Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c10.s8.15

v1.c10.s8.15

Abdālī retired from the field in the course of that night, with only two to three thousand followers, many of whom were wounded. The imperialists could not set out in pursuit on the following day, nor even for four days after their victory, as they were quite in the dark about the enemy’s real condition and exact position. Rumours spread in their camp that the Afghān commander-in-chief had been slain,* and even that the Abdālī king himself was killed or at least wounded. No Indian soldier durst go out singly to scout. Abdālī beguiled the prince and Safdar Jang for a few days by sending envoys to ask for terms of peace, and used this respite to get his broken army together, sent away his camp baggage and treasure to Lahor by a neglected path, and finally one night began his retreat towards Lāhor quite unperceived. It was only on the 16th of March, or five days after the battle, that the imperial army ventured to march out towards the Afghān camp, in full strength and battle array, but found it deserted. The jungle which covered all the land from Sarhind to the river Satlaj rendered pursuit slow and ineffective. Even the scouts could not get prompt and correct intelligence of the enemy. The imperialists continued to feel their way towards that river, clinging together for safety and precaution, rather like a camp in constant dread of a surprise than in the spirit of self-confident victors. The Afghān rear-guard, some two thousand horse, were once sighted in the jungle, and fought skirmishes from a distance on the 16th and 17th, but retired before the imperial artillery. On the 18th, the Mughals recovered Sarhind. Abdāli crossed over at Ludhiāna the day before and then went on to Lāhor. This city he first vacated of his booty, and then hastened towards Qandahār via Peshawar, as he had heard that his deputy and nephew Luqmān Khān had rebelled during his absence. [Anand, 370—377; TAh. 8a-9b; Mujmil, 112.]