Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 14.12.4

14.12.4

and Aaly-verdy-qhan, enclosed between two armies each of which was stronger than his own, looked like a gem encircled with metal. The Marhattas were skirmishing endlessly, and the Bengal army seemed to be given up for lost ; but it must be acknowledged for the sake of truth, that never did that hero exhibit so much steadiness and fortitude, as in that trying day, in which few men would have not felt their firmness daunted by so formidable an appearance of superiority. The two armies now advancing to engage, and the artillery firing already, a ball directed by the Sovereign disposer of events, took up Serdar-qhan's head, and shockingly mangled his body; and his troops deprived of a Commander, reputed still braver than Shimshir-qhan, were disheartened, broke their ranks, and then dispersed ; nor were these less than a full half of the Afghan army. By this time Heider-aaly-qhan was advancing towards those disheartened troops with his infantry, and perpetually pouring upon them such sheets of fire, as darkened the light of the sun ; and having turned noon-day into a dark night, the ambient air became as black and as frightful as the reprobated faces of those wretched ravagers. Aaly-verdy-qhan on observing the confusion and fluctuation occasioned by this fire, ordered Sheh-djehan-yar and Fakyr-ollah-beg-qhan to advance with their cavalry, and to charge the confused enemies ; but neither of those two officers moved a step.