In 1794 a large army of 12,000 led by Lakshmi Rao, Anta Rao and Laxman Rao crossed the Yamuna and advanced towards Patiala. Raja Bhag Singh of Jind, SardarJodh Singh of Kalsia, Bhanga Singh and Mehtab Singh of Thanesar and Sardar Deep Singh Phulka and Sardar Bir Singh Phulka, the chiefs of the Bhadaur state, agreed to accompany them, while Sardar Tara Singh Ghaiba of Dallewalia sent a detachment. The total number of these forces was about 7,000. They advanced to meet the Marathas at Mardanpur.
The Marathas initially defeated the Sikh detachment, and later retreated to Rajpura. After a fiery speech by Rajkumari Bibaji Sahib Kaur, the Sikhs united to return to Patiala and fight the Marathas once again. The next day, the Sikhs attacked the advance guard of the Marathas, who were later reinforced by the remaining army. At nightfall, when both sides withdrew to their camps, the Sikhs launched a surprise attack on Madho Rao, who was busy performing the last rites of his dead soldiers, resulting in the death of many Marathas.
However, the Marathas had little success in repelling the Sikhs’ infiltration into their camp. After another attack by the Sikhs before dawn, the Marathas withdrew to Karnal. And then back to the principality of Patiala. They did not concentrate.
References :-
- Harban Singh (1992). The Encyclopedia Of Sikhism – Volume IV. p. 18.
- Sawan Singh (2005). Noble And Brave Sikh Women.
- Surjit Singh Gandhi (1999). Sikhs In The Eighteenth Century. Singh Bros. p. 505.
- Griffin Lepel H. (1873). The Rajas Of The Punjab. p. 71.