Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s5.8

v4.c54.s5.8

Hessing had reached Ujjain with his battalions about the 28th of May, under orders to remain on the defensive till reinforced by his master. He took post in the unfinished fort of Bhairon-garh, three miles north of Ujjain City. But on hearing of the disaster to MacIntyre, he marched out towards Shujāwalpur to join Chintāman Atmārām Wākdé,* who was vainly trying with his 5,000 Maratha horse to uphold Sindhia’s authority in that district. On the other side, Jaswant Holkar after his repulse at Satwās fell back on Indore, and called upon Mir Khan to unite with him near Ujjain for an attack. Mir Khan promptly set out westwards, driving Hessing and Wākdé before him. Leaving his camp and baggage at Tarānā (20 miles north-east of Ujjain) he arrived east of that capital, in the afternoon of 17th July. Jaswant had already arrived a few miles south of that city on the same day at noon. The two allies soon effected a junction and launched their attack on Hessing two hours before sunset. The Sindhian detachment had taken post between Gogā Shāh’s hillock and Ankpātā, with their back to the city-walls. That evening there was time for an artillery duel only.