The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.122

v4.c20.122

Then Bīdār Bakht, leading his father’s vanguard, crossed the Chambal, but was again ordered to wait for him at Dholpur, instead of pushing on to Āgra. An offer from Bahādur Shāh to partition the empire amicably was scornfully rejected by A‘zam. The decisive battle took place on 18 June, some four miles north of Jājau and not far from Sāmogarh, and began with an accidental collision of the vanguards, neither side being at first aware of the position or intentions of the other. A‘zam had under him 65,000 horse and 45,000 foot musketeers but no large cannon or mortars, and he made the fatal mistake of despising the enemy’s large and powerful artillery. Bīdār Bakht was marching with the vanguard three miles ahead of his father, when he sighted Bahādur Shāh’s vanguard (under ‘Azīm-ush-shān) pitching their advanced tents; his men charged, drove out the guards, burnt the tents and scattered for plunder. But ‘Azīm held his ground and was soon reinforced by his father, while aid from A‘zam to his son arrived too late. The fierce fire of Bahādur Shāh’s army caused terrible havoc among Bīdār Bakht’s troops, who had no arms for reply. Hampered by a confused medley of baggage, transport, cattle and followers, blinded by dust, dying of heat, thirst and a sand-storm blowing in their faces, they dispersed without any order in their ranks. They were slaughtered helplessly; Khān ‘Ālam, Rām Singh Hārā, Dalpat Rāo Bundelā and many other chiefs on A‘zam’s side fell. Then the Rājputs and Zu-’l-Fiqār Khān fled from the field, Jay Singh of Amber went over to Bahādur Shāh; many other officers gave up making any exertion. Bīdār Bakht himself was shot dead and his brother Wālā Jāh mortally wounded. When A‘zam came up with the main army the battle had already been lost; he was killed with most of his officers, and the remnant of his army broke and fled. The loss on each side was about 10,000 men, but A‘zam’s army ceased to exist at the end of the day. Bahādur Shāh treated the vanquished most kindly.