Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s23.2

v2.c27.s23.2

After a last look at his nephew, the Bhāu turned to the fight once more. He could not show his face at Puna after having lost the precious charge entrusted to his hands at Patdur by a weeping mother. Death had lost all its bitterness, because life had no longer any meaning for him. Victory was beyond his power, but not a soldier's death. Sadāshiv Rāo Bhāu forgot his duty as a general and remembered only his honour as a knight. He harangued his men, gathered together a small band of his personal followers and friends, mostly high officers and specially-paid cavalry, and led a last desperate charge. But now, in addition to the three squadrons of slave musketeers circling round, 1500 camel-swivels were turned directly upon him, doing fearful havoc at such short range. After less than half an hour's renewed fighting, even this last attack was smothered in blood, about a quarter to three in the afternoon, and then "in a twinkle of the eye, the Maratha army vanished from the field like camphor." A few small broken groups here and there moved aimlessly and without concert to the rear.