BUXAR

buxar, or baxar, a town of india, in the district of shahabad, bengal, on the south bank of the ganges, and on the east indian railway. pop. (1901) 13,945. there is a dismantled fort of small size which was important from its commanding the ganges. a celebrated victory was gained here on the 23rd of october 1764 by the british forces under major (afterwards sir hector) munro, over the united armies of shuja-ud-dowlah and kasim ali khan. the action raged from 9 o'clock till noon, when the enemy gave way. pursuit was, however, frustrated by shuja-ud-dowlah sacrificing a part of his army to the safety of the remainder. a bridge of boats had been constructed over a stream about 2 m. distant from the field of battle, and this the enemy destroyed before their rear had passed over. through this act 2000 troops were drowned, or otherwise lost; but destructive as was this proceeding, it was, said major munro, "the best piece of generalship shuja-ud-dowlah showed that day, because if i had crossed the rivulet with the army, i should either have taken or drowned his whole army in the karamnasa, and come up with his treasure and jewels, and kasim ali khan's jewels, which i was informed amounted to between two and three millions."