Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c56.s24.5

v4.c56.s24.5

The English attack advanced along the north bank of the *nālā*, being concealed from the enemy's eyes for a time by the sand-hills and tall jungle-grass. But the track was so narrow and rugged that the column was greatly lengthened and took a long time to debouch and expand into line at the end of the march. As soon as Sarwar Khan detected his enemy's line of approach, he with incredible rapidity and skill, threw his right wings back to face the south, and thus enveloped the village of Mālpur on three sides. The cavalry—about 1,250 Deccani irregulars under Gulāb Rai Kadam, was posted beyond the new right wing as a cover. The infantry lines now looked like two capital L's with their legs turned to the *left* and enclosing the village between them.