Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c58.s3.4

v4.c58.s3.4

Arthur Wellesley’s policy of keeping the enemy on the run, instead of rushing headlong into a regular battle, made his constant marching and countermarching seem erratic and hesitating to the Marāthas. In the pride of ignorance, they reported, “General Wellesley’s spirit has been damped on seeing the vastness of the Maratha forces, and he is deliberating what to do.” It would have taken something more than mere numbers to freeze the heart of “the great world-conqueror’s conqueror” of the days to come, and Daulat Rao knew it. Hence a later report from Punā tells us, “The two sardārs (Daulat Rao and Raghuji) were near Paithān (on 1st September), when news came that the Sea-dwellers would make a surprise attack on them; so both Chiefs went away towards Bir (3rd September.)”† They were at Partur on the 3rd and 4th. Stevenson's night attacks on their Pindhāris frightened them still more. But soon afterwards their regular infantry and guns began to come up the Ajantā pass and join them, and after some more puzzled and futile movements the two Rajas set their faces back to the Ajanta pass, and even thought of returning to Burhānpur. We find them near Badnāpur, north-west of Jālnā, on the 12th.