The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c22.45

v3.c22.45

In October, after the rainy season, Sikandar renewed hostilities against Gwalior. After a short halt at Dholpur he established his headquarters on the banks of the Chambal, and, leaving his camp there, led an expedition into Gwalior country. The direction in which he marched is uncertain, but the Hindus, who fled to the hills and jungles, were slaughtered and enslaved in large numbers, and the country was laid waste. The work of devastation was so complete that the invaders suffered from scarcity of food until a large caravan of Banjāras, carrying grain and other provisions, was captured. Mān Singh was not inactive, and Sikandar, as he approached his camp, observed precautions not habitual to him and threw out an advanced guard on the march and outposts when halted, suspecting some sudden manœuvre. His precautions were opportune for, as he was retiring towards his camp on the Chambal, Mān Singh laid an ambush for his army. The officers whose troops were exposed to the sudden and unexpected attack displayed great valour, and held the enemy until succour arrived from the main body of the army, when the Hindus were defeated with great slaughter. As the rainy season was approaching, in which operations were difficult, the only result of this success was to secure Sikandar's retreat, and he retired to Āgra, but as soon as the rains abated marched to besiege the fortress of Utgīr. The siege was pressed with such vigour that the walls were soon breached in many places and the fortress was carried by assault, the Hindus fighting desperately to the last. Utgīr shared the fate of Mandlāer, and Makan and Mujāhid Khān, the latter of whom had remained at Dholpur, were appointed to the command of the new acquisition, but it was discovered, after the capture of the fortress, that Mujāhid had been in correspondence with the raja of Utgīr, and had undertaken, in consideration of a bribe, to dissuade Sikandar from attacking it. Mullā Jaman, one of his principal followers, who was with the army, was arrested, and orders for the arrest of Mubārak Khān himself were sent to Dholpur. After the capture of Utgīr, Sikandar again retired to Āgra, and by some extraordinary error the army was led by a route in which it endured the torments of thirst, and when water was found many of the sufferers drank so greedily of it as to cause death. The usual routes from Utgīr to Āgra were well supplied with water, and the selection of a waterless route suggests apprehensions of another attack by Mān Singh.