Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c35.s2: § 2. Mirza Najaf’s new army; his military superiority
Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c35.s2
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§ 2. Mirza Najaf’s new army; his military superiority
v3.c35.s2.1
Secure, at least for a time, from the back-biting and intrigues of envious rivals, Mirzā Najaf set himself to raising a new army for the Emperor, with his usual energy and success. His reputation drew out of work veterans and ambitious young recruits from all sides, and his task was rendered easier by the help of a number of very able and devoted lieutenants that he had gathered round himself, such as Najaf Quli Khan and Afrāsiyāb Khan (these two being popularly called his adopted sons) and Muhammad Beg Hamadāni, besides former Mughalia captains like Qilich Beg, Niyāz Beg, Mirzā Beg, Badal Beg, and our invaluable memoir-writer Tahmāsp Khan (who used the pen-name of Miskin.) Mulla Rahimdād with 3,000 Ruhelas in a state of utter destitution,—without clothing on their backs, arms in their hands, or armour on their persons,—entered Najaf’s service to avoid starvation. The country round Delhi, especially the Baluch colonies in Mewāt, was beaten for recruits and the response was prompt and ample. In a short time the assembled force exceeded 20,000 men.
v3.c35.s2.2
The question now arose how to feed and equip them. The Treasury was empty. An attack upon the Jat Rajah, known to be the richest vassal in the north, was the only resource left, now that the attempt to squeeze Zābita Khan had failed. The vast new army if left unpaid would form a constant danger to the peace of Delhi, and therefore Abdul Ahad gave Najaf two lakhs of Rupees on condition of leading these men out on a Jat expedition. One lakh more was raised by Najaf’s two lieutenants as a loan on their personal security. The new army was thus equipped and set out against Nawal Singh. It was agreed that the territory and booty seized would be shared equally between the Emperor and his general. Najaf Khan was also appointed subahadar of the yet to be reconquered province of Agra in addition to his Deputy Paymastership.
v3.c35.s2.3
His military superiority lay in his copious supply of artillery, rockets and smaller fire arms, six battalions of sepoy musketeers,—two of them trained by the English and the others organised and led by commandants who had previously seen service under Europeans,—his assemblage of the remnants of the old Badakhshis (all veterans familiar with Durrāni warfare) and a large body of desperate Ruhela soldiers who had been disbanded after Najib-ud-daulah's death and the downfall of his son. He had, besides, the benefit of the advice of very competent European generals, such as Major Polier, an expert military engineer highly praised by Hastings, in the campaign of January 1774, and René Madec and the Comte de Modave in the war of 1775-1776. Above all shone his own undoubted genius for war and diplomacy and power of controlling men.*