The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c23.3

c23.3

Usually one, if not both, the armies made ready for battle by drawing out the guns in a long line and protecting them by earth works, the guns being also connected together by chains or hide-straps, to prevent the horsemen of the other side from riding through the line and cutting down the gunners. For instance, Dārā Shukoh used chains at Samūgaṛh in 1658 (Bernier, 47); and before the battle of the 22nd Rabīʿ i, 1161 H. (21st March 1748) with Aḥmad Shāh, Abdālī, between Māchhīwārah and Sihrind, the imperialists "joined their cannon together by chains after the fashion of Rūm" (Anand Rām, India Office Ms. 1612, fol. 58a). Again, outside Lāhor, on Aḥmad Shāh's second invasion in 1165 H. (1751-2), the ṣūbahdār, Muʿīn-ul-mulk, resorted to *zanjīr-bandī* of his cannon (Ghūlām ʿAlī Khān, *Muqaddamah-i-S. A. nāmah*, fol. 79a). Nay, the practice survived to the very last, for we find it put in force by the Mahrattas at Laswārī in November 1803 (Thorn, “War”, 214). A good description of the *zanjīrah-band* (as he calls it) is given by Ashob, fol. 182*b*, with reference to Muhammad Shāh’s camp at Karnāl in the year 1151 H. (1739). “The *zanjīrah* band began at the last bastion of the town wall, a narrow path one or two yards wide being left on the bank of the canal for the passage of the guards (*chauki*) on their rounds (*shab-gard*). The swivel-guns (*rahkalah*) were planted four yards apart, with iron chains strongly attached to the wheels (*halqah*) of their carriages (*ārābah*). Between every two swivel-pieces were stationed five men with wall-pieces (*jazāīr*), having *pushtahs* (breastworks) thrown up (*andākhtah*), and their pieces ready, side by side, on their tripods”.