Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c24.7

v2.c24.7

Clearly foreseeing the fate of Delhi, Antāji sent off his camp, baggage and accumulated booty under escort of 2,000 horse to Mathura (20 Jan.), while he himself turned back with a light force from Faridabad to Sarāi Badarpur, 10 miles south of Delhi. Here next day (21 Jan.) he encountered Sarwar Khan, a general of Abdali's wazir, who had been sent with 4,000 horse to establish a block house (nāka) at Faridabad. The Afghans had no artillery, and the Marathas being unencumbered with baggage could pursue their Parthian tactics with success. After three hours of fighting, Sarwar Khan was completely defeated, 400 of his Durrāni soldiers and the same number of horses fell on the field, and 400 more horses were captured along with his standard and kettle-drums. The broken survivors fled back to Bārāpulā. Then for nine days no Afghan force advanced against Antāji.