Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s17.25

v2.c27.s17.25

Finally on the 13th of January 1761, life became utterly intolerable to the beleaguered Maratha army. The soldiers and officers went off in a tumultuous body, surrounded the Bhāu's tent, and cried out, "It is now two days that no man among us has got a grain to eat. A seer of grain cannot be had even for two Rupees. Whence can we procure, no matter at what high price, an article that has totally disappeared from this place? Do not let us perish in this misery. Let us make a valiant struggle against the enemy; and then what Fate has ordained will happen." The discussion went on till midnight, when it was resolved that the whole army should march out about an hour before daybreak and attack the enemy in a pitched battle. The decision made, the generals were sent back to their posts each with a betel-leaf from their chief's hand, in token of their readiness to make their utmost exertion in the desperate enterprise about to follow.*