Later Mughals v1.c8.s13.19

v1.c8.s13.19

The only attempt at a forward movement was one undertaken to drive away the advanced guard of Farrukh-siyar's army. Reports were brought in that Bahadur Khan (Zain-ud-din) Rohela, and Muhammad Khan Bangash, with seven or eight thousand horsemen and some light artillery, had reached the further bank of the Jamuna, intending to effect a crossing. Raji Muhammad Khan was ordered out with his guns to the other side of the river, to prevent them crossing. As soon as Raji Muhammad Khan, accompanied by Islam Khan, reached the river bank, Farrukh-siyar's troops decamped. The guns were taken across the water without difficulty. But on the further side the heavy rain had turned the sandy bed into a quagmire, into which the feet of men and animals sank up to the knee. The guns could not be placed in position, the generals therefore left them and returned. Two days had been wasted in this operation. The rain continued, the river began to rise, and thus on Jahandar Shah's side all fear of the enemy effecting a crossing was dissipated. In this state of false security they continued, and the festival of the sacrifice (10th Zul Hijja = 7th December, 1712) was celebrated at Samugarh. One writer, Yahya Khan, says that all action was intentionally postponed until after the festival. [Nur. 100, Yahya 120b.]