Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 12.7.6

12.7.6

This intelligence was brought to Aaly-verdy-qhan, whilst he was encamped at about Sahcra, being close to a spot called the fortunate stage, and there he was told for certain that the Marhattas had already passed through the valleys of Pachaet, and were going to fall on the Bardevan. It was difficult to be more unprovided than he was against so unexpected an irruption. As he had already given orders for disbanding part of his army, and great part of the disbanded forces as well as many other troops were gone to M8rsh8d-abad on the assurance that the expedition was at an end, and that all was peace, it happened that at the moment the intelligence was ascertained, he was found to have no more than three or four thousand horse, and about five thousand musqueteers about his person. Instantly he took the resolution of advancing into the Bardevan, a country, for populousness and plenty of provisions, superior to most in Bengal; his intention being to encamp with his back to this capital, and his front to the enemies. Full of this notion, he quitted the Mubarec-menzil, or the fortunate stage, and the second day he arrived on this side of the city of Bardevan, whilst the Marhattas were arrived on the other, to which they set fire directly, so that the greatest part of it was consumed. Here some skirmishes happened between the two armies and each party in the evening returned to its camp.