Later Mughals v1.c6.s12.1

v1.c6.s12.1

Preparations were now made for the final struggle, to avoid which appeared impossible. At first Prince Jahandar Shah was placed in command of the vanguard with directions to prepare entrenchments round the encampment. But two days afterwards Jahandar Shah was replaced by Khan Zaman, the eldest son of the Prime Minister. Precautions were adopted against a surprise, the Wazir with his troops being drawn up on the road till all the rest of the army and its baggage had gone by. Scouts brought word that Kam Bakhsh in person had moved out two *kos* from Haidarabad and had made ready earthworks at the place where he had encamped. Islam Khan, general of artillery, was sent to take charge of Bahadur Shah’s batteries. On the 9th January 1708 Khan Zaman Bahadur was called in to receive his last private instructions in the tasbih-khana, or chaplet-room, a jewelled sword was presented to him, and he returned to take command of the advance-tents. The plan of battle made out by Zulfiqar Khan, after it had been shown to Prince Jahandar Shah and Hamid-ud-din Khan was approved. On the 10th January 1709 it was ascertained that Kam Bakhsh had advanced one *kos* from his previous position. [*Bahadur*, 170-173.]