Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c34.s10.5

v3.c34.s10.5

The battle now gathered round the centre. Here Madec had been attacked in front and rear and completely enveloped. He had formed his men into a square in the nick of the time, thanks to the energy and alertness of his second in command Mons. de Kerascao; but in effecting this change of formation he had to give some ground and abandon three pieces of cannon and two munition carts. By a judicious fire on all the four faces he succeeded in keeping the enemy back. Mirzā Najaf himself had been caught at a disadvantage and broken. The Maratha centre, disregarding the fire of the wretched imperial artillery, had swept through his line of guns, routed Najaf's followers, and forced him with a handful of his personal guards to take refuge in Madec's square. Early in the day his nephew Mirza Ahsan had been mortally wounded by a cannon-ball.