The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c24.13

c24.13

When day dawned on the 14th Muḥarram (14th Nov. 1720), ʿAbdullah Khān found his army reduced to a few of his relations and his veteran troops. They were altogether not more than one thousand horsemen; with these he continued the fight to the best of his power. Najm-ud-dīn ʿAlī Khān and Saif-ud-dīn ʿAlī Khān, the wazīr's younger brothers, Sayyad Afẓal Khān, High Almoner (Ṣadar-uṣ-ṣadūr), Rāe Tek Chand, a Bālī Khatrī, his chief officer, Ghāzī-ud-dīn Khān (Aḥmad Beg), Nawāb Allahyār Khān, Shāhjahānī, and Rūḥullah Khān were found among these faithful few, who had passed a sleepless night on their elephants, having seen neither food nor water for many hours. Access to the river-side was blocked by the Jāṭs, who plundered impartially friend and foe. As dawn was drawing near, a ball struck the seat upon Muḥkam Singh's elephant. The Rājah got down, mounted his horse, and galloped off; for many years it was not known whether he was alive or dead.