Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s2.8

v2.c27.s2.8

A severe engagement took place on 15th September, when the Ruhela skirmishers advanced too far into the Maratha lines, and Dattāji, after detaching a small force to keep them in play in front, made a detour with 7,000 select cavalry to cut off their retreat. But the eagle eye of Najib detected the manœuvre from the line of dust raised by these horsemen, and he prepared for it by posting ten thousand Ruhela infantry with loaded flint-locks in ambush in a dry *nālā* bordering the path of Dattāji's advance. The Ruhela skirmishers fell back towards their entrenchment and the front division of the Marathas gave them chase. Just then Dattāji arrived on the scene at the gallop, and "from the midst of the dust cloud the naked *pattas* (long swords) and spears of the well-mounted Deccani troopers flashed like lightning. As soon as they approached the Ruhela trenches and the artillery was turned on them with effect, they swerved aside towards the *nālā*. Two thousand muskets [at a time] were discharged at them when only twenty paces from the ambush, so that in the force under Dattāji corpses were piled up in heaps. It came to such a pass that a Ruhela seized the bridle of Jankoji with one hand and slashed at him with his sword with the other, inflicting a wound on his arm. The assailant was cut down and Jankoji brought back to safety.” The Bārha Sayyid allies fought with their customary valour in the van of the Marathas and were mostly cut off. Five hundred Deccani troopers and many good horses were killed, while the loss on Najib’s side was 50 killed, and one hundred wounded. His manœuvre having failed, Dattāji retreated in order to his camp. “From that day the Marathas ceased to make assaults.” * But skirmishing went on as before, with no result.