Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c34.s10.6

v3.c34.s10.6

And now the French square alone stood in the field like a solitary island in the midst of a raging sea of horseman. But it was an island built on granite. From noon up to three hours of the night, Madec held his position, keeping the enemy at a distance and preventing them from dragging his three guns away. In the meantime, the Maratha left wing, pursuing and slaying the fugitive Mughal horse, had reached the gates of Delhi and looted Madec’s camp and baggage resting under its walls. As he writes, “I lost five elephants, all my horses, camels, tents, carriages and quantities of other effects. The royal favourite Hisām, who held the neighbouring ramparts with his heavy artillery, did not advance one step either to reinforce Najaf Khan in the field or even to save my camp close in front of him.” He was openly accused of firing blank charges in order to complete the ruin of his rival Najaf, and his soldiers were seen joining the Marathas in the pillage of Madec’s unguarded camp. Shortly after this, Hisām fled into the city with his troops, abandoning his trenches.