The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c24.12

c24.12

At first ‘Abdullah Khān had ordered a small tent to be put up for the night where he stood, but countermanded it, when he reflected that it would be a target for the enemy's fire. The night was a moonlight one, and the imperial artillery never ceased its fire. If any man stirred in the Sayyad position or showed himself, a gun was at once pointed in that direction and discharged; and from time to time the guns were dragged forward, the oxen being harnessed to the muzzle instead of, as usual, to the breach end of the gun. Among the guns in use were those named Ghāzī Khān and Shāh Pasand. These heavy guns were fired oftener than had ever been done before in the recollection of the oldest man. Haidar Qulī Khān kept up the energy of his men by continual gifts; ʿAbdullah Khān's continued to make off in small parties. Muḥammad Shāh passed the night seated on his elephant so near the vanguard as to be under fire.