Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s4: § 13. Flight of Jankoji Sindhia to Kot Putli; Malhar Holkar joins him
Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s4
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§ 13. Flight of Jankoji Sindhia to Kot Putli; Malhar Holkar joins him
v2.c27.s4.1
From the fatal field of Barāri-ghat the Maratha army fled headlong towards the south-west, with the fresh Durrāni horsemen on their heels. The pursuit was kept up for about 24 miles. But Dattāji's wise foresight now bore abundant fruit: he had kept his fighting force lightly equipped and ready for rapid movement, and Jankoji soon succeeded in rallying them and bringing them in some sort of order to Paniālā, five miles north of Kot Putli (which latter is 25 m. south of Nārnol) in the Jaipur kingdom, on 14th January, after catching up on the way his baggage train, women and other non-combatants who had been sent off from Delhi four days before the battle. A day after his arrival here, he was joined by Malhar Rao Holkar, who had started from Jhilāré in Rajputana on the 3rd. Some time was necessarily taken up by the funeral rites and condolence for the dead Sindhia chief and the discussion of the future plan of operations. It was decided to send off the baggage tents and non-combatants to the Deccan in charge of Govind Ballāl. This party started from Kot Putli on 23rd January, and after passing through the friendly territory of Kerauli crossed the Chambal river near Sabalgarh (48 miles due west of Gwālior) on 3rd February. The following night a posthumous son was born to Dattāji. *
v2.c27.s4.2
Malhar and Jankoji, thus freed from encumbrances, undertook to follow the traditional Maratha system of war, by discarding artillery and tents and moving in light kit; so as to be able to rove round the enemy's flanks or make lightning raids on his distant and undefended grain-depots and revenue collection offices, or even, if favoured by the enemy's slowness or ignorance, to ravage the dominions of his Ruhela allies in the upper Doab and trans-Ganges. For such a task Malhar was eminently fitted by his lifelong experience and settled belief. It was also necessary for the Marathas to shape their movements by watching carefully for indications of Abdāli's plan of action, because before the arrival of heavy reinforcements from the Deccan their forces in North India were too small and too demoralized to face the victorious invaders in a pitched battle. Jankoji, by reason of his youth and inexperience, remained safe in the rear, while Malhar took the command of the operating force, and began his advance on 24th January. He avoided a direct march on Delhi, but, passing through Kanaud (where he levied a ransom of Rs. 10,000), he hovered south-west of Delhi, in the broken Mewāt district, watching for opportunities.
v2.c27.s4.3
∗ Raj. i. 153, 156, 162. SPD. ii. 114, xxi 181.