History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c75.s4.12

v5.c75.s4.12

Meantime, Hamid-ud-din Khan, after leaving his heavy baggage in the fort of Adoni, had started on 1st February for the relief of Basavapatan, which was being ably defended by Sayyid Azmatullah and Muhammad Euz (the qiladar). His force was 12,000 strong. Some twenty miles† before his destination he was attacked by Santa (26th February). But the Marathas were defeated and pushed back eight miles, their camp being looted by the Mughals. Santa fled to Khargdurg (?) The victorious Hamid, after a halt of two or three days for burying his dead and tending his wounded soldiers, marched to Basavapatan. Here a few days later Santa reappeared, but Hamid-ud-din made a sally from the fort and drove away the Marathas, taking 200 mares and many weapons from them. On receiving the despatches of these victories, the Emperor in open Court praised Hamid-ud-din very highly and wrote to Zulfiqar Khan, "That is how a soldier fights!" [Akhbarat.]