Later Mughals v2.c13.s19.9

v2.c13.s19.9

Unfortunately the change in Abdullah Khan’s line of advance resulted in his being drawn away from the river bank, and thus his main position was now some miles from the water side. The battle had continued till the afternoon, and so far Abdullah Khan showed no signs of discouragement; but his men, more especially the new levies, became uneasy and soon lost their heads completely. On pretence of watering their horses and camels they rode off towards the river, or as one writer puts it, “flew away like so many sparrows.” At the river they found the banks in the possession of their opponents. Group after group, on the pretext of getting water, left the standard; these desertions continued until sunset, and all night long from the camp to Barahpula just outside Dihli, the road was encumbered with fugitives. At nightfall there were not more than a few thousands left of the huge host which had set out from Dihli a few days before.*