Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c28.s3.7

v2.c28.s3.7

Two accidents occurred during the battle, each sufficient to turn victory from the standard of Bijai Singh, on the very point of fruition. One has elsewhere been related,⁴ namely, the destruction of the “ Silahposhians,” or cuirassiers, the chosen cohort of the Rathors, when returning from a successful charge, who were mistaken for the foe, and mowed down with discharges of grapeshot. This error, at a moment when the courage of the Mahrattas was wavering, might have been retrieved, notwithstanding the superstitious converted the disaster into an omen of evil. Sindhia had actually prepared to quit the field, when another turn of the wheel decided the event in his favour : the circumstance exhibits forcibly the versatile character of the Rajput.