Chapter 151: Siege of Amer Fort Prt-4 (Hammer and anvil)
Kingdom of Amber, Fort of Jaipur, few days back on 12th march 1557.
General Nagpal stood on the southwestern fort’s battlement, observed the battle like a hawk. Everything had progressed according to plan: the merging of the southern and western infantry, the clash at the walls, and the subsequent trapping of the cavalry. Yet, despite the seemingly flawless execution, he felt a pang of dissatisfaction.
He regretted the lack of time, which resulted in no clear path for the enemy cavalry to pass through the trenches, leading to a halt in their charge and forcing them to maneuver. He had already anticipated this outcome and had prepared his side of cavalry to charge, thanks to Puran Das’s cooperation. The cavalry had been positioned to force the enemy to converge toward the northern direction. However, the main problem was the large enemy infantry positioned behind.
Despite the brutal clash that had raged for hours, the enemy’s strength remained formidable. although they were able to stop the brutal charge but the damage inflicted on their cavalry was minimal in the grand scheme. Surviving rival infantry numbering in thousands still added pressure to their side of mere 5,000 cavalry.
Although General Mahesh’s 10000 infantry offered a glimmer of hope, the sheer scale of the enemy force unsettled him. Reports had indicated that the enemy had mustered over 85,000 soldiers, with only a fraction currently engaged in battle.
If his plan succeeded, it might buy them at least one more day to regroup and strategize for the remaining two days of the siege. With a sigh of anxiety, he returned to shoot his bow in desperation coz every damage dealt is a hope for survival.
A few moments earlier, as the cavalry surged forward, the engaging infantry split into two groups from the initial total of 15,000: 3,000 under the command of Sahdev Singh, Prince of Marwar, and 5,000 under Amar Singh Rathore, Prince of Ajmer.
Marwar’s forces were directed to the left side, while Ajmer’s troops were stationed on the right, creating a clear passage for the cavalry to push through the gate.
Since the terrain made the southern gate difficult, the entire military effort was concentrated on the western section of the wall.
The cavalry advanced in a wedge formation, pushing deep into the breach, only to be ensnared in a trap. The abrupt halt created a stampede-like situation near the gate. Field commanders quickly reined in their horses, but the sudden stop proved disastrous for those closest to the wall. Archers from the defending side unleashed a relentless volley of arrows, primarily targeting the cavalry’s horses and causing chaos among the ranks.
The sub-commander, Subedar-ranked Mrinal, was the first to notice the disruption and slowed down the rest of the charge. Upon reaching near the gate, he was met with the scene of unexpected turmoil.
The air was filled with cries of men and horses. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers and shattered equipment. What remained ahead was carnage from defending archers; the open gate was not the target but the trap.