Though some say that the Emperor did not wish to engage in hostilities, nevertheless it was at last determined that the provinces of Bengal and 'Azímábád should be taken from the English and given to Kásim 'Alí Khán, and also that the English should be punished. Accordingly, on the 1st of Zí-l ka'da, 1178 A.H. (20th April, 1765 A.D.),* the Emperor, Shujá'u-d daula Wazíru-l Mamálik and Kásim 'Alí Khán marched towards 'Azímábád, as far as Benares. The English who were at 'Azím-ábád Patna trembled like an aspen at the fear of His Majesty Sháh 'Álam Bádsháh and Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula, and they sent petitions to them, soliciting forgiveness for their conduct. They deputed Shitáb Ráí on their part, promising to give up 'Azím-ábád, pay whatever might be demanded as a contribution, and obey any orders that might be given, praying also that the Em­peror and the Nawáb would return from Benares without attack­ing them.

The request of the English was not acceded to, Shitáb Ráí was turned out of the camp, and the royal army marched on from Benares. The English, being informed of this, left the city of Patna, and having assembled at Bach Pahárí, six kos from that city, on the road to Benares, fixed their batteries there. Rely­ing upon destiny, they resolved to offer opposition, and prepared to fight.

The Emperor and the Nawáb, having marched from Benares, proceeded by rapid marches, like an arrow shot from a bow, and encamped at five kos from Bach Pahárí. The action commenced with the shooting of arrows and firing of muskets, and it continued for two days. The third day the brave and bold warriors of Shujá'u-d daula's army, making a vigorous attack, advanced their batteries close to Pahárí, and engaged with the English, who also spared no effort in resistance, and exerted themselves to fight.

The whole day the warriors of both sides stood firm fighting in the field. At the close of the day, when the sun approached the horizon, the brave soldiers of both parties ceased to combat, and the batteries remained fixed in their first positions. But Shujá'u-d daula, by the advice of some ignorant and inex­perienced men who were with him, recalled the warriors of his army from Pahárí to his own tents. Although Shujá' Kulí Khán and others who were at the batteries remonstrated with him, and remarked that to remove them from their position would be highly inexpedient, because they had been fixed there with great difficulty and pains, and in case of retreat it would be very difficult to regain the position, yet the Nawáb would not listen to them, and having recalled the soldiers from Pahárí, ordered the batteries to be fixed near his camp.

The English, considering this a favour of God, occupied the position where the batteries of the enemy had been. The next day the Nawáb could not drive the English from it. In these same days, the wet season commenced, and rain began to fall. The place where the tents of the Emperor and Shujá'u-d daula were pitched being low, and water having collected there, it was considered unfit for the camp, and His Majesty and the Nawáb retreated to Baksar, which is thirty kos east of Benares. When the rains were over, in consequence of the war having been pro­longed for several months, and the collection of the revenues from the provinces which belonged to Shujá'u-d daula having been delayed on account of the expedition, and as the army which was newly enlisted by the Emperor and the Nawáb for this war with the English, as well as the veteran troops, began to demand their pay, the Emperor and the Nawáb asked Kásim 'Alí Khán for the money which he had promised for the expenses of the army. But he evaded payment by frivolous excuses. As the demand for arrears created a mutinous spirit in the army, and as Kásim 'Alí Khán, notwithstanding that he was importuned and entreated to pay the money, would not come to a right under­standing, but resorted to unfair and dishonest expedients, the Emperor and the Nawáb took harsh measures against him, and having called him from his tent, put him under the custody of a guard. Whatever property of his they could lay their hands on, such as elephants and horses, they sold, and paid the army from the proceeds.

When the rainy season was over, the English, having marched from 'Azímábád, pitched their tents near Baksar, opposite the Emperor's and the Nawáb's camp, at a distance of five or six kos. Lines of intrenchment were prepared on either side, and the action commenced with guns and muskets. As Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula had heavy artillery with him, the English army could not stand against it, and they at last prepared to engage in close combat. When recourse was had to this kind of warfare, both parties stood their ground firmly, and the warriors of both sides, expertly using their swords, bows and arrows, destroyed their opponents, and increased the business in the market of the angel of death. The brave and intrepid warriors of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula's army, having overcome the enemy, fell upon his camp, and stretched out their hands to plunder. They put a great number of them to the sword, and beat the drums of triumph and conquest. The Nawáb ordered his soldiers not to let any one escape alive. The army of Shujá'u-d daula surrounded the enemy on all sides, and the English, having no way left for flight, collected at one spot, and having resolved to die, made a very desperate attack upon their opponents. Shujá' Kulí Khán, alias 'Ísá, who was a slave of the Nawáb, and had 4000 horse under his command, observed the furious attack of the English, and cried out to his soldiers, “Friends! it was for such a day as this that you put on those arms. Form a compact body, and at once charge the enemy, and put them to the sword.” His followers seemed ready to obey the command. They read the fátiha, and lifted up their hands in prayer. 'Ísá, thinking that they would follow him, galloped his horse towards the English front, but only five horsemen out of four thousand followed him. Of those cowards who remained behind, some took to flight, and others stood idle on their ground. 'Ísá with his drawn sword furiously attacked the enemy like a Rustam. He killed many, and after astonishing feats of valour, drank the cup of martyr­dom. Having shown his loyalty, he met with the mercy of God.

When Shujá' Kulí Khán, alias 'Ísá, was slain, all his cavalry at once took to flight, and caused great confusion in the army of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula. The English, being informed of this, with great impetuosity attacked the division of Rája Bení Bahádur, the deputy of the Nawáb. The Rája, who had never been in action, could not stand his ground, and fled without at­tempting to fight. As he commanded several thousands, both of horse and foot, his flight caused the defeat of the armies of the Emperor and the Nawáb. The English took possession of the intrenchments of the fugitives. Although the Nawáb tried much to rally them, and cried out (in the words of Sa'dí), “Ye brave men, exert yourselves to fight, and do not put on the clothes of women,” yet none returned, all sought safety in flight.

When the Nawáb and the Emperor's forces fled, the English fell upon their camps, and began to plunder them. The Nawáb hastened in confusion towards Benares, and halted when he arrived there. The English took possession of his tents, guns and other property. The Emperor also fled to Benares. The Nawáb, after some days, hastened to Alláhábád, and stayed there three months collecting a large army.

The English, in the mean time, laid siege to Chunár. Sídí Muhammad Bashír Khán, the Governor, offered opposition, and, opening his artillery from the ramparts, fought very bravely. But when several days had passed, and nobody came to reinforce him (for the fort was near Benares, and the Nawáb was at Alláh-ábád), he was obliged to capitulate, and leave the fort in their possession. He was allowed to go to Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula at Alláhábád. The English made an alliance with Sháh 'Álam, who was at Benares, and marched with him from that place to Jaunpúr. The Nawáb moved towards the same place at the head of a large army, with the intention of hazarding a battle.