Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c9.s3.2

v1.c9.s3.2

This old bed of the Ganges has to be crossed a short distance to the west of Bārh town. The ford over it was strongly entrenched and defended by the Afghān army with their big guns placed carefully in position and trained beforehand on the road by which their enemy would have to advance. But Alivardi Khān, "who in generalship had no equal in that age except Asaf Jāh the Nizām" (Siyar, ii. 166), at the first view realised the strength of the Afghān position and took no wild chance. After leaving Bārh, instead of risking a frontal attack on such a strong and prepared position across a river, he turned it by making a detour to the left, *i.e.*, southwards and away from the Ganges and the public highway, under the guidance of a local zamindār, crossed the same stream two miles further west at a ford unknown to the Afghāns, regained the Patna road and threatened to cut the enemy's communication with that town. This unexpected manoeuvre, which the Afghāns could ascribe to nothing but magic, forced them to make a hurried change of front deserting all their guns *in situ* and running westwards to a place opposite the Nawāb's new position. Thus they lost the use of nearly all their artillery—which fact had a decisive influence on the next day's battle. That night the two armies lay facing each other. The Nawāb spent it in strict vigil and precaution against surprise. Early on the following morning he cast himself down on the ground in abasement before his Maker, rubbed his forehead with the hallowed earth of the grave of Imām Husain at Karbalā, and with tears in his eyes prayed to God to give him either victory or death in the coming battle.