The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.139

v4.c20.139

Next the imperial artillery was turned upon Sayyid ‘Abdullah Khān (at the rebel left front), who maintained his ground though his followers were reduced to only 200 of his clansmen. During this confusion, Churāman the Jāt began to plunder the elephants and baggage in the rear of Jahāndār’s army. But Zu-’l-Fiqār, who had 25,000 fresh troops under him, stood motionless without reinforcing his front division or completing the victory by a home charge into the enemy’s centre where only 6000 disheartened men stood round Farrukh-siyar. He ordered a forward movement of his division when it was too late. For, in the meantime, a force detached by ‘Abdullah had checked Kokaltāsh Khān’s advance upon Farrukh-siyar and killed that general as well as the chief of the imperial artillery. Thus both the leaders of the imperial vanguard were killed and their men driven back upon their centre, which was thrown into confusion by such crowds of fugitives. Taking advantage of this change in the tide of battle, ‘Abdullah Khān, with his vanguard raised to 4000 men, which rapidly increased during his advance, worked his way unopposed to the rear of Jahāndār Shāh. The treacherous Turānī nobles stood aloof throughout the contest, and the imperial rear was without any defender. ‘Abdullah at once attacked the elephants carrying Jahāndār Shāh’s harem, and next made a desperate charge on his centre from the rear. This unexpected attack on the women, the activity of the Jāt plunderers looting the baggage and the double fighting in Jahāndār’s front and rear, caused indescribable uproar and confusion. The imperial bodyguard fled away and the emperor himself escaped towards Āgra concealed in La‘l Kumārī’s howdah without any of his commanders knowing of it; his army abandoned the field at the approach of night, amidst hopeless disorder and loss from the stampeding elephants and recklessly audacious plunderers. Zu-’l-Fiqār Khan, whose personal troops remained intact, withdrew in good order towards Āgra, unmolested by the victors, and next day took the route to his father (Asad Khān) at Delhi, where he arrived on 14 January.