New History of the Marathas v2.c30.20

v2.c30.20

The battle-field was examined the next day by Anupgir Gosavi and Kashiraj under instructions from Shuja-ud-daula. They discovered 32 large heaps of corpses, which when counted numbered 28 thousand. Countless corpses were besides found strewn on that vast plain, and the nooks of the jungles around. About 35 thousand were taken prisoners and slaughtered in cold blood by the heartless Durranis. About 8 thousand Maratha refugees and four hundred of the officers took shelter in Shuja-ud-daula’s camp. The latter besides generously affording them all the protection he could, despatched them under a strong escort to Surajmal’s dominion financing their journey from his own purse. The huge trench of Panipat was equally full of dead bodies, and several wounded men succumbed to their wounds in the extreme cold of the night. It is estimated that nearly 75 thousand Marathas were killed in this huge slaughter and some 22 thousand saved their lives by paying ransom.