A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.87

v2.c51.87

General Lake next marched against Agra, which he summoned, but no answer was returned. This garrison had been under the command of English officers, who, on the breaking out of the war, were confined by their own troops; this circumstance, combined with other causes, occasioned the greatest anarchy and confusion in the fort. Seven battalions of Sindia’s regular infantry were encamped on the glacis; but the garrison were afraid to admit them, lest they should plunder a rich treasury which they wished to reserve for themselves. General Lake resolved to beat up the quarters of the seven battalions (Oct. 10.) outside, in the first instance, in which he completely succeeded, taking twenty-six of their guns. Three days afterwards, two thousand five hundred of those who remained, came over in a body and were admitted into the British service. A few days after this event, the progress of the siege being considerable, the garrison applied to their European officers, whom they had kept prisoners, to make terms for them; on the (Oct. 18.) 18th October they evacuated the fort with their private property; but the treasury and arsenal, with one hundred and sixty two-pieces of cannon, fell into the hands of the victors.²