Gul-i Rahmat 1.3

1.3

On the 11th Muharram, 1188 A.H. (24th March, 1774 A.D.), Háfiz Rahmat marched out of Bareilly with a moderate force, and went towards Anwála. * * The alarm of war having spread, numbers of Afgháns from Mau and Farrukhábád, and the inhabitants of Katehr, both subjects and strangers, obeying the instinct of clanship, gathered round Háfiz Rahmat. Zamíndárs of the Rájpút tribe, who had lived in peace under his rule, came in troops to support him without summons, so that his array increased in numbers every day. * * Háfiz Rahmat marched from Tánda, and crossing the Rám-gangá at the ford of Kiyára, he entered Farídpur, seven kos to the east of Bareilly. Shujá'u-d daula advanced by successive marches to Sháh-Jahánpúr. * * From thence he went on to Tilhar, where he rested and prepared for action. Háfiz Rahmat then marched from Farídpur, and crossing the river Bhagal, encamped in the groves around Karra. There was then a distance of not more than seven or eight kos between the two armies. * * Two or three days after, Shuja'u-d daula, acting on the advice of General Champion, who was the most accomplished General of the time, made a march towards Pilibhit, and halted at the village of Musali, where there was a wide open plain. Reports of an intended attack on Pilibhit spread through both armies. Hafiz Rahmat thereupon left Farra, for the purpose of protecting Pilibhit, and encamped in face of the enemy in the open plain. * * General Champion cheered the drooping heart of Shuja'u-d daula, and taking the command of the advanced force, he selected the positions for the guns, and made the necessary arrangements for the battle. * *
On the 11th Safar Shuja'u-d daula advanced with an army numbering 115,000 horse and foot. * * Hafiz Rahmat went to the tent of Faizu-llah Khan, and said, "My end is near at hand. So long as I remain alive, do not turn away from the field; but when I fall, beware, do not press the battle, but leave the field directly, and flee with my children and dependents to the hills. This is the best course for you to take, and if you act upon my advice, it will be the better for you." After giving these directions, he mounted his horse, and marched against the enemy with ten thousand horse and foot. He had proceeded only a short distance, when the advanced force of the enemy came in sight, and fire was opened from cannons and muskets. * * Ahmad Khan, son of the Bakhshi, who had made a secret agreement with Shuja'u-d daula, now fell back, and set the example of flight, which many others followed. * * Hafiz Rahmat had only about fifty supporters left when he drew near to the Telingas and English. He was recognized by his umbrella, of which spies had given a description, and a cannon was levelled against him. He advanced in front of all his companions, using his utmost efforts. The cannon-balls fell all around, and * * at length one struck him on the breast. He was lifted off his horse, and after taking a sip or two of water, he drank the cup of martyrdom.