Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.s1.32

v2.c29.s1.32

Late in October 1761, Madho Singh assumed the offensive by sending a force, 10,000 strong, to besiege Nenvé (held by a Maratha garrison under Sadashiv Gopal), while another detachment led by Keshav Rao crossed the Chambal and penetrated to Patan (Keshorai Patan, 12 miles north-east of Kota city), raiding the neighbouring district (early November.) Malhar, hearing of it, marched from Indor to the Mukandara pass (13 Nov.) with 6,000 men (partly his own contingent and partly the Sindhia family force led by Khanaji Jadav and Chinto Krishna). At Bāriyā, in the Kota territory, he was joined by 3,000 Rajput allies under Akheram Pancholi the diwan of Kota, the youthful Zalim Singh, and the Rao Rajah's foster-brother. The Kachhwa army besieging Nenvé fell upon their main body at Patan, raising it to a strong force of 10,000 men with an abundant supply of artillery, rockets and camel-swivels; their leaders were Raj Singh Ghorchara, the two diwans Kaniram and Nandlal, and Surat Singh Shiva-Brahma-potā. Before this imposing array, the Maratha outposts in the Hada country were evacuated in terror aud their tenants were helplessly abandoned to plunder.