Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c55.s9.10

v4.c55.s9.10

A last desperate charge followed the retreat. It brought no change in the issue of the day, but redeemed the honour of the Rajputs. A dense body of Jaipur cavalry headed by Ranjit Singh, the chieftain of Chomu, advanced sword in hand to recover a pair of 24 pounder guns which their comrades had abandoned in the earlier retreat. The Marātha cavalry supporting Thomas fled away before the onset, and the Rajput horsemen breaking into Thomas's left wing pellmell with these fugitives, began to cut down a great number of his sepoys. "The moment was critical... Mr. Thomas, with the only gun that remained, which he loaded up to the muzzle, and about 150 of his followers, waited the event with fortitude. After permitting the enemy to approach within forty yards, he gave them three discharges of his gun accompanied by three volleys of musketry." The rout of the enemy was complete. The brave baron of Chomu was severely wounded, Bahādur Singh and Pāhār Singh (of the Khangārot branch) fell, but the two guns were recovered. On that long and bloody day, the Rajput casualties exceeded 2,000, while Thomas lost 300 men. But peace was soon made by Vāman Rao under orders of Daulat Rao Sindhiā.