Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c40.s10.1

v3.c40.s10.1

Rana Khan forded the dry bed of the Morel at Bidākha, passed clear of the ravines that skirt the two sides for a mile after the crossing and drew up his line in the plain beyond, a mile further off. First spread a loose screen of scouts for bringing news of the enemy’s dispositions and movements. Then came the artillery, and behind it the infantry battalions which were to receive the first shock of the enemy’s onset. In the third line were the Maratha horse, held in reserve for supporting any hard-pressed point in the front lines; and with this body stood Rana Khan himself. The last reserve, especially in guns and munitions, was kept under Mahadji himself, two miles behind the battlefront, on the further (i.e., eastern) bank of the Morel. The Maratha artillery, on reaching the battle ground, threw up a line of earthworks before them by digging into the sandy soil and thus their front was protected by an entrenchment about a mile in length. Sindhia’s army stretched west to east; their first line was formed by Khanderao Hari with De Boigne’s two battalions, the Afghan mercenaries under Murtaza Khan Barech, Ghāzi Khan and other captains, and the Nāgā force of Moti-gir Gosain (Left); then came the disloyal and passive Hindustani sepoys of the old Najaf Khani service (Centre); and lastly the two brigades, each nominally six battalions strong, under the faithful Lesteneau and Le Vassoult, together with the Rajput levies of the Macheri Rajah (Right.)