Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s27.16

v2.c27.s27.16

The fall of Méhéndélé (7 Dec.) completely changed the scene, but not at once. It took the Shāh about a fortnight from this date to cut the Bhāu's line of communication with Delhi, to terrorize the Maratha army into remaining passive within their trenches day and night, and to stop their provision supply altogether. Govind himself fell on 17 December. That was the date on which despair took the place of boastful confidence in the beleaguered army. But a letter sent out of Pānipat on 22nd December (the day when the Bhāu received the mangled head of Govind Ballāl), even if it could have escaped the Durrāni patrols and the hostile Baluch zamindars on the way, could not have brought a single trooper back from the Deccan, could not even have reached the Peshwā before the fatal morning of 14th January 1761.