A History of the Mahrattas v2.c41.4

v2.c41.4

A.D. 1787.—On approaching Jeypoor, Sindia endeavoured to negotiate, but his overtures were disregarded. The Raja of Joudpoor, with several Rajpoot chiefs of less note, united with Pertaub Sing, the Raja of Jeypoor, who had succeeded his father Jey Sing, and their army was already very formidable.¹ The greater part of Sindia’s troops being very different from those of an army wholly Mahratta, the Rajpoots by acting on the supplies, and cutting off the foragers, soon rendered their situation critical. Both Mahrattas and Moghuls, irritated by privation, became dissatisfied; and Mohummud Beg Humadanee, together with his nephew, Ismael Beg, chose this moment for deserting Sindia and joining the Rajpoots. Lest the disaffection should spread to the whole of the Emperor’s troops, Sindia took the earliest opportunity of leading them into action. An obstinate battle took place—Mohummud Beg fell by a cannon shot, and his troops were on the point of flying, when they were rallied by Ismael Beg, who retrieved the day and forced the Mahrattas to retire. Sindia was preparing to renew the contest, when, on the third day after the battle, the whole of the Emperor’s regular infantry, with eighty pieces of cannon, went off in a body to join Ismael Beg.¹