Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 22.19
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 22.19
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22.19.1
Whilst Beni-bahadyr was flying, his friends thought he had gained an advantage. Mia-yssa who mistook the volleys of musquetry between the English Talingas and the Sheh-zadians of Sheh-ghulam-cadyr's, for a severe engagement, misapprehended Beni-bahadyr's retreat for a second attack; and being jealous of a success which might reflect a dishonour upon his own inaction, he quitted his post from behind Somro and Mùsher-medec, and ran forward. He had before a morass full of mire and water, which rendered his passage the more difficult and dangerous, as the morass was lined in front by a body of English infantry, that looked very much like a wall vomiting fire and flames. Hence of six or seven thousand men that were under his command, only a small number chose to follow him; and these by thus passing before Somro and Mùsher-medec, who made a continual fire of musquetry and cannon against the English line, put an end to that hail of balls that incommoded so much the enemy; and by thus obstructing the fire made by friends, he by his position between the two lines, became exposed to a hot and expeditious fire, which the English incessantly poured upon him, and which proved as destructive as that at the Day of Judgment. Nevertheless after having passed through that shower of balls, he with infinite trouble, but with a small number of men, emerged at last out of the mire and water; and it was only to see himself and his people aimed at like so many marks.
22.19.2
So that he fell fruitlessly and ingloriously, and his indignant soul took its flight towards eternity. Those of his men that could effect their escape from that scene of slaughter and wounds, overthrew in their flight such troops as yet stood their ground, and by their example carried them away. By this time the English Talingas after having put Beni-bahadyr to flight, had got over the intrenchment; and breaking immediately into the Vezir's camp with repeated discharges of musquetry, they threw the whole into so much consternation, that not a man in that immense multitude found courage enough to tarry awhile, and to load up, and carry away his baggage or property. They all fled, every one providing for himself, as his mind prompted; for by this time, the whole army had been defeated so completely, that no one thought of standing his ground. But no sooner was this general discomfiture observed by the ungrateful Moghuls and Durranies, than quitting the Vezir's person, they turned about upon their own troops and friends, and commenced plundering and stripping at such a rate, that a by-stander would have taken them for so many enemies. The Vezir was yet in camp; and although fully sensible that fate had given the victory to his enemies, he remained a full hour behind, to look at the amazing revolution which was taking place; nor did he quit the field, but when he saw those about his person shrunk to a small number;
22.19.3
at which time he followed the run-aways, and left his camp standing. Every thing belonging to him or to his officers, such as tents, furniture, and other property, fell a prey to the victors. Numerous shops of bankers, full of silver and gold coin, and numerous tents of merchants, replete with Kimqhabs and other precious stuffs, were rifled in an instant. The sutlers and markets underwent the same fate. The artillery, great and small, was taken possession of. So that the English troops with all their followers made an immense booty. But whilst these strangers were busy in enriching themselves at the enemy's expense, the Vezir's troops were busy in plundering each other, and that too with so much earnestness, that whatever fell in any one's hand, was reputed fair prize. God only knows the wealth which must have existed in that army; and I acknowledge that it would be vain in me to attempt giving so much as an idea of it. But I can say with certainty, however, that there were immense riches in that camp; and such indeed as might have vied with the very capital of Hindostan in that regard, when the latter was the repository of all the wealth of India. Whilst this scene of sack and plunder was going on one side, vast numbers of people on the other were endeavouring to cross the Durgaoty, a little deep muddy river, that flowed behind the camp;
22.19.4
but they stuck in vast numbers in the mire and mud, or lost their lives by the volleys which the Talingas were endlessly pouring on the flying enemy. By an event singular enough, it happened that the very day before the engagement, Shudjah-ed-doulah had thought proper to set Mir-cassem at liberty, although he gave him no better carriage than an elephant which proved lame. By another event, full as singular, and one of those which cannot be accounted for but by admitting the interference of a particular Providence, that very animal enabled the prisoner to get out of that scene of confusion and slaughter, and to save his life from more than one sort of imminent danger. Doubtless he was predestinated to a longer life; else, in that scene of terror and consternation, which parted the son from the father, and the brother from the brother, who would have thought of an unfortunate being, kept this long-while in confinement, and deprived of all intercourse with mankind? Let us adore the secret workings of that watchful Providence, which on the very eve of such a scene of danger and confusion, put it into an enemy's heart to provide a carriage for his prisoner. "Even an enemy will prove serviceable to thee, if it pleases God."
22.19.5
This release had been announced to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan in the evening; and at midnight he had sent secretly to inform him that he had ready at his service a bag of a thousand rupees, and an excellent horse, which would carry him anywhere he pleased; adding, that if he made but a sign of the head, both would be sent him immediately. The messenger professed that the only reason why this had not been done already, was out of fear lest the Vezir coming to hear of it, should become again as severe as ever. Such a tender in such a conjuncture could not but prove highly acceptable to Mir-cassem's afflicted mind. He bestowed on the Qhan all the encomiums he deserved for having remembered of past obligations, and proved grateful at so critical a moment of total dereliction; but he answered, that at present he did not think it proper to accept of his offer, as they had promised to bring him a carriage. But that if they should fail, then he would by all means avail himself of his generous offer. And really a little before day-break, they brought him a female elephant that limped; and it was upon such a carriage that Mirtassem made his escape with the runaways, and saved his life.
22.19.6
A few days before the engagement, Aaly-hibrahim-qhan had had the precaution to send his heavy baggage under the charge of his brother, Aaly-cassem-qhan, to the Emperor's encampment, which was on the other side of the Durgaoty, the little river that parted it from the Vezir's camp, and upon which they had formed with some boats a bridge of communication. By such a precaution he had remained quite light and disincumbered. So that in the general deroute, he advanced expeditiously to the bridge; but finding it so thronged, and the runaways pouring in immense shoals, so as to bar all passage, he became extremely uneasy. Moreover the bridge had broke down; the danger increased fast; and the English Talingas were preparing to fire. No time was to be lost. He put spurs to his horse, ran a little higher up the banks of the river, and throwing himself in the water with his horse, he swam over to the opposite side. Being arrived on the other side, where a number of people had stopped awhile both to take some refreshment, and to wait for such of their friends as were yet on the other side of the water, he observed a body of English advancing with a field-piece, loaded with small ball called Churras, which they fired; whilst a body of their Talingas were making discharges of musketry. The cannon swept both sides of the river; nor is it possible to describe the terror and confusion that seized the runaways.
22.19.7
They poured upon each other's shoulders in the miry shores of that very muddy river, and sticking in the mud, they perished in shoals. Others having found means with infinite trouble to get over, fled in the most dismal condition, every one taking to what road chanced to be before him. Most of these were set upon by the peasants who stripped them to the skin. Others having found means to join the runaways, that had preceded, returned graces to Heaven, as if they had returned from the very gates of death. The Vezir having passed the river, and got all his family together, took the road which leads to Ilah-abad; but Mir-cassem upon his limping carriage, made a shift to get as far as six or seven cosses beyond Banaress. As to Beni-bahadyr, he tarried upon the banks of the Ganga, by the Vezir's order, with intention to bring away the Emperor, who was encamped over against that city; and Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, sick, as he was, found means, with no more than a dozen of followers, to advance close to Beni-bahadyr's encampment, where he intended to take some rest, and to inquire after his brother, with whom he wished to encamp. A servant of Ghalub-qhan having descried that nobleman by chance, went and gave notice of it to his master, who was a great friend of his, and then in Beni-bahadyr's retinue. Ghalub-qhan no sooner heard the intelligence, than he expressed his satisfaction, and getting up directly, he requested leave of Beni-bahadyr to meet his friend.
22.19.8
The Radja on observing Ghalub-qhan's eagerness, asked him what kind of a man was his friend, that he seemed so eager to see him. The other having answered by a short eulogium of Hibrahim-qhan, added that if ever he commenced an acquaintance with him, he might then get some knowledge of his merit. The Minister who had often been present at that nobleman's valuable conversation with the Vezir, conceived a desire of attaching him to his own person, and he asked Ghalub-qhan whether he could bring his friend to him? The latter undertook the business, and prevailed upon his friend to wait upon the Minister, just in the undress in which he was. The Radja happy to reckon so valuable a man amongst his friends, requested his friendship, proffered his own, and desired to reckon himself henceforward amongst those of his family. This proposal could not but please Hibrahim-qhan, who thought that in a time of so much confusion, the very tarrying some days with that Minister, would prove of some advantage to himself. After this acquisition, the Radja received orders from the Vezir to bring up the Emperor, and he was urging the propriety of marching forward. But that Prince, who in his heart was dissatisfied with the Vezir, and had resolved to part with Beni-bahadyr, thought proper to temporise under a variety of pretences, having sometime before conceived the design of joining the English.
22.19.9
For that nation had already made overtures, on that subject, and rendered him desirous of joining them, as well as intent on availing himself of their assistance; and on the other hand, they expected that the Vezir, informed of their being forbidden by the Company to make any new conquests in India, would of himself come to terms of peace and friendship with them. They had therefore thoughts of meeting Beni-bahadyr, whom they knew to be the Vezir's confidant, and Mir-cassem's enemy. But as Beni-bahadyr had then discovered the Emperor's defection, and his backwardness from marching farther, he continued his own journey with his own troops, and crossed the Ganga.