Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s1.4

v2.c27.s1.4

The Maratha headquarters had been shifted from Barārī Ghāt to Takia Majnun (19th January.) From this base, a large detachment appeared near Kālī Pahārī (beyond the Idgāh) and attacked the outposts of Phatak Misri Khan and Jinsi Topkhānah (near Sarāi Ruhelā.) The imperial troops in the trenches here made the mistake of sallying forth, with the result that they were defeated and driven back, suffering heavy losses. The exultant Marathas pursued them up to the city gate, burnt the carriage of the largest imperial cannon (named Attock), and plundered Sarāi Ruhela and other suburbs outside the Delhi Gate, “where the traders had stored grain and other merchandise beyond calculation.” This sort of irregular fighting and plunder of the western suburbs went on for four days, small Maratha bands and stragglers being occasionally cut off by the wazir's troops. On 23rd January Dattāji sent Antāji Mānakeshwar, Purushottam Hingané and other mediators to renew the peace negotiations, but no agreement was reached.