Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s20: § 16. Ibrahim Khan Gardi charges the Durrani right wing

v2.c27.s20.1

After this preliminary cannonade, the clash of arms began. Early that morning Ibrahim Khan Gardi, after posting his brigade in the line, had ridden up to the Bhāu and assured him, "Rām! Rām! You were highly displeased with me because every month I used to take from you, with bold insistence, order for the cash payment of our salary, running to lakhs of Rupees. This month your treasure has been looted and we have got no order of payment. Never mind that; today I shall discharge my duty.” He had previously rejected a call from the Afghan king to join the Faithful in this war with the Infidels, and had replied that he held fidelity to one’s master to be the highest of virtues. And now he lived up to his ideal of duty. Immediately after this speech he galloped back to the head of his troops, seized a flag in one hand and a musket in the other, and personally led the attack. Throwing two of his sepoy battalions obliquely forward on his left hand to hold the Abdali division under Barkhurdār Khan outflanking him, he with the other seven battalions (actually 6,300 men) fell straight upon the forces of Hāfiz Rahmat Khan, Dundi Khan, and Ahmad Bangash (about 15,000 strong.) The distant roar of cannon and rattle of musketry ceased, and soon afterwards the antagonists grappled together in a confused mass. A most obstinate combat raged for hours. The Ruhelas fought with their wonted valour, but at first European training and discipline seemed to triumph. “Of the Ruhelas eight to nine thousand were wounded or slain and they were pressed back. Only a few hundred men were left with their three chiefs; but these generals held their ground firmly and arrested an utter rout or break through. The fighting was so close that one leader could not inquire about another. Hāfiz Rahmat, owing to his illness, was carried into the field in a *pālki*. Dundi Khan alighted from his horse and