Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c26.s2.21

v2.c26.s2.21

Then a Jaipur force under Anurudh Singh Khangārot with allies from Shābpur, Rupnagar, Kerauli and Harawati, making a total of 25,000 men, and strong artillery, was reported as coming to the relief of Nagor [SPD. xxi. 74, 77.] The Jaipur army had at first marched in two divisions, under Anurudh and Jagannath Sah, against Naraina and Ramgarh respectively, but in fear of the Maratha detachment under Ranoji Bhoité advancing against them they had united at Ramgarh. Dattaji countered this move by pushing up to Bhoité a strong reinforcement of 6,000 men, partly composed of his own Marathas and partly of Ram Singh’s Rathor partisans. Anurudh was completely cowed by this superior force, and saw these Maratha generals on 10th October, asking for peace and agreeing to go to Dattaji for settling the terms. But on hearing that Bijay Singh’s retainers and a party of Bikanir troops under diwan Bakhtawar Mal were coming to his aid, in a body of some 2,500 fresh men, he broke off negotiations, and on 15th October set out from Ramgarh towards Nagor. Next day, from Datia he crossed the frontier and entered the Marwar territory. But during the preceding night a light force of Marathas under Bhoité, Narsingh Rao Sindhia, and Khanaji Jadav, had made a forced march from their halting place, and they now overtook and attacked the rear of the Jaipur army three hours after dawn. An obstinate combat raged for four hours. The Deccani moss-troopers galloped upon the cumbrous artillery of Jaipur, cut down the gunners, and in the end gained a complete victory. Anurudh lost seven to eight hundred men slain, and a thousand horses, 50 camels, two guns, and six tumbrils of munitions given up to plunder (16th October.) But a still greater disgrace befell him; his dead were not allowed to be removed for cremation. The Maratha losses were only two killed and forty-three wounded among the men and 70 horses.