Later Mughals v1.c10.s12: Sec. 12.—Siege of Agra Fort.
Later Mughals v1.c10.s12
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Sec. 12.—Siege of Agra Fort.
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As soon as he reached Agra, Husain Ali Khan rode round the fort and fixed in person the sites for the batteries, the side selected for attack being the south, where is the bastion then known as the Bangala-burj, a place which was weakly defended and had no earthwork (pushta) to strengthen the wall. Heavy guns were brought to bear on the walls;* but as the wet weather had begun and the rain was heavy, ten and in some cases twenty days were occupied in dragging these cannon the distance, only a mile or two, which separated the camp from the fort. The route through the lanes and bazars being very narrow, the dwelling-houses and shops were pulled down to allow of the passage of the artillery. Within the fort there are said to have been thirteen hundred cannon, counting those of every kind. From these the garrison artillerymen (the Baksariya) kept up an incessant fire, not allowing themselves a respite even during the night. Damage was done on both sides. Even persons resorting to the river bank to draw water were fired on from the fort, and fell victims. The governor's mansion near the fort was destroyed, the mosque known as the Begam Sahib's, standing opposite to the citadel, was injured, the tower and marble steps being struck by shot, and the buildings of the Tirpoliya or triple gate, suffered equally. The besiegers returned the fire and injured the battlements on all four walls, doing also some damage to the Moti Masjid. Haidar Quli Khan, who had under his command many Europeans, whom he had brought from Surat, drove several saps towards the walls. Little effect was, however, produced on the fort; nor did the garrison show any enterprize, or try to open a way through the investing lines and join their friends outside. The attacking force had succeeded in causing the besieged to withdraw within the fort; but beyond this advantage nothing was gained, except that Ghairat Khan and Shamsher Khan, after a good deal of fighting, took the chabutra or police office at the fort gate.†
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∗ Sadabad, a town in the Ganges-Jamuna duaba.
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† Shiu Das, 29a; Risala-i-Muhammad Shah, 76b; Qasim, 280.
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The garrison were evidently reserving themselves until they had learnt of the advance of their hoped-for allies. Time passed, and of these helpers there was no word or sign. After a month provisions began to be scarce. Many of those who had joined from the country round began to desert, getting over the walls at night, only to be seized by the Nawab's sentries. These fugitives informed Husain Ali of the disheartened and suffering condition of the garrison and the depression in Mitr Sen's mind. All the good grain had been used up; and nothing was left but inferior pulses, and these had been stored over seven years and smelt so strongly, that even the four-footed beasts would not eat them with avidity. Attempts were made to bring in small supplies of flour, which were dragged up by ropes let down from the battlement. Even some men of the artillery in the besieging force engaged in this traffic. After this fact was found out, the strictness of watch was redoubled, anything moving in the river at night was shot at, and expert swimmers were kept ready to pursue and seize any one who attempted to escape by way of the river.
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∗ These guns had each a name, such as Ghazi Khan (Lord Champion), Sherdahan (Tiger-mouth), Dhum-dham (The noisy), and so forth. They carried balls from thirty Shahjahani sers to one and a quarter man in weight; attached to each were from one to four elephants, and from six hundred to seventeen hundred draught oxen.
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Secret overtures were accordingly made to the garrison. In Husain Ali Khan's artillery a man was serving named Chura, who had acquaintances within the fort; and through him a message was sent to these men guaranteeing to them their lives and property, if they delivered up Prince Nekusiyar together with the fort. Churaman Jat, who commanded at an entrenchment near the fort, opened up similar negotiations. The garrison called these two Churas within the fort, where they placed a pot of Ganges water on their heads and made them swear an oath to carry out faithfully the terms agreed on.*
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About this time the hazaris, or captains of artillery, had told Mitr Sen that they could not continue the defence. Mitr Sen sent a confidential secretary, Nath Mal, to reassure them. This Nath Mal was the son of Bhukan Mal, who had been high in the service of Asad Khan, Alamgir's Wazir. Instead of listening to his remonstrances, the artillerymen seized Nath Mal and made him over to their friends outside. He was brought before Husain Ali Khan, and in his pen-box were found communications to Nekusiyar from many of the nobles holding commands in the besieging force or offices round the Emperor's person. Husain Ali Khan dissembled in this matter as much as possible but his bosom friend, Asad Ali Khan, a connection of the celebrated Ali Mardan Khan, was publicly disgraced. Among the letters found were some from Samsam-ud-daulah and Zafar Khan Roshan-ud-daulah. [K. K. 836, Siwanih.]
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∗ Shiu Das, 30a; Mhd. Qasim, 281, 286, 287.
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Others captured were Rup Lal and his companions, seven men in all, who had been sent to some of the besieging nobles in the hope of winning their adherence to Nekusiyar's cause. Their captor was Khizr Khan Panni; Rup Lal was executed. Sayyid Firuz Ali Khan also made prisoners of Sulaiman Beg and six others. A large sum was offered by Husain Ali Khan to any one who would surrender the fort. [Kamraj, 69b.]
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Shortly afterwards Mirza Asghari, brother's son of Nekusiyar,[*] tried to make his escape from the fort (22nd Ramzan 1131 H., 7th August, 1719), with the hope of reaching Rajah Jai Singh at Amber, or Chabela Ram at Allahabad. He intended to come out on the side facing the river, but Manohar Jat, one of the garrison, sent notice to Churaman Jat, who commanded in that direction. From sunset Churaman took up his station near the river at the head of two hundred men. When Mirza Asghari, followed by twelve servants, made his appearance, he was forthwith seized and detained till the morning. At day-break he was taken before Husain Ali Khan, who ordered him to be kept a prisoner in the custody of Mutamad Khan. The money which he had brought out to bribe Churaman, was made over to that chief, together with an elephant.[†]
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A plan was now devised to overcome Safi Khan's reluctance to give in, and to induce him to abandon the struggle. A letter purporting to be from his brother, Islam Khan, then a prisoner at Dihli, was prepared, and on it Qutb-ul-mulk impressed the seal of Islam Khan. It urged Safi Khan to resist no longer, but make over the fort and the pretender to Ghairat Khan. Safi Khan sent this letter on to Ghairat Khan, expressing his willingness to surrender, if he were promised a pardon. Ghairat Khan hurried off to Husain Ali Khan and obtained from him a written
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[*] Kamraj, *Ibratnama*, 69b, says it was the other son of Buland Akhtar, viz., Fath-ul-mubin, who tried to escape. [†] *Siwanih-i-Khizri*, Khafi Khan ii. 836, Kamwar Khan 207.
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promise of pardon, attested by his seal and signature. Thereupon Safi Khan came out of the fort and delivered up letters which he had received from many of the great nobles, instigating him to bring forward Nekusiyar as a claimant for the throne. Among the rest was one bearing the private seal of Husain Ali Khan himself. He was struck with amazement. On enquiring, he found that Mitr Sen at the time when he had access to the Nawab's darbar, had prepared it and sent it to Safi Khan. [Siwanih.]