Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s3.26

v2.c27.s3.26

The Maratha chief now prepared for the worst. He was clearly outnumbered; his enemy’s strength was daily growing by Indian adhesions, while his own followers had been thoroughly demoralized by the severe handling they had received at Tarāori and their constant retreats without one victory over Najib or the Durrānis. Reinforcements under Malhar, which had been urgently called for, would take at least a fortnight to join him. On 6th January Dattāji paid a visit to Delhi and started his camp, heavy baggage, accumulated spoils of a year's campaigning, and the families of himself and his officers,—including his pregnant wife Bhāgirathi Bāi,—for Rewari under proper escort. Thus freed from anxiety about his non-combatants and camp impediments, Dattaji set his face to the fight in the same formation as before,—himself with the light division of picked troops taking the front line, while Jankoji stayed some miles behind with the rest of the troops and the barely necessary baggage.