१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

THE ERUPTION
Sepoys of Pilhur marched in a body to receive them. The
comrades heartily embraced each other, and the vast army
under the leadership of Swadeshi Jamadars and Subahdars
marched towards Delhi. On the way was a river and
beyond the river was the city of Ludhiana awaiting to kiss
the dust of these heroes' feet. The very morning, the
English officers of Ludhiana had received a telegram an-
nouncing the rising at Jullunder. But it was too late.
The officers had no hope of keeping the Sepoys there
under control. For, before the Government telegram
arrived, the Sepoys had got the information that their
comrades had already left Jullunder ! The English officers
at Ludhiana resolved to bar the way of the army coming
from Pilhur on the river Sutlij which flows between the
two towns. The bridge of boats on the river was des-
troyed and the English, the Sikhs, and the auxiliary troops
of the Raja of Nabha were protecting the bank of the
river. When the Revolutionaries got this information they
began to cross the river at night, four miles up the river.
Some of their number had just crossed the river in boats,
some were still crossing, while some were yet on the other
bank. In this state, the English and the Sikhs began
their artillery-fire on them. It was about ten at night and
the Revolutionaries could not find the whereabouts of the
English army. Besides, their guns had not yet crossed the
river. In this difficult situation, the English and the Sikhs,
with their artillery, fell upon them. But, when the shock
of the first attack was passed, the Sepoys, without moving
an inch, kept up a steady fire on the enemy. The ranks
of the Sepoys, though disordered for a moment on account
of the sudden attack of the enemy defended their position
for about two hours. Just then, a Sepoy's bullet went
right into the chest of the English commander, Williams,
and he fell dead on the field. Now, the moon had arisen
to dispel the midnight darkness and to throw her cool
rays on the heads of the devotees of freedom. In this
moonlight, the Revolutionaries saw the whole strategy of
the English, and they left their position and attacked the
Published by Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 2014.
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