New History of the Marathas v1.c18.79

v1.c18.79

At the Dasara season of 1699 Rājārām himself set out from Satara accompanied by several young leaders of future fame such as Khanderao Dābhāde, Parsoji Bhosle, Haibatrao Nimbālkar, with Dhanāji Jādhav at their head. They gave out that they were going to march upon Surat and plunder that rich town. The Emperor in order to ward off this danger, despatched a strong body of his troops against them. Several skirmishes occurred between the Maratha raiders and these Mughal detachments. During November Rājārām himself was stopped from proceeding to the north by Zulfiqar Khan and was compelled to turn back. He came straight to Brahmapuri for raiding the Mughal camp and if possible taking possession of Shahu. Indeed how high the Maratha spirits had risen at this moment is evidenced by Rājārām's letter addressed to Vithoji Babar on 22 December 1699 in which he writes, "We have arrived at Sinhagad and have launched the full force of our armies against the Emperor. The Senapati Dhanāji, Nemāji Sinde, Persôji Bhosle and other leaders have led a furious attack upon the imperial camp of Brahmapuri and captured the Emperor's own daughter along with several prominent families. Thereafter they fell upon a convoy of ten thousand pack animals carrying supplies to the imperial forces which were marching upon Satara. The enemy has lost all courage, and can make no effect against fort Satara. We now take no account of this powerful Emperor whom, God willing, we shall soon put to rout. You must do your best in this joint effort. We are rewarding your services in an ample measure."¹¹