Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c55.s12.2

v4.c55.s12.2

Perron was now concentrating overwhelming force for crushing George Thomas and also succeeded in seducing most of his unpaid troops. Thomas was hopelessly outmatched and his fall was as meteoric as his rise. Early in September 1801, Perron sent Major Louis Bourquien, with ten battalions of sepoys, 3,000 cavalry, and 500 Ruhelā Ali Ghol to attack Thomas, who was then out plundering Jind. The Irishman retreated, avoiding an engagement. A detachment of Perron’s army under L. F. Smith and E. Felix Smith, laid siege to Georgegarh, a fort built by G. Thomas eight miles west of Jhajhar and named after himself. Thomas advanced from Hānsi to the relief of the fort, and after a forced march surprised, defeated and dispersed the weaker force of the besiegers (on 29th Sept.). The two Smiths escaped and joined Bourquien who was coming up to their support. Thomas started for return to Hānsi, but was interrupted by Major Bourquien, on the 1st of October, when a severe but indecisive action was fought with about 600 casualties on each side.