Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s15.t1: Marching and Encamping
Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s15.t1
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Marching and Encamping
v2.c27.s15.t1.1
"The Shah advanced alone amidst the ranks of his slaves, riding a horse . . . There were four bodies of slaves,—each of 3,000 men, —one division in front, one behind, and one on each side. Each division of them wore a hat of a different style. It was prohibited for a slave belonging to one division to ride with another division; he must keep with his own set . . . on pain of such severe beating that he was left half-dead. They rode fast horses of Kābuli breed, and guided them, each in his own station, with a grave demeanour. They moved at the distance of a musket-shot from the Shah’s person, all their faces turned towards him. The Shah rode alone in the middle, with an open space around him.
v2.c27.s15.t1.2
The treasure and the food supplies, the store of clothes, etc., were carried in the following manner. On the left flank, outside the ranks of the slaves, there were 100 camels loaded with bread, baked and then dried, 200 camels loaded with grain (sursāt!) This grain was given out daily in allotted portions . . . On the right flank were 200 camels loaded with clothes and vessels. . . Such treasure as there was came in the rear of the guard of slaves, which followed the Shah; it was carried on mules and two-humped dromedaries.
v2.c27.s15.t1.3
Shāh Pasand Khan and Jangbāz Khan, with the quwāchi-bāshi, were told off to the rear-guard and held command over its movements. The three thousand slaves, who rode in front as advance guard, fully armed and ready, bore each a lance whose head was either gilt or silver-plated, having a decorated and fringed pennant . . . It was wondrous as a garden in springtime, and a sight worth beholding.
v2.c27.s15.t1.4
The camp of the Shah was pitched in two portions. The first was the male and the other the female quarters. Between the two was left an open space of about the width of 2 or 3 arrows’ flight. [The part of the male camp] where the Shah sat was styled Khargāh, and where the office scribes were placed was called Darikhānah. In the screens of the Khargāh, facing the Darikhanah there was one large entrance of wood. . . At each of the two wings of this entrance stood a large standard in a gold-embroidered scarlet broadcloth cover. From the top of each standard hung a bow upside down . . . (to which signals for a halt or a march on the next day were attached.)”
v2.c27.s15.t1.5
[From the diary of Samin in Abdali’s camp near Ballabhgarh in March 1757. *Indian Antiquary*, 1907, pp. 55-58.]
v2.c27.s15.t1.6
Among the *Marathas* : “Orders for marching are signified by *chits* (notes) to the chieftains and promulgated by a cryer to the army the preceding night. And about four the ensuing morning the signal for moving is given by the great *naubat* or drum, on the second beating of which the Biniwālā (Quarter-master General) sets out with the Peshwa’s flag, escorted by his own corps. . . With him proceed parties from all the different chieftains with their respective flags, followers, bazar, infantry, artillery, etc. (*bahir* and *bungāh*.) These all proceed promiscuously in vast multitudes and without the smallest order till they see the Peshwā’s *Dal* flag, which is erected in a situation where the convenience of water is the principal consideration . . . By this flag the erection of all the others of the army,—and every chief has one,—is regulated for the camp. Except in the line of the bazar which generally forms a fine street in front of the chief’s tent, there is not the smallest internal regularity in the pitching of a Maratha camp ; yet with respect to Headquarters all the chiefs have their relative stations to the right and left, from which a deviation is by no means allowable. . . But, as no distances are marked out, and the numbers of no chief are definitely known, the whole exhibits an appearance of utter confusion.
v2.c27.s15.t1.7
The only part of the camp that carries the appearance of regularity is the Bazar, which generally forms a very long and broad street to the tent of the chief, whereas the rest of the camp is so straggled and destitute of all order that it is a most difficult thing to get through the crowds of camels bullocks horses etc. to the interior of the camp, which subjects them to the utmost confusion in case of an alarm....
v2.c27.s15.t1.8
As soon as the camp is pitched the baggage tattoos (ponies), attached in great quantities to the Pāgās, gallop off with wonderful activity in quest of forage,...nor are the camels far behindhand with them.... These foraging parties are more destructive to a country than locusts. Nor are territories of friend or foe exempt from their depredations.... I suppose there was scarce a piece of wood or a blade of grass or hay left in the villages round the Peshwa's camp, after a short time's continuance, for the space of 12 miles.... Shopkeepers, handicrafts and every species of profession carry on their callings [in the amps of the Marathas] as much at their ease as in their cities... The safety of the Maratha camps is to be attributed to the vast numbers of their cavalry hovering round in every direction, rather than to any of the precautionary measures of trenches, posts, guards, etc. systematically used in our [i.e., English] armies.
v2.c27.s15.t1.9
I am, from a general observation of the manners of the people and the extreme looseness of particular discipline or general arrangement amongst them, strongly of opinion that they would afford a very easy conquest to any army of a more vigorous composition that could bring a sufficient number of cavalry to prevent their making a sport of war and retreating in safety." [Sir C. W. Malet's Memoranda on the Maratha Army, written from the Maratha camp at Khardla, March, 1795. India Office MS. records.]