The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c13.17

c13.17

In 1759 Ahmad Shah Abdali came to India for the fourth time. As usual he was confronted by a hopelessly inferior force. Dattaji Sindhia had allowed himself to be duped by the friendly professions of Najib Khan, and, when he was at last undeceived, lack of boats prevented him from crossing the Yamuna and punishing the perfidious Rohilla. The appearance of Ahmad Shah at once turned the scales against him. Loath to leave his post, he wrote to Holkar for speedy reinforcements. The joint army of the two chiefs might probably have yet stemmed the tide of Afghan success, but Holkar, as usual, allowed himself to be engaged against a Rajput chief, while the fate of his race was being decided on the banks of the Yamuna. Dattaji rashly faced a superior Afghan army and paid for his daring with his life. His nephew, the legitimate head of his family, was wounded and his army was totally routed. Then Holkar tried the traditional harassing tactics of his race against the formidable Afghan cavalry, but in vain. The Afghans were hardy mountaineers and, unlike the Mughals of the Deccan, they could move swiftly when they wanted. Holkar was defeated, the Marathas were expelled from Delhi and the Afghan leader was organising a general confederacy of Muhammadan chiefs against their hated Hindu enemy, when Sadashiv Rao set out on his memorable expedition.