A History of the Mahrattas v2.c52.40

v2.c52.40

fatigue and hunger, reached the Biana pass about sunset; here Brigadier-General Monson intended to halt during the night; but the ardent and persevering enemy once more brought up their guns, and opened so heavy and severe a fire on the exhausted troops as to oblige them to go on as they best could. But weary and harassed beyond endurance, the baggage having become entangled with the line of march, and the night being excessively dark, no order could be restored, and the whole were thrown into inextricable confusion. In this state, the troops fairly broke and fled towards Agra. The enemy, though they attacked in straggling parties, fortunately were not in sufficient force to reap the full advantage they might have done, and by the 31st August the greater part of the fugitives, who escaped the enemy, found an asylum at Agra.