Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c24.6

v2.c24.6

The position of the small Maratha squadron, unfurnished with artillery or stores and wedged in between the Durrānis and the treacherous Indian Ruhelas, was absolutely untenable. So, when in the morning of 19th January it was learnt that a few hours earlier the imperial wazir himself had gone out to submit to the invader and "half the population had fled away from Delhi to the Jats," Antaji had no help but to fall back on his base in Delhi city. His retreat was severely harassed by the Durrānis and Ruhelas from two sides; but after a great sacrifice of men and horses, the Marathas cut their way out, reached their camp on the sandbank below Delhi palace, collected all their families baggage and elephants in a few hours, placed these in front, and constantly fighting rearguard actions with the pursuing Afghans, reached Faridabad, 16 miles south of the city that night. The contest was severe, but Antāji firmly kept his force together without allowing its order to be broken, and thus saved it from annihilation. The baffled pursuers turned back from Khwājah Sarāi.