A History of the Mahrattas v2.c47.28

v2.c47.28

The town of Sātāra consisted at this date of one long street of tiled lay encamped in the town, and it being then the height of the rains, when the Yena was supposed unfordable, they considered themselves so perfectly secure, that they had not even the precaution to send out patrols. Pureshram Bhow discovered a ford,¹ and crossed with nearly ten thousand men before intelligence was received of his approach. The force collected by the Raja scarcely amounted to two thousand five hundred men and was quite unprepared. The Raja had barely time to escape into the fort, and his troops were flying, until rallied by his relations Yellojee and Senajee Mohitey, Kooshaba Raja, and Doorgajee Raja Mahareek: these persons were gallantly seconded by the Raja’s brother, Chitoor Sing, who was the mainspring of the party. As soon as they had collected a small band, they advanced to the environs of the town to oppose the approaching army; resistance was hopeless, but they pressed forward for a few minutes with impetuosity, until Yellojee Mohitey was killed, and both the Mahareeks wounded, when the party, by Chitoor Sing’s advice, retreated. Senajee Mohitey, however, refused to turn his back, and though alone, having tried to single out Mahdoo Rao Rastia, he charged at him in the midst of his followers, by whom he was soon cut in pieces.