Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s5.2

v2.c27.s5.2

Leaving Khizirabad on 27th January, Abdali first marched * against Suraj Mal, by way of Shergarh (20 m. n. of Mathurā, 4 Feb.) to Dig (6 Feb.), which fort he invested but not very earnestly. From this base a detachment of his troops made a rapid march and completely defeated a Maratha force in their west by a night-attack (c. 11 Feb.) Abdali next moved into Mewāt, on the way to Nārnol, where Malhar was reported to be. But the Maratha vanished into the north and Abdālī proceeded to Rewari (c. 18 Feb.) On the 22nd he marched eight miles towards Delhi in ignorance of the elusive Maratha’s position. But the Southern light horse again gave him the slip : Malhar was at Bahādurgarh (40 m. north of Rewari and 18 m. west of Delhi) on 22nd February, and two days later he appeared near Kālka Devi (close to the Qutb Minār), and on the 26th-27th crossed the Jamunā into the Doāb. Abdālī marched to Dhankot (20 miles s. w. of Delhi) on 27th February, reached Khizirabad on the 29th, and sent Jahan Khan across to the eastern bank of the Jamunā the next day.