Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c35.s4.1

v3.c35.s4.1

After skirmishes for ten days, the decisive battle was fought on 30th October, midway between Sahar and Barsānā.* This was the first battle in Upper India (outside the Bengal Presidency) in which sepoy battalions drilled by Europeans and European-trained gunners were ranged on both sides. Hence the contest was prolonged and the mortality exceptionally heavy; the victors lost 2,300 men in killed and wounded, and the Jats about 2,000, but Sombre’s battalions were severely cut up. The Jat army was thus drawn up:—a strong force (probably 5,000) of Nāgā monks armed with muskets under Bālānanad Gosain on the left, Nawal Singh himself with his Jat clansmen in the centre, and nine battalions of sepoys under Sombre with their artillery on the right. The Jat Rajah’s own guns were ranged in front of the centre and chained together for breaking cavalry attacks. The imperial right was formed by Rahim-dād Khan and his 5,000 Ruhelas; in the centre Najaf Quli was placed with the Mughalia horse; on the left four battalions of disciplined sepoys under Razā Beg Khan and Rahim Beg, commandants; the artillery formed the first line. Like a modern general Mirzā Najaf deviated from the old Indian practice, and mounted a fleet horse instead of an elephant, so as to be able to gallop to any threatened point and push up succours wherever needed. On his own elephant he placed Masum