History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c77.s2: § 3. Fighting before and around Satara.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c77.s2
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§ 3. Fighting before and around Satara.
v5.c77.s2.1
The garrison made frequent sorties, all of which were repulsed with more or less loss. But the greatest danger to the Mughals came from the Maratha field forces, which practically reduced the besiegers to the position of a beleaguered city. Foraging parties could leave the Mughal camp only under very strong escorts, led by the foremost nobles. Dhana, Shankara, and other enemy leaders spread through the Mughal possessions, raiding villages, cutting off outposts, and closing the roads to the grain-dealers (banjaras.) Ghori Khan, the faujdar of Kararabad, was captured by Dhana (19 Dec.) but rescued by Hamid-ud-din three days later near Masur, though with heavy losses on both sides. On the 27th, Ikhlas Khan, when patrolling only four miles from the camp, was enveloped by Hanumant and slain with his son and many followers, and all his property was looted. The enemy appeared here, there, and everywhere, round the camp. On 10th January 1700, Nusrat Jang, Bahramand, and Hamid-ud-din attacked Dhana Jadav, Hanumant Nimbalkar, and Ranuji Ghorparé, and after a pitched battle six miles beyond Rahmatpur, repulsed them with slaughter. By order of the Emperor, a pyramid was built with the severed enemy heads (500.) On the 22nd, Dhana captured the thanadar of Khanapur.
v5.c77.s2.2
Enemy activity stopped the coming of grain and foraging in the vicinity of the Mughal camp, and produced scarcity. Ramchand, the thanadar of Khatau, received lavish rewards for bringing a convoy of grain into the imperial camp (10 Jan.), as also did some other local officers. On 3rd Feb. 8,000 oxen loaded with grain were escorted into the camp, which gave some relief.
v5.c77.s2.3
Tarbiyat Khan raised his gun-platform 24 yards high, to the level of the bastion of the fort gate. "In procuring materials for it, not a tree was left standing within thirty or forty kos of Satara." [M. A. 414.] Eight thousand sacks were taken from the grain market and filled with sand to form a bulwark round it. Three hundred oxen were set to transport timber for the battery. But the stones showered down by the enemy made further progress impossible. Orders were then issued to fill the empty chests of the public treasury and of the money-changers with stone and sand and line the battery with them,—150 water-carriers being posted there to put out fires promptly.