Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s30: IV. Military notes on Panipat
Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s30
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IV. Military notes on Panipat
v2.c27.s30.1
The cause of the Durrani victory is thus convincingly given by the French captain Jean Law, who visited Delhi in 1758:—“Nothing like it [viz., the disorderly condition of Indian troops] is to be seen in the army of Abdali; everything there is real, the men as much as the horses and the arms. His army is divided into squadrons of a thousand horsemen. Each squadron is distinguished by a cap of a different colour and under the command of a chief, who invariably makes his report to Abdali himself twice a day. The chief has subaltern officers for whose conduct he is held responsible. The review of the troops is made rigorously all the months, and—what merits attention,—they are punished at least as often as they are rewarded. Although the troops of Abdali are generally good, there are among them some corps that surpass the others. They are the men whose bravery has been more frequently put to the proof. Every time this prince enters on a campaign he keeps apart 12 or 15 of these squadrons. It is his reserve corps, destined for the decisive strokes, and of which the Marathas have felt the weight so often." (*Mémoire*, 194-195.)
v2.c27.s30.2
I believe that over half the Sindhia contingent (the rear portion) fled away *westwards* very early along with Holkar and only a fraction (the van and Jankoji's personal friends and staff) offered resistance and, when overpowered by Shah Pasand and Najib, retreated with their chief *eastwards* to the Bhau's corps. [*SPD.* xxvii. 271.] To this extent my second plan of the battle requires alteration. Also, though in the plans the Maratha divisions (except the Gardi brigade) are shown as cavalry, there were in fact many unmounted men among them, as one general (Satvoji Jadav) admits that "Many of our soldiers lost their horses and the rest were famished" during the two months' investment in Panipat.
v2.c27.s30.3
*Elephants versus Turki horses.*—Ahmad Shah said that elephants were admirable means of baggage transport ; but a mount, the control of which is not in the hands of the rider and which can carry him whither it wills, should not be resorted to ; while a litter (*pālki*) is only suitable for a sick man. [Samin, tr. in *Ind. Antiq.*, 1907, p. 60.]
v2.c27.s30.4
Sardar Jahan Khan came to the camp of Najib with 8,000 horsemen by fast marches [1767] and... Najib immediately sent Zabita Khan to accompany him against the Sikhs. The sardar said to Zabita Khan, "Your head and body appear to be very soft; you have been constantly used to sitting in palkis and carpets. How will you be able to keep up with us? ... Why do you take an elephant with you?" [Nur-ud-din, 111*b*.]
v2.c27.s30.5
The Maratha generals are said to have brought three hundred elephants into the field in the battle of Panipat.
Linked texts (1)
- Selections from the Peshwa Daftar — Marathi