A History of the Mahrattas v2.c52.54

v2.c52.54

The explosion of a tumbril, as the British troops approached the Mahratta camp, gave the alarm to Holkar, and, on the first discharge from the gallopers, Jeswunt Rao fled with such of his followers as were ready on the instant, taking the direction of Deeg to join the remains of his army, of whose defeat he received intelligence the night before he was surprised. General Lake, continuing the pursuit, arrived at Deeg on the 1st December, when the siege of that fortress having been determined upon, the battering train was brought from Agra, and the trenches opened on the thirteenth. In ten days a breach was made in an outwork, strongly fortified, at one of the angles of the city, which was stormed and taken at midnight, with the loss of 227 men killed and wounded. On the ensuing day and night the town and citadel of Deeg were evacuated, the garrison, including the remains of Holkar’s infantry, betaking themselves to Bhurtpoor.