Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 14.12.1

14.12.1

The Navvab, Sword of the Empire, the Valorous of the State, the valiant Mahmed Aaly-verdy-qhan, ever formidable in battles, who in those times had not his equal, except Assef-dja-nizam-el-mulk, in the art of ranging an army in battle and in choosing a post, did not think it proper to quit the shore of the Ganga, but kept close to its banks, along which he advanced towards the town of Bar, where he found the Afghans encamped on the other side of a small river, which was in times of yore, the Ganga itself, but where the water having quitted that shore, and gone over to the other side, had left just such a small quantity of water, and in so narrow a stream, as formed an Island on the ancient bed called the Derah, or hollow; on the other side of which the Afghans had encamped, but which they turned into a very strong post, by lining all the shores with that numerous artillery which abounded in their camp; in so much that the passage had been rendered of very difficult access. The Viceroy having taken information from a Zemindar of that neighbourhood, advanced westwards about two miles during the night time, and passed on the other side without any difficulty; nor did this event come to the knowledge of the Afghans but when it was already mid-day. Struck with surprise and amazement, they abandoned that numerous artillery with all its implements, and disappeared; and this first success proved so auspicious, that the Viceroy took it up as a good omen to his future operations.