Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s2.11

v1.c14.s2.11

The news of reinforcements having started from Delhi for the Oudh army reached Ahmad Bangash through a friendly Rajah, and he lost not a day in striking his blow before the enemy's strength was doubled. In the dark and rainy night of 1st August, nine thousand Afghān infantry and 2,000 horse stole out of their camp, made a wide detour and attacked Naval Rai's camp from the rear* which was unprotected by artillery. The Sayyids of Barha, in charge of the defence here, at first repulsed the attack. "But by threatening suicide Ahmad Khan succeeded in rallying the fugitives, and led them to a second and more successful attempt. They made their way into the camp and threw it into the utmost confusion. The night was dark and rainy; and the artillerymen, not knowing where the enemy was, fired off their pieces without doing any execution. Meanwhile Naval Rai, who was deep in his devotions, was forced with some difficulty to mount his elephant. The fighting went on in the confusion and darkness till the day broke. Naval Rai was shot dead soon after sunrise, and his elephant driver made off with his body across the river to Qanauj. The retreat then became general, and many of the fugitives were drowned in attempting to follow their chief's corpse. Qanauj was evacuated by the wazir's troops, and occupied by Ahmad Khan. An immense booty fell into the hands of the Pathāns." (Far. Gaz. 163.) The result was that "the beggarly and starving Afghans became very rich and owners of property and treasure." (Bayān, 259.) They crossed the Ganges and looted or occupied many places on its eastern bank or the Oudh side (Imād, 48.)