Tadhkirah i Anand-Ram “Mukhlish” 1.5

1.5

Now was the time for these chiefs to have marched without delay, and, acting in concert with the Nazim of Multan and Lahore, whose troops amounted to no less than 20,000 bold horsemen, to have advanced to the banks of the Jhelam or Chinab, and have closed the roads and passes against the invader by skilful dispositions and by force of arms. Instead of this, the army remained a whole month encamped near the Shalamar gardens, detained by sundry petty causes which I cannot detail. Nadir Shah, after Nasir Khan's defeat, had entered Peshawar, where he occupied the residence of the Khan. Having settled the affairs of this district he marched, on the 26th of Ramazan, towards Attock, where the army encamped on the fifth day. The construction of a bridge here caused inevitable delay, but Aka Muhammad was detached with a strong force to devastate the country, and leave no means of destruction untried. A'azzu-d daula might now have displayed the same indifference as his royal master; but, far from this, he drew together a number of troops at vast expense to himself, and on the 17th of Ramazan formed his camp on the banks of the Ravi. Not being at liberty to move forward until joined by the Emperor's army, he contented himself with placing his cannon in the best positions, and throwing up entrenchments round his camp.