History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c61.s4: § 10. Jai Singh hard-pressed.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c61.s4
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§ 10. Jai Singh hard-pressed.
v4.c61.s4.1
Jai Singh's position was now extremely dangerous. Even before this doubling of the enemy's forces, his retreat from the environs of Bijapur had been molested and he had been able to move on only after fighting two battles on 11th and 22nd January, besides almost daily skirmishes by his foraging parties. The battle of Lohri, 22nd January, was very sanguinary, the imperialists losing 190 men slain and 250 wounded, besides many horses, while the enemy's casualties exceeded 400 slain and 1,000 wounded. (Cf. K.K. ii. 197.) The Right and Left wings of the Mughal army, under Daud Khan and Dilir Khan respectively, were attacked in succession by the mobile enemy in full force and had to be heavily reinforced, so that the Centre (under Jai Singh) was depleted. The enemy seized this opportunity to make an onset on the Rajah's person. But his Rajputs, under Harnath Chauhan and other leading officers of his own contingent, who formed his Van, after saluting him, gallantly dashed into the enemy's ranks, and desperately resisted them at close quarters. Harnath fell after receiving 21 wounds; and so also did most of his comrades; several other Rajputs were wounded. "The dead formed heaps on the field of encounter." The battle raged for six hours from 3 P.M. "The Deccanis tried their utmost, but at last fled with heavy loss." Thanks to the steadiness and co-operation of all divisions of his army, Jai Singh repulsed the enemy, chased them for four miles, and reached his own camp after 10 P.M.
v4.c61.s4.2
After fighting five such battles in less than a month (25 Dec.—22 Jan.), Jai Singh's army was clearly no longer fit for further exertions. So, he rested his men at Sultanpur for 24 days (27 Jan.—19 Feb.) But during this period the imperial dominions enjoyed no security. The Bijapur-Golkonda army, divided into four corps,—under Sharza, Khawas, Bahlol and Abdul Muhammad,—finding the field clear, raided in various directions. They attacked the forts of Khatav, Mangalvide and Kaliani, though unsuccessfully. The Mughals were demoralized. When (3 Feb.) on hearing of the siege of Mangalvide Jai Singh ordered Daud Khan and Qutb-ud-din Khan Kheshgi with his Right and Rear divisions to go to its relief, "these generals wasted some days in vain discussions, and when strongly pressed, they flatly refused to go unless the Left Wing under Rajah Rai Singh was sent with them. Jai Singh had no help but to consent to it." (Jai Singh to Aurangzib, *H.A.* 93 *a.*) At the approach of these three generals, the Bijapuris at once raised the siege (about 12th Feb.), and the Mughal detachment, after throwing money and provisions into the fort, returned to Jai Singh's camp (19th.)
v4.c61.s4.3
The raiding parties of Bijapur, under Bahlol Khan and Netaji, in the lately annexed Bidar-Kaliani districts (at the n. e. corner of the old Bijapur kingdom) could no longer be ignored. And, therefore, on 20th Feb. Jai Singh issued from his camp at Sultanpur and marched due east into the disturbed area.