Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 12.11.5

12.11.5

It happened that the Marhattas were fast asleep, (and so was their fortune) and that no body did hail the boats, or if any did, the boatmen would give them an answer, and then would continue to slide down. By such a manoeuvre, a number of boats were assembled in the Adji, where they served to make a bridge over it, and it was completed a little before day-break at about half a cosse above the Marhatta camp; nor did the Marhattas get any intelligence of this double manoeuvre, or even suspect anything of either, and therefore they made no kind of opposition. The second bridge then being finished, Aaly-verdy-qhan ordered his best Commanders with their brigades to pass on foot and in silence. These were Mustapha-qhan, and Shimshir-qhan, and Umer-qhan, and Rehem-qhan, and Djaafer-qhan. He was himself at the head of the bridge, and recommended to them to cross over briskly, and to fall at once upon the enemy, without giving them time to recover from their surprise, assuring them at the same time that, whilst they should be engaged, himself with the main of the army would cross the river, and support them betimes, without giving the enemy time to form and to remedy the disorder. The scheme was well laid; and the bravest and most forward of the army, resolved to gain honour, were already passing over the bridge, when by an unforeseen accident, one or two of the boats in the middle of the bridge gave way, and sunk.