History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c22.53

v2.c22.53

Secondly, by advancing in front of his artillery he obstructed their fire, while Aurangzib’s guns continued to mow down his ranks without any chance of reply. When Dara discovered his mistake and made frantic signals to his gunners to bring their pieces up to him, it was too late; all the artillery servants had in the meantime abandoned their position and scattered to loot, because there was now no force behind the fighting line to punish such acts; the transport animals had perished of heat and fatigue, and there was none to drag the guns forward.* This mistake ruined Dara far more than all other causes put together. The contemporary historians† condemn him for this unwise step. The Italian Manucci, then a captain of his artillery, clearly describes Dara's successive movements and the evil consequences of his action thus: