A History of the Mahrattas v1.c28.49

v1.c28.49

When the violence of the monsoon had subsided, Sewdasheo Rao raised Mirza Juwan Bukht, the son of the absent Shah Alum, to the throne of Delhi, and proclaimed Shujah-ud-dowlah vizier of the empire. He then left Naroo Shunkur (Raja Buhadur), with a garrison in the citadel, and proceeded in person to Kunjpoora, a fortified town strongly garrisoned, which he breached and stormed. Ahmed Shah had been very desirous of relieving this post, but the Jumna was not yet fordable. He, however, moved his camp to the banks of that river, continued to amuse the Bhow by negotiation, and after some failures at last discovered a ford, which he crossed, twenty miles above Delhi; a great part of his army had gained the western bank before the Bhow would give credit to the intelligence,¹ and the whole of the Mahomedans were across by the 25th October. On the following morning the advanced guards of the two armies had a severe action, and both sides claimed the advantage; the Mahrattas intended to attack next day, but Holkar was still anxious to adopt the predatory plan and act against their supplies. Ibrahim Khan expostulated in a very violent manner; he said it would be abandoning him and his corps to destruction, and that he would turn his guns on the first body of cavalry that followed such an advice.² These dissensions were with some difficulty suppressed; and during their continuance the Mahrattas retired skirmishing to Panniput, where Sewdasheo Rao, by Ibrahim Khan's advice, entrenched himself. He dug a ditch fifty feet wide and twelve feet deep, and raised a rampart on which he mounted cannon, round both his own camp and the village of Panniput. Ahmed Shah likewise encamped with his allies, and fortified himself by placing felled trees around his army.