Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s4.6

v1.c14.s4.6

The latter halted on the way and sent a body of 5,000 men onwards to occupy Lucknow (56m. s. e. of Bilgram), from which Safdar Jang’s agents had fled away. The Afghān commander occupied the defenceless city and appointed his own police prefect to administer it. This man’s oppression drove the citizens to desperation; they rose under the leadership of some Shaikh-zādas, expelled him and restored Safdar Jang’s authority. The Afghān advanced guard tried to enter the city and sack it in revenge, but it was opposed near the Ismailganj suburb (on the east side of Lucknow) and defeated. At the news of this unexpected reverse, both detachments of the invading army fled away to their chieftain. Their despair infected Mahmud and he beat a hurried retreat from Phāphāmau. All the magistrates and tax-collectors of the Bangash usurper were now expelled from Oudh. [Siyar iii. 35, Imād 50-51, Muz. 53-54.]