the troops useless. To prevent their utter extinc- tion, the general was obliged to withdraw them from the conflict, and await the arrival of the infantry, who had marched 65 miles in the preceding forty-eight hours, and 25 miles since midnight.
After a brief rest and a hasty meal, they were launched on the enemy's guns and battalions. The engagement was the severest in which the Company's troops had ever been engaged, not excepting that of Assaye. Sindhia's sepoys fought as natives had never fought before. They defended their position to the last extremity, contesting every point inch by inch, and refusing to give way while a single gun remained in their posses- sion. But they were at length overpowered, and lost their anmiunition and camp equipage, together with 71 pieces of cannon. It was even reported that one-half their number was left on the field, killed or wounded. On the British side, the casualties amounted to 824, one- fourth of which belonged to the 76th Regiment, which bore the brunt of the action.'
[See also Appendix IV, pp. 302-y of The Rajpiitdna Gazetteer, vol. iii (Simla, 1880).]
