Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c36.s8.40

v3.c36.s8.40

Abdul Ahad’s position was now utterly untenable. On 14th October, early at dawn, he began his retreat from the environs of Patiāla. The enemy continued in pursuit of him up to Pānipat; but Bhāg Singh and a few other loyal Sikh chiefs fought heroic rearguard actions against their own brethren.* Ahad kept his army together, sitting all day on his elephant and coolly surveying his troops in their running fight. The artillery proved the most effective defence of this compact and well-handled force against the myriads of Sikh horsemen hovering round. At Pānipat the pursuit ceased, and the harassed imperialists found their first camp and day of rest. They returned to Delhi on 5th November.