Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s1.18

v4.c54.s1.18

Dudrenec completed his war preparations at Indore, and then, at the beginning of March 1799, advanced with six battalions and a large body of cavalry to Chauli, six miles north-east of Maheshwar. In the battle that followed Jaswant’s cavalry was mown down by the grape shot of the Frenchman’s well served artillery, and his infantry (wild Gosāin monks) were driven out of their trenches with slaughter by Plumet, the lieutenant and son-in-law of Dudrenec. Jaswant personally fought well, but had to leave a field deserted by his men, and fell back on Maheshwar. This was his first defeat and a signal disaster. It was immediately followed by the flight of most of his troops and allies to Dharampuri, a village on the Narmada 15 miles west of Maheshwar. To this place Jaswant himself, with Mir Khan, Bhawāni Shankar and other faithful followers, retired after taking away as much of Ahalyā Bāi’s jewels and treasures from her capital as he could transport.