Pramāṇa · Search · About · API

Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 22: SECTION XI.

A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 22

Language
English

Contents

SECTION XI.

22.1.1

The English commence hostilities, by surprising and plundering Azim-abad — This city lost and recovered for Mir-cassem, in one and the same day — Mir-cassem, forced into a war, resolves to push it with vigour — A fracas in the Council at Calcutta between Hastings and Batson — Battle of Catöa lost through the misintelligence that reigns amongst Mir-cassem's Generals — Mir-cassem deposed by the English, who bring back Mir-djaafer-qhan — Mir-cassem's army defeated at Gheriah — Dissensions in Mir-cassem's Councils — The strong post at Sôöa forced by the English — Gurghin-qhan, his principal General, murdered — All the English prisoners put to death by Mir-cassem's orders — Mir-cassem totally ruined, thinks of retiring in the Vezir's dominions — Strongly dissuaded by Mirsa-nedjef-qhan, one of his Commanders — Mir-cassem, surrounded by traitors, is promised an asylum by perfides — Revolution at Püraniah in favour of the English — Infamous hypocrisy of Mir-suleiman, Steward and favourite of Mir-cassem's — Successful expedition in the Bundelcund by that fugitive — The Vezir attacks the English with an army utterly ungovernable — The English, in distress, retreat under the cannon of Azim-abad — Battle — The Vezir's troops vigorously repulsed by Major Carnac — The Emperor's negotiation with the English, miscarries — Dissensions between Mir-cassem and the Vezir — Mir-cassem, in despair, turns Fakir — He is arrested and stripped — Singular discourse between Aaly-hibrahim-qhan and the Vezir — Odious character of old Mir-djaafer, as well as of Nandcomar, his Minister — Mir-djaafer dies somewhat a Gentoo — Major Monro, General — A regiment of Sipahees mutinies, and is punished — Singular behaviour of one of them, condemned to death — Battle of Bacsar, in which Shudja-ed-döula is undone — Singular escape of Mir-cassem's, then a prisoner of State — Shudja-ed-doula wishes for a peace — Proposals of the English — His pride greatly humbled, and his ideas greatly altered — Rejects the proposals — The English push on the war — Besiege the fortress of Chennar-gar — Are repulsed — Raise the siege to march up to the enemy — The citadel of Ilah-abad surrenders to the English, who conquer the whole of the Vezir's dominions — The latter, joined by the Marhatta, Malhar-râo, advances towards the English, and is worsted after a few skirmishes — Singular speech of Ahmed-qhan-bangash, to Shudjah-ed-doula, highly honourable to the English — The garrison of Chennar surrenders to the English — The Vezir almost alone and without any safe-conduct, goes to Major Carnac's camp, where he is received with respect — The Major wins his heart — The Vezir concludes a peace with the English — He applies to all his relations and dependants for some money, and is refused by all, and even by his own mother — But is generously assisted by his consort, whom he henceforward makes depositary of all his savings.

22.1.2

Mr. Amyatt, finding that none of his proposals to the Navvab had been accepted, and that no care had been taken to give him satisfaction in any thing, descended towards Calcutta, extremely discontented and mortified at the success of his embassy; but he had the attention to inform Mr. Ellis, that as no agreement had taken place between the English and the Navvab, the consequence would be a rupture with hostilities. Nothing can give a better insight into the temper of the English of those times, and of Mir-cassem-qhan's subtle and extensive genius in particular, than the following fact, which I find but slightly mentioned in all the papers of those times, or that are relative to that period: The Navvab, to get rid of the persecutions of the English on their private trade, at once took to the bold and comprehensive expedient of publishing all over Bengal, a general abolition of all Custom-houses, tolls, and fees; and of granting a general indiscriminate exemption to all traders whatsoever. Could any thing be fairer with regard to the English? You want only to pay but a small duty at Hoogly, Dacca, Patna, &c.; &c., I grant your demand, and add a great deal more. Pay none at all. I have supressed all duties whatever all over Bengal; nor does there exist now a single object for our quarrelling together.

22.1.3

Here the Navvab suspected that the general exemption would infallibly favour only his own subjects, who living and subsisting so much on a lower scale than the English, would infallibly undersell them in all the markets, and of course expel them from everywhere. But this was at once guessed by the English of those times; who, in full Council, had the front to contend, that in order to comply fully with the sense and spirit of their Ferman or charter, the Navvab ought to free all English trade, (to wit, their private trade, as an exemption for the Company's trade was admitted on all hands) to free it, I say, from all duty and all shackles whatever, whilst he should be bound to continue them on his own subjects. An extravagant and tyrannically absurd proposition this! That a Sovereign Prince should have no right to grant to his own subjects, an exemption claimed, and at last obtained, by foreigners. Vansittart and Hastings contended, that it was unworthy the dignity of the English Government, to make such a proposal, and shocking to go to war for it. Batson and Johnstone, with Amyatt and his party, seriously contended that the Navvab had not such a right; and it was because Vansittart and Hastings declared they could not think of setting down such a proposal, that the latter was saluted with the atrocious sarcasm: That such a reluctance, and such an objection, would suit better a vakeel or agent of the Navvab's, than a Member of this Board.

22.1.4

As if by law and charter, as well as by convenience, every Member of such a Board had been under an absolute obligation of being extravagantly absurd, and tyrannically overbearing; of arrogating every therefore, said he, upon your guard in matters of war, and do not fail to seize such an opportunity as may offer. As Mr. Ellis himself had his heart full against the Navvab, and he reckoned it for certain, that on Mr. Amyatt's making his report to the thing to themselves, and denying every thing to others, that is, of trampling under foot the most obvious and most acknowledged rights of mankind.

22.1.5

This was the state of things for which Vansittart and Hastings contended; this was the cause of that shocking fracas which happened in that assembly, otherwise so august; and this was the reason of that animosity of all the council against them. This condescension of theirs gave rise to that calumny, so universally talked of in those times, as if they had sold themselves to Mir-cassem for twenty-two lacs of rupees; a sum, which after all, is but one-fourth of those Princely fortunes which we have seen so often since that time. But the fact is, that those men who contended for so reasonable a submission, (and they traded themselves largely) and had constantly refused to involve the nation in a war for such trifling concerns, now were branded with such an atrocious imputation; and yet those two men went to Europe in indifferent circumstances. Hastings was poor, literally so; and Vansittart was far from being rich. Nine or ten lacs could not be deemed a fortune for a man, who had brought a lac into Bengal, and had for four years together, enjoyed a salary of two lacs and-a-half.

22.1.6

All these matters were known to a few at the time; but they came fully to light when Vansittart landed in England, and when assaulted by an infinity of calumnies, he made the Directors understand, and with them the whole nation, that what Amyatt's party in all their public and private letters, constantly called the English trade, was nothing else than the private trade of their own party, set up these four or five years past. It must be added, that nothing was more common then, than to see English agents of all colours and denominations, (and they swarmed then in every part of Bengal) take up the farm of a town, mart, village, or district, hoist up the English flag on it of their own private authority, pay to the Navvab such a rent as they chose to part with, keep the rest to themselves, and act meanwhile as the most relentless, rapacious tyrants, setting at defiance the Navvab's authority everywhere, and in every instance. Nor are all these allegations a vain declamation. As soon as the English themselves became masters of the country, and took possession of it in their own names, the evils so much complained of by the Navvab as unsufferable, having come home to themselves, they first of all abolished all exemption of duties, as granted once to their own servants; that is, they abolished, as Sovereigns, the very exemption for which they had gone to war, as merchants;

22.1.7

and even this law having proved far from adequate to the evil, the Company's servants, or their dependants, having it in their power to evade its operations in a thousand obvious ways, the hatchet at last was brought forth, and put to the root of the tree. Their servants were strictly forbidden from trading, directly or indirectly, in the inland country, in any article whatever; and strict injunctions were given to the Governors in India, for preventing their being concerned as farmers or lessees of any duty, town, village, or district, whatever; nor have those two laws, severe as they are, produced a complete effect, although they have gone far that way. counsellors of their party, now the majority of Calcutta, the Council would not fail to declare war against that Prince, and to make every effort to drive him out of his dominions; he on his side prepared himself underhand for the event; and being certain of the day on which Mr. Amyatt had departed from Monghyr, he, by calculating in how many days more he might be out of the reach of the Navvab's forces, rightly concluded that he must be now arrived in Calcutta; and he resolved on such a conclusion, to attack Mir-mehdi-qhan, and to surprise the city of Azim-abad, where that officer commanded.

22.1.8

A short note was therefore written to Major Carstairs, who was at the head of all the English troops in the environs, to desire his managing in such a manner, as that his people should all be assembled at the English factory in the evening, in order to assault the gates of the city at day-break. He, at the same time, prepared a number of ladders of bamboo, and of wood; and he wrote to Doctor Fullarton, who lived in the middle of the city, to desire his attendance. The Doctor, who knew nothing of the scheme, obeyed the order; but, on being arrived at the factory, he soon saw what was going forward. Of all these preparatives, the Governor, Mir-mehdy-qhan, was completely ignorant. He lived in the citadel, which is at the other extremity of the city, and was actually fast asleep at the moment of the attack; and, as to the garrison and the troops destined to watch the walls of the city, every one of them, in compliance with that inveterate custom of neglect and supineness that has now taken place in these countries, and to which people never fail to conform themselves, was either unarmed and fast asleep upon the walls, or living unconcernedly in his own home; insomuch, that there was hardly a man to oppose some defence, whether officer or soldier. The English, setting out of their factory at the rising of the morning star, applied their ladders to that tower which was close to Mir-abdollah's house, and to the English factory, and got silently and courageously upon the wall.

22.1.9

It was on a Friday morning, the 12th of the month Zilhidj, in the year of the Hegira 1176. The few soldiers of the garrison, who, on account of the neighbourhood of the English factory, appeared to be still there, having taken to their arms, wounded some English and Talingas, and then fled; so that the English were left masters of the ramparts; and they descended in two bodies within the city, directing their march towards the citadel. One body advanced firing, along the main street and the several markets; and the other marched along the catra and the street of the Divan's quarter, firing all the way occasionally. Mir-mehdi-qhan, and the other officers, awakened from their sleep and supineness by the report of the cannon and musquetry, assembled what troops they could in that moment of surprise and trepidation; and, half asleep, they advanced to oppose the enemy, whom they met at the head of the street Corhatta; and there, as soon as the English had fired a volley amongst them, with a few grape-shot, which wounded Mahmed-amin-qhan, with many others, the rest lost courage and fled, leaving Mir-mehdy-qhan, and Sheh-bereket-aaly, and Mir-mahmed-amin-qhan, with the shame of so sudden a defeat. The latter, in despair of such a disgrace, fled towards the Eastern gate, and wanted to go to Monghyr. Sheh-bereket-aaly, confounded at this sudden revolution, made the best of his way towards the Rani's wicket, and fled along the water side, without knowing whither he was going.

22.1.10

But, Mahmed-amin, although wounded, repaired to the Chehel-sotun, (a building of stone, raised by the late Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan) shut up the gate, and, with the few followers he could muster on so sudden an emergency, he prepared to defend himself. At the same time the Gentoo Colonel, Laal-sing, having assembled his people, shut up the gate of the citadel, and commenced firing, resolved to stand his ground. The same resolution was also taken in the Chehel-sotun, from whence balls now commenced raining on all sides.

22.2.1

We have said, that the English left in possession of the walls, had spread themselve all over the city and its ramparts, from the Western, up to the Eastern gate; nor was any appearance of resistance to be seen anywhere, but at the citadel and at the Chehel-sotun; all the rest being taken possession of by the English, and as far as twelve o'clock, their Talingas, together with their harcaras and looch-chas, who had dispersed themselves everywhere, leisurely plundered the houses of the citizens, without leaving in some of them so much as a bit of straw : a treatment the more strange, as it had never been experienced from any English army. Mir-mehdi-qhan, the Governor, was all this while on his way to Monghyr, and he had already reached Fatwa, when he was met there by a body of troops that had been sent from Monghyr to support him, and to re-inforce his garrison. The Commanders of those troops, without minding the condition in which they saw Mehdi-qhan, attended only to what they heard of the resistance at the citadel, and at the Chehel-sotun, and forthwith they resolved to recover the city out of the hands of the English. Instantly they set out, marched expeditiously, and taking their route by the water-side, they in a couple of hours arrived at the foot of the tower called, the Seyds, where they suddenly made their appearance. It was at the Eastern gate, which they prepared to assault directly.

22.2.2

The English, without being dismayed, opened the gate, placed two pieces of cannon upon the bridge that crossed the fosse, and ranging themselves in a line, they prepared to receive the enemy. It must be observed, that Mir-nasser, who commanded the rocket-men, having outmarched General Marcar, the Armenian, was already arrived at Fatwa, with his two colleagues, Djaafer-qhan, and Aalem-qhan, from whence he had brought back the Governor of the city. These officers having put themselves at the head of their men, attacked the English with a discharge of rockets and musquetry, and instantly broke their line. The English retreated; but being disheartened by their loss, they thrust an iron needle into the touch-hole of each of the two guns, and dispersed for their lives. The Governor, animated by this success, exhorted the three Commanders that were with him, to make use of the occasion, and to pursue hotly; and this pursuit had a full effect. On hearing of this disaster of the English, even the other troops, that were yet stationed on the towers and ramparts, were confounded, lost their wonted firmness, and fled on all sides. Victory declared for Mir-cassem-qhan's people, and the ramparts and towers were cleared and recovered in one and the same day. The dispersed English quitted the city, and assembled again at their factory, which they put in a state of defence;

22.2.3

whilst the enemy lodging themselves on the tower opposite to it, and on the berme which reigns about the Birbanna small gate, commenced pouring a hot fire. The English, finding themselves too much exposed to it, resolved, with Mr. Ellis at their head, to quit the place, and, in the night time, they resolved to retreat to Bankypoor, their old encampment; but this was put out of their power. Marcar, the Armenian, arriving at this time with six regiments of disciplined Talingas, and eight field-pieces, joined the Governor and the others, and determined to pursue the English at day-break. But Mr. Ellis, who had now lost all courage, not choosing to stand his ground even there, resolved to fly farther, as far as Chapra, by water, and from thence to cross the Serdja, which is the boundary of the two Soobahs, or provinces, intending to take shelter in Shudjah-ed-doula's dominions; but even that could not be effected. One Ram-nedy, Fodjdar of the district of Sarun, an ungrateful Bengaly, who owed much to the English, had the confidence to attack the fugitives, whilst Sumro, with some regiments of Talingas, crossed over from Bacsar to support him. This sight having totally daunted Mr. Ellis and his followers, the English, who were now quite dispirited, or rather had been overtaken by their fate, thought proper to surrender prisoners, although they had still three battalions of Talingas, and might have done many things.

22.2.4

Intelligence of this success having reached the Navvab, it raised his pride to a height, and gave much additional strength to Gurghin-qhan's influence and credit. It was noon-day when he had received intelligence of the English having seized the city of Azim-abad, and expelled Mehdy-qhan; and such an intelligence had nearly killed him; when lo! about twelve hours after, in the middle of the night, another letter came, that mentioned how the Governor, having been met by the re-inforcement intended for his garrison, had put himself at the head of those troops, and had recovered the city with a great slaughter of the English. This sudden intelligence revived the Navvab's spirits. The Navvab's soul, which was just going to quit his body, recovered its seat, and gave him a new life. It was now past midnight. Instantly he ordered the military music to strike up, and its sound awakened the whole town of Monghyr. As soon as it was day-break, every one of those in his service made haste to offer their congratulations; and the gates of the public hall being set open, he received the nuzzurs and compliments of his whole Court. It happened, that as Mir-abdollah was still at Monghyr, from whence the Navvab had not given him leave to return to Azim-abad, lest his friendship with the English might prompt him to introduce them into that city through his house, which was close to the walls, I took him with me, and we went together to pay our respects, and to offer our nuzzurs to the Navvab.

22.2.5

This Prince, fixing his eyes upon Mir-abdollah, spoke these very words: Pray, did you not say, that the English could eat men alive at one mouthful, and that no one could stand in their presence? Turning then towards me, he added: Your friend, the Doctor, can use his friends very ill, in a very strange manner, indeed. He has introduced troops secretly through his house, and it is he that has given rise to those disturbances, which you have doubtless heard of. "And who am I, my Lord Navvab," answered I quickly, "to be so great a friend of theirs? The Doctor was an acquaintance of your Highness, and your friend; and it becomes us, your servants, to be friends of their master's friends, as well as enemies to his enemies. If the Doctor be your friend, his friend I am from that moment; and if he be your enemy, I become his mortal enemy likewise, from that moment." The Navvab made no reply; but, at the end of the public audience, he wrote circular letters throughout his dominions, by which he informed his officers of this event, and gave them notice of the rupture between him and the English, as well as of the proofs they had furnished of their hatred and enmity to him; commanding them at the same time to put those perfides to the sword wherever they should find them. It is uncertain whether he may have comprised in this order, Mr. Amyatt himself, with all those of his retinue;

22.2.6

or whether those that killed that ill-fated man, availed themselves of the general order, arrived at M8rsh8d-abad. This much is certain, that he was surrounded by Mahmed-taky-qhan's people, and by those of Sheh-savar-beg, who hacked him to pieces, with all the other English on board, although he made entreaties for his being sent alive to their master. But those impudent wretches proved deaf to his prayers, and cutting his head off, they sent it to the Navvab. This event happened on a Thursday, the 18th of Zilhidj, in the Year 1176, of the Hegira, the very day when, according to a general report, the English factory at Cassim-bazar had been plundered by the Navvab's people. Mir-cassem-qhan, convinced now that all was over with the English, and that there was no other party to take with them but that of war, sent a large detachment under three Commanders to M8rsh8d-abad, with orders to oppose the English; jointly with Mahmed-taky-qhan, who had instructions to effect a junction with them; and, after having received whatever he should want from Seyd-mahmed-qhan, the Deputy Governor of that city, to advance to Palassy, and Catwa, in order to be at hand to oppose the English, whenever they should come out of Calcutta. This detachment was commanded by Djaafer-qhan, Aalem-qhan, and Mir-haibet-ollah. On this order, Mahmed-taky-qhan quitted Birbohom, at the head of the troops he had trained, and he encamped at Catwa.

22.2.7

So unexpected a catastrophe, and so sudden a change, could not fail of exciting a great ferment at Calcutta. Governor Vansittart, disappointed and confounded beyond measure, wrote a threatening letter to Seyd-mahmed-qhan, to inquire how the murder of that unfortunate man had come to be perpetrated almost under his eyes. The letter, amongst other matters, contained these verses of the poet's: —

22.3.1

"Amidst all the dissensions of mighty Kings and proud Sovereigns, "We never heard that any injury has been offered to an embassador." The purport of the letter was this: "That if the murder had "been perpetrated by his own management, or that of his dependants, the punishing of it would, of course, be entered on his "and their account, but that if it had been done by orders from "their master, then let us see," said the writer, "what the Supreme Disposer of events shall bring to pass between the English "and the Navvab." As soon as the letter was dispatched, the Counsellors of Calcutta, all incensed to the highest degree, assembled in the Council chamber; and after several dialogues of the most inflammatory kind, they accused Vansittart, as being Mir-cassem-qhan's patron and protector; but as the latter happened to be out of order that day, and absent, Mr. Hushtin, a Member, with whom he had but one heart and one tongue, was desired to make an apology in his name, to the Council assembled, and to speak in his stead. But, on his taking his seat, and making the apology, the other Counsellors, already alienated, at once attributed this absence to the Governor's consciousness, and to his sense of shame. They loaded him with the bitterest reproaches; and, as they had come with full intention to declare war, and seemed exceedingly passionate and out of temper, they forgot themselves so far, as to drop some improper expressions highly injurious to the Governor and Mr. Hushtin.

22.3.2

The latter, otherwise a very quiet man, would not put up with such expressions, and high words of mutual reproach passed between him and Mr. Batson. Vansittart no sooner heard of this dispute, than he hastened to the Council in the very undress, and in that weak state of body, in which he happened to be; and, taking his seat, he asked them what they wished to be done, and what was their pleasure? The answer he received was unanimous. Those men, who all along had been so closely linked with his opposers; who were no less incensed against their own Governor, than against the Navvab; and, whose wounds had been lately besprinkled with salt, by Amyatt's murder, and Ellis's captivity; those men exclaimed out with one voice; and all, without minding either time or person, clamoured aloud, that their only wish was to revenge Mr. Amyatt's death on Mir-cassem's person, and to punish that vindictive man for his cruelty. In a scene of so much violence and animosity, Vansittart had the presence of mind to preserve his temper. He produced a note, in which he observed, "That Mr. Ellis, with a multitude of Englishmen, officers, civilians, and soldiers, being in Mircassem's power, no doubt could be entertained, but all these unfortunate men would be made away with, the moment the Navvab should know for certain that an army had come out of Calcutta for his ruin.

22.3.3

Is it not then proper and prudent, added the Governor, to endeavour to live upon some terms with that merciless sanguinary man, until the prisoners can be recovered out of his hands? After which, it would be time to proceed on projects of war and revenge." This reasonable speech made no effect; and, as the Counsellors greatly suspected their Governor, and thought themselves so certain of his being Mir-cassem's protector, that they ascribed to artifice and to design the temporising party he had just now proposed; they rose up in the utmost violence of passion, and taking the paper on which Vansittart had written his proposal, they added at the bottom of it. That were all the prisoners to a man killed by Mir-cassem, they would not for a moment recede from their proposed revenge, or ever come to terms of accommodation with him. After saying so much, they all put their names to it. The Governor having perused the paper, which proved in the sequel the main voucher that cleared his character, folded it down, and put it in his pocket. He added, that now that their party was taken, it was incumbent upon them all to go immediately to Mir-djaafer-qhan's lodgings, in order to proclaim that Prince, as enthroned in Mir-cassem's stead; after which, it would be expedient to send him up to Moorshoodabad with the English army.

22.3.4

This said, he got up, and taking all the Members with him, he went to Mir-djaafer-qhan's, and offered him the Sovereignty of Bengal, and the services of the English forces. The Navvab, after some conversation on the subject, consented to resume the Sovereignty, but it was under several conditions; and these with several respective stipulations were set to writing, and confirmed by oaths on both sides. A few days after, the English army having made all its preparatives, came out of Calcutta, and marched against Mir-cassem-qhan, whose fortune, from that moment, seemed to verge to its decline, notwithstanding the considerable advantage he had gained over Mr. Ellis. This unfortunate man was now sent to Monghyr, with all his followers, and all the artillery, arms, and effects that had been taken, either in the factory, or in camp, or at Backy-pur, and the Navvab made him over to Ferhad-aaly's care, but took the soldiers and other people under his own management, after having confined them in a place adjoining his own palace. As to the other English seized all over the country, and whom he had ordered to be put to the sword everywhere, the order was not literally executed; for numbers of them were spared, and their fate remained in suspense, until the Navvab's people finding that the English army was acquiring a superiority, dismissed every one of them underhand;

22.3.5

but some of the Navvab's officers, who lived far towards the east, and at a distance from the English army, executed the order rigorously; and like men blinded by fate, they put their unfortunate prisoners to death. As to those confined at Monghyr, they were all under the care of Sheh-ferhad-aaly and Gurghin-qhan, and watched with the greatest attention. One day Doctor Fullarton, who was one of them, sent me word, requesting my interest with the Navvab, as he suffered hardships in confinement. The man had certainly a right to avail himself of my credit, such as it was, not only as being my particular friend, but also as having conferred favours upon me in his time, and rendered me important services; it even became a piece of policy in me to speak in his behalf, as I doubted not but the Navvab was by this time informed that the Doctor's man had been with me; and it was certain that unless I prevented his suspicions, by informing him of the motive of the message, he would make a mighty affair of it. I therefore went to Court, and supplicated that Prince on the Doctor's behalf, explaining my own case at the same time. I have no objection, said the Navvab, to your interference; it is for a friend. There is no harm in your taking notice of his distress at such a time as this. The Navvab spoke this indeed, but it was from the lip outwards; for he thereby reflected obliquely on my connections with the English.

22.3.6

I answered, "My Lord Navvab, the Doctor is still more a friend of your Highness than he is of mine, and you were studious to oblige him. It is for that reason, I have supplicated you in his behalf. Please your Highness to inform me what favour you choose to confer upon him, that I may act accordingly. If he be your culprit, I have nothing to say to him; do with him as you shall think best." At these last words he smiled, and calling for Sheh-ferhad-aaly, he looked at him full in the face, and then taking a serious air, "the Doctor," said he, "has sent a message to Gholam-hussein-qhan; and as that nobleman is my friend, he has of his own motion given me notice of it. For aught I know, he may have sent a hundred such messages to a hundred more persons; and you, that have him under your charge, know nothing of the matter, nor do you mind what is before and what is behind. Be more upon your guard, and take care that your prisoners suffer no hardship, either in their victuals, clothing, or any thing necessary; take care, also, that no messages of theirs, or of his, go through the army, for fear they may in time produce some mighty mischief." Finding that the conversation took such a serious turn, I did not add a word, and the poor English continued to be strictly guarded and watched, to the time when the Navvab went to Azim-abad. Meanwhile, the two armies from Calcutta, and from Morshood-abad, were approaching each other.

22.3.7

Mahmed-taky-qhan, who was really a man of talents, and worthy of command, could not be much pleased with seeing himself under the orders of Seyd-mahmed-qhan, Deputy Governor of Morshood-abad, a man incapable, and of little understanding. But indeed, how could he submit to such a man? The one was of a liberal generous temper, whilst the Deputy Governor was of a mean, sordid disposition. Hence the Governor was constantly blowing with his breath, the fire of enmity between that General and his colleagues, whilst himself lay roasting on the blazing fire of envy and jealousy; for he was unable to bear the General's high character and great reputation. The latter was under the necessity of asking many necessaries, such as artillery, tackle, and carriages, which the other constantly refused, although, by his position in the city, and his being at the head of the treasury, he had a command over all those necessaries. He furnished them with slowness and reluctance, like one that wished no good to the success of his campaign, and would be glad to see him defeated. Nor had he common sense enough to feel all the consequences of such a conduct, and how ruinous it would prove to his master's affairs, and at last to his own.

22.3.8

Matters went on at that rate, until the troops, destined to reinforce Mahmed-taky-qhan, arriving from Monghyr, took their route through Mdrshdd-abad, where, there is no doubt, but the envious Deputy Governor engaged the Commanders to assert their own independence of that General, and by all means to procure his shame and defeat. This much is certain, that those Commanders who had orders to join the General, and to remain under his command, seemed to stand upon punctilioes. Instead of encamping with him, and acting in concert, as he requested them to do, they had the folly to go on the other side of the Bagraty, and to encamp there by themselves, but with the strong detachment they had brought. The next day, intelligence was brought that two English Battalions of Talingas had set out of a certain town where that nation had a factory; on which intelligence, the new arrived Commanders, who intended to attack them, sent word to Mahmed-taky-qhan, requesting to be assisted with some of his musqueteers. It must be observed, that this General's musqueteers had acquired a character all over the country; he had raised their pay to ten rupees per month; divided them, as they do in Iran, by tens, hundreds, and thousands, with a Commander at each of those divisions; had increased the salary of those officers from fifteen to twenty, sixty, and a hundred rupees per month;

22.3.9

had constantly exercised them himself, by making them fire at a mark under his own eyes, and had kept them himself in daily motion, and under constant training. To prevent their repining in long marches, he used to assist them with oxen, camels, and sumpter-horses, for their baggage; so that they were loaded only with their Djezairs, or muskets of large bore, and with their ammunition. These troops of his being so armed and accoutred, were constantly kept in readiness, and prepared for immediate service, being all young, stout men, of his own choosing and picking. The request then was founded on reason; but although Mahmed-taky-qhan had no cause to be satisfied with those Commanders, that now applied for his assistance, yet, out of regard to his own character, and to his master's service, he sent them a body of five hundred such men, under the command of Feramorz, a slave of his own breeding, who was their principal officer. Sheh-haibet-ollah then, and the other Commanders, having received this reinforcement, marched against the two battalions of the enemy; and, chiefly by the valour and perseverance of the brave Feramorz's, he pushed the English Talingas back, after a sharp engagement, as far as the town and factory from whence they had set out. The environs of it were immediately secured, so as to prevent the enemy's retreat.

22.4.1

At night the besieged battalions were reinforced by some others that flocked from Bardvan, and from other parts; and, the next morning, the whole came out in great order, so as to form a fine sight. The engagement then commenced anew. Then only did Sheh-haibet-ollah and Alem-qhan become sensible of the consequences of the caution which Mahmed-taky-qhan had given them, when he recommended their joining together, and fighting together. Terrified with the endless firing of the English, they seemed, after some fighting and some movements, to have lost their senses; for, now after a short conflict, most of the Djezaiarchies were slain or wounded; and the two Commanders, unable to stand the hot fire of the enemy's, retreated, and then fled towards Mahmed-taky-qhan. The latter ordered the dead to be taken up from the field of battle, but refused to admit the runaways in his camp, or even to give them passage through it, for fear of their disordering his own encampment, and communicating their own terror and dismay to his troops. The English, after this victory, advanced two or three cosses towards their own army; and two or three days after, that is, the fifth of Muharrem, in the year 1177 of the Hegira, Mahmed-taky-qhan came out with a resolution to oppose the enemy's march. Fitting the foot of courage in the stirrup of steadiness, he mounted a horse whose motions were as fleet as the moments of his unfortunate rider's existence;

22.4.2

and, without applying for assistance to those three Commanders, whose duty it was to fight under his orders, he advanced to the field of battle, followed only by his own trained bands; the refractory Commanders continuing motionless in their encampment behind him. As his men were filing off, he spoke to them, reminded them of the character they bore all over the country, exhorted them to support the same, and promised them victory, if they would stand by him. All this was uttered with such an air of familiarity, that he seemed to be rather their companion than their General; and they were so animated with this kindness, and that air of fellowship, that in marching with the utmost alacrity, they were endeavouring to get the start of one another, and swore that they would sacrifice their lives for his honour. The General having formed his troops, and recommended to his officers to march in order, advanced to the enemy. The latter being soon in sight, the engagement commenced; and, as the firing of the cannon and musquetry on both sides grew warm, and both sides kept advancing, those who being overtaken by their fates, were shot at like so many marks, drank up, without hesitation, each in his post, the bitter cup presented them by death. Nevertheless, encouraged by their General, they kept advancing; and an appearance of victory being seen over Mahmed-taky-qhan's troops, some disorder and fluctuation, not unlike a defeat, were observed in the English ranks.

22.4.3

The moment was becoming critical, when a ball of cannon wounded Mahmed-taky-qhan in the foot, and killed his horse, which fell sprawling on the ground. The General, without betraying any anguish, mounted another, and continued to advance, and to exhort his men; and he was now very near The ranks of the English, who, on their side advanced; but it was with this advantage over him, that in compliance with their rules of discipline, they advanced firing. At this moment a musket-ball entering at his shoulder, came out on the opposite side. That brave man, without betraying any emotion, assembled the hem of his garment, and throwing it over his shoulder, to conceal his wound from his men, he still advanced. The English were on the point of retreating; but they had placed an ambuscade at the bottom of a little river, which was full on his passage; and the General being arrived there, was looking out for a passage to come to hand-blows with them, when the ambuscade-men rising at once, made a sudden discharge full in his face, overthrew numbers of his followers, and lodging a bullet in his forehead, that incomparable hero, who was the main prop of Mir-cassem-qhan's fortune, hastened into eternity in the middle of his slaughtered soldiers. The rest, intimidated by the loss of their intrepid Commander, retreated in the utmost confusion, leaving the English in possession of victory, with a full reason for embracing each other.

22.4.4

All this while Sheh-haibet-ollah and his colleagues kept themselves at a great distance, as mere spectators of a shew, but not daring now to stand their ground, they fled on all sides. The victorious English, after raising the wounded, and making them over to their chirurgeons, spent two or three days in taking some rest, and in setting to right their artillery and necessaries, and then they advanced towards Mursbud-abad. On hearing this defeat, Seyd-mahmed-qhan, the Governor of that city, seemed to have lost his senses. Without shewing his face to the enemy, or making the least opposition; without even assembling his people, and securing, by a timely retreat, those numerous effects of his master's, which he had in his custody; without exhibiting a spark of courage or a grain of firmness; he deserted his post, and fled towards Monghyr, in the utmost perturbation of mind. After that retreat, the city remaining without a ruler, Mirza-iredj-qhan, who lived this longwhile utterly neglected by Mir-cassem-qhan, availed himself of the opportunity to repair to the English army, where he congratulated Mir-djaafer-qhan on his accession to the throne, and being invested by him with the command over the city, he returned thither, and proclaimed his new master's accession, by beat of drum; after which, he applied himself to the business of quieting the minds of the people, and of gaining the hearts of the principal citizens. Shortly after, Mir-djaafer-qhan himself arrived.

22.4.5

It was on the twelfth of Muharrem, in the year 1177 of the Hegira. He made his entry into the city at the head of the English army, at which time there happened some commotions, and some disorders; the mob having found means to commit insolencies, and even to make some booty. After a stay of seven days, in which time he constantly resided in Aaly-verdy-qhan's palace, which had become the seat of Government ever since that Prince's demise, he on the seventh day quitted it with the English army, and marched against the enemy. The death of such a Commander as Mahmed-taky-qhan could not but greatly affect his master, who, however, behaved with firmness on the occasion. He sent orders to Sheh-haibet-ollah, to make a stand in the plains of Sooty, and he dispatched thither a number of forces capable to face with effect a victorious enemy. This detachment was composed of six or seven thousand horse, under the command of Assed-ollah-qhan, Fodjdar of Narhoot-semay, to which he added seven or eight regiments of Talingas, commanded by Marcar the Armenian, and by Somro the European, who had besides sixteen pieces of cannon, well mounted and well served. To these he joined a body of rocket-men, under the command of Mir-nassur, after having cautioned them all against dissensions and jealousies; his orders being to attack the enemy in the plain of Sooty, and to fight in concert.

22.4.6

An order was also dispatched to Shir-aaly-qhan, Fodjdar of P衝raniah, to assemble his forces and to cross the Ganga, in order to join the army at Sooty. This Shir-aaly-qhan, from being one of the meanest of Faqhr-eddin-hussein-qhan's dependants, had been raised by Mir-cassem-qhan to high dignities; so that he came to command in the same place where had commanded Seyd ahmed-qhan, and his own master, Faqhr-eddin-hussein-qhan. Shir-aaly-qhan, on receiving the order, crossed the Ganga, and soon joined Assed-ollah-qhan; and these two Generals, by hastening their march, arrived at Sooty time enough to face the English. The two armies, as soon as they came in sight of each other, (and this happened on the 21st of Muharrem) proceeded directly to an engagement. Marcar the Armenian, and Somro the European, ranged their troops in lines upon the highway. Assed-ollah-qhan took his post on their right, with seven or eight thousand horse, and ten or twelve thousand foot; and at the left, Shir-aaly-qhan took his station, with two or three thousand of his men. On the opposite side, the English, who did not amount to more than three thousand men, ranged themselves in great order; and the engagement commenced immediately. But as the distance was such, that only the cannon on both sides could do any execution, the English kept advancing foot after foot with a measured pace;

22.4.7

so that Assed-ollah-qhan, who pretended to much bravery and personal prowess, advanced likewise with his troops to about half a mile. At this very time the English were gaining a superiority over Marcar's and Somro's troops; so that on his being arrived so near, he proposed to come to hand-blows with the English; and all his officers being of the same opinion, Mir-beder-eddin-qhan, one of them, who commanded only a body of eighty horse, displayed his standard, and parted company with the main. I now part with you, said he, at the head of my little troop, but it is only to shew the way; and, rest assured, that the moment I hear you raise your war-cry, and see you put your horse to a gallop, I will overtake, and then pass you. Only remember, that between putting your cavalry on a gallop, and falling pell-mell amongst the enemy, there must be no pause at all; and then, when we shall come to hand-blows, we shall behave as becomes brave men, and shall submit to whatever is to be our lot. After saying so much, he parted with the main, and stood upon the watch; when, on hearing the cry of Allah Ecber everywhere, and seeing that large body of horse in motion, he exhorted his men to follow him; and spurring his horse towards the enemy, he advanced on a full gallop.

22.4.8

Meanwhile, Mir-nasser with the rocket-men had marched up to the English, whom he engaged so warmly, that the English Talingas opposed to Mir-bedr-eddin-qhan, to the number of about one battalion, fell into disorder, and retreated as far as the riverside, where numbers threw themselves and perished, the water being somewhere above their armpits, and somewhere up to their necks. But in this charge, Mir-bedr-eddin had lost most of his men; and he had no more now than thirteen of them remaining, when a ball of a cannon threw his horse headlong on the ground, whilst another overthrew his brother. This was the time for Assed-ollah-qhan to appear; but, those that had followed that General, having seen numbers of their companions killed, and numbers wounded, had now lost courage on beholding so much carnage, and so many horses sprawling on the ground; and would not move any more, but paused at some distance from Mir-bedr-eddin. The latter, who had found his course stopped by a wall and a ditch, called out with all his might, and made many signs to Assed-ollah-qhan, to turn the Talingas with some infantry, and to cut their retreat; but he spoke to deaf men. Assed-ollah-qhan, intimidated by his loss, did not move at all; and the English officers, availing themselves of that pause, soon formed again, disengaged their artillery, and presented again a regular front to the enemy.

22.4.9

On the other hand, Mir-nasser, who with his rocket-men had so closely engaged the English as to make them lose ground, finding that no one would come to his assistance, was thinking of a retreat; but even that being now unattainable, his men continued engaging the enemy, like people that held each other by the throat. The English, hard pressed, received from Major Adams orders to fix to the muzzles of their muskets certain iron spikes, like those of a spear; and this being done, the English, by applying their muskets to their breasts, presented a wall of spikes, which no enemy could pretend to pass, in order to come to hand-blows with them. This particular I had from several creditable persons of both nations, that were in the engagement, and present at the particular spot; and I have since heard it from Colonel Goddard, who was either a Captain or a Lieutenant at that engagement; and who affirmed likewise, that at S68ty the English had been fairly gone for, had the enemy kept them in play a few days more in that sultry plain. Mir-nasser, unable to push upon that row of pikes so as to approach nearer, was making, but in vain, signs with the hand and voice all the while, without being able to descry anyone moving to his assistance. At last he despaired of victory;

22.4.10

and, at this very moment, the English officers that had Marcar and Somro in front, seeing that those two Commanders were retreating, and leaving the field on that side clear of the enemy, detached three or four companies of Talingas to the assistance of that part of their army which was in distress; and those were no sooner re-inforced so unexpectedly, than they fell with fresh courage on the small unsupported number of those that had hitherto pressed so hard upon them. On the appearance of this re-inforcement, Mir-bedr-eddin quitted the engagement, and retreated leisurely; but Mir-nasser, who had the imprudence to stay with his little troop, had soon reason to repent of his temerity. He was soon fired at by the fresh detachment, and left his life in the field of braves. By this time Marcar the Armenian, and Somro the European, had already quitted the field of battle, to their eternal shame and infamy, and were retreating along the highway. They were soon followed by Assed-ollah-qhan, who soon lost himself in that field of dishonour and disgrace. Some others that yet stood their ground, finding themselves abandoned by their main, quitted the field of battle by troops; and the zephyr of success and victory blowing gently on the flagging standards of the English, unfurled their folds, and put them in the full possession of victory. The victors had the generosity to take up the wounded, and to make them over to those that could take care of them;

22.4.11

and here I cannot help mentioning a singular fact which I have heard several times from Colonel Goddard, an officer who was only Lieutenant or Captain in that battle, and cuts now so great a figure at the head of the English forces in Decan: He used to say, that amongst the wounded spread in the field, and then taken up by the English, he had seen a man of Mir-cassem's troops, who had received such a stroke of a sabre, as had cleft his skull in two pieces, so that the brains were set open. The man was half dead, nor were any hopes entertained of his remaining alive many hours more; nevertheless, as he was still breathing, the Doctor bound his head with his turband, and sent him to a place of shelter with the other wounded. Three days after, as Goddard was taking a survey of the wounded, about whom the Doctor was actually busy, he was astonished to see that the man whom he had seen before, was now sitting upon his hams, holding an hocca of clay with both his hands, and smoking with a deal of composure; he seemed quite recovered of his wound, but, what is singular, had lost his sight entirely. Such was that miracle of Providence, and such that token of Divine dispensations! The enemy, dispersed and disheartened, made haste to the little stream of Suda-nala, where Mir-cassem had fortified a strong post against such emergencies as these, and here they stopped;

First 37 of 223 passages. Read on