A History of the Mahrattas v1.c28.19

v1.c28.19

The most distinguished of the remaining sons of Ranoojee were Duttajee and Mahadajee, who first brought themselves into notice against Sulabut Jung and the French, in the war of 1751. Both of them were now left in Hindoostan, and not long after Rugonath Rao’s departure, Duttajee, incited by the restless Vizier Meer Shahabodeen, advanced with a large force to reduce the territory of the Rohillas. Operations were at first directed against Nujeeb-ud-dowlah only, who being unable to withstand such numbers, took post and entrenched himself on the bank of the Ganges, until relieved by Shujah-ud-dowlah, who, although he detested the Rohillas, as much as his father had done, was yet sensible that to unite against the Mahrattas was the only chance of safety to himself. Upon the advance of Shujah-ud-dowlah, Govind Punt Boondelay, the Soobehdar in charge of the Peishwa’s share of Bundelcund,² was directed by Duttajee to advance with his troops and lay waste the whole territory of the Rohillas, an order which he promptly obeyed, and committed great havoc both in the Dooab and east of the Ganges, where he drove the whole of the chiefs to seek shelter in the Kumaoon hills. Shujah-ud-dowlah advanced towards Govind Punt, and as soon as he came near, detached a part of his army, principally composed of Gosaeens, who attacked and routed Govind Punt with great slaughter, and drove his troops with much confusion across the river, in which many of them were drowned.