Chahar gulzar-i Shujaʿi 7.4

7.4

The Emperor and the Nawab, having marched from Benares, proceeded by rapid marches, like an arrow shot from a bow, and encamped at five kos from Bach Pahari. The action commenced with the shooting of arrows and firing of muskets, and it continued for two days. The third day the brave and bold warriors of Shuja'u-d daula's army, making a vigorous attack, advanced their batteries close to Pahari, and engaged with the English, who also spared no effort in resistance, and exerted themselves to fight. The whole day the warriors of both sides stood firm fighting in the field. At the close of the day, when the sun approached the horizon, the brave soldiers of both parties ceased to combat, and the batteries remained fixed in their first positions. But Shuja'u-d daula, by the advice of some ignorant and inexperienced men who were with him, recalled the warriors of his army from Pahari to his own tents. Although Shuja' Kuli Khan and others who were at the batteries remonstrated with him, and remarked that to remove them from their position would be highly inexpedient, because they had been fixed there with great difficulty and pains, and in case of retreat it would be very difficult to regain the position, yet the Nawab would not listen to them, and having recalled the soldiers from Pahari, ordered the batteries to be fixed near his camp. The English, considering this a favour of God, occupied the position where the batteries of the enemy had been.