Page 116 - Lohgarh

116 w Lohgarh : The World’s Largest Fort

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On the 24 of November, a fierce battle was fought outside the Fort
between the Sikhs and the royal forces.
According to Kamvar Khan, who claimed having seen the battle with
his own eyes: “This humble man was present in the army units of prince
Rafiushan. I Saw with my own eyes: from among those wicked people,
each one would jump in the field and fight with the royal forces; and
after attempting show of great bravery, would become a good (would
die) of the merciless sword of the holy warriors. At this time the royal
army and the armies of the famous umraa attacked them from all sides
and surpassed the acts (of bravery) of Rustam and Isfandyaar (the two
warriors who fought so bravely that they are quoted as the greatest
fighters in the history). About two and a half thousand persons of that
unprincipled occult (Sikhs), along with their leaders became food of the
swords of the brave men (Muslims). Among the victorious forces nephew
of Firoz Shah Mewati was killed and his (Mewati’s) son was wounded”
At that time, the Emperor had divided all his army into six divisions:
Prince Rafiushan had the command of thirty-one thousand soldiers; he
was assisted by Bakhshi-ul-Mulk Zulfiqar Khan. The other three princes
had eleven thousand soldiers each; Khan Khana Munaim Khan too had
eleven thousand soldiers; the sixth division, comprising of seven
thousand soldiers, was under the command of Mahabat Khan (son of
Khan Khanan). 38 The forces of Hindu Rajas, under the command of
Chhatarsal Bundela and Udit Singh Bundela, too had joined the royal
troops. So, it was an army of more than one hundred thousand strong
which marched towards Lohgarh. 39
Here he asked Rustam Dil Khan and Rafi-Us-Shan to get information
about the details of the Fortification of Lohgarh. According to
Muhammed Qasim Aurangabadi Banda Singh had about one and a half
hundred thousand, and, almost same was the number of the soldiers
of the Mughal army. Here, Bahadur Shah received information that a
very large number of the soldiers of the Mughal army had been killed
in the battles against the Sikhs. The Emperor was also told that Banda
Singh was a “very powerful magician. He could turn a bullet from its
course and could work such spell that spears and swords had little effect