History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c51.s4: §4. Aurangzib's defensive measures.
History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c51.s4
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§4. Aurangzib's defensive measures.
v3.c51.s4.1
For, meantime, couriers had galloped off on all sides to recall the scattered Mughal detachments to the Presence. Loyal captains were straining every nerve and marching day and night to join the Emperor in time. Shihab-ud-din Khan, the father of the first Nizam, did the second notable service of his long and glorious career by reaching Ajmir (9th January) with his troops after a forced march from Sirohi, in which he covered 120 miles in two days. Next Hamid Khan hurried up with the imperial guards, raising the strength of the defence to 16,000 men. And the good news also arrived that Prince Muazzam was rapidly approaching with his division which would nearly double the imperial army.
v3.c51.s4.2
The acute stage of the crisis was over. The palace at Ajmir was put in a posture of defence; entrenchments were dug around the camp; the passes leading to the city were held in force; the neighbouring hills were crowned with batteries; every suspected officer was thrown into prison; reconnaissances were pushed on towards the lake of Pushkar. But the Emperor refused to shut himself up in the fort and thereby lose the initiative. On 14th January, he issued forth into the open, and encamped six miles south of Ajmir on the historic field of Deorai, where he had vanquished Dara. The enemy's Van was located at Kurki,* and the imperial army was marshalled for battle. But despair and defection raged in the camp of Akbar. As he came nearer, increasing numbers of Mughal officers began to desert him and escape to the imperial camp. The thirty thousand Rajputs, however, remained true to him.
v3.c51.s4.3
The crisis came on the 15th of January. The Emperor advanced four miles further south and waited at Do-rahah, where the road parts, one arm going westwards to Beawar and Marwar and the other turning east towards Agra. News came in quick succession that the enemy were approaching;
v3.c51.s4.4
∗ Kurki 24 m. s. w. of Ajmir, and 9 m. n. w. of Pisangan. (Ind. At., Sh. 34 N. W.) Do-rahah was seemingly close to the Sardhana station on the railway running from Ajmir to Gujrat. Ishwardas says that Aurangzib encamped at "the village of Begampur, 9 kos from Ajmir." (81 b.)
v3.c51.s4.5
but the Emperor wisely decided to play a waiting game and refused to precipitate an action; "More men were joining him every hour." In the evening, Prince Muazzam after a forced march through rain and wind and the bitter cold of midwinter, joined the Emperor and brought to him a large and very necessary accession of strength. On the other side, Akbar arrived three miles from his father's camp, halted there for the night, and fixed the next morning for the decisive battle.