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

CAWNPORE AND JHANSI
Canning, “ Unrest and danger are no more. Not only is
Cawnpore safe, but I am soon going to send help to
Lucknow !” And the white troops which had come from
Allahabad actually started for Lucknow ! And that, on
the 3rd of June ! What a wonder that the plot—in which
three thousand Sepoys and the whole city of Cawnpore,
not excluding the dancing-girls, participated—should be
kept sealed from the English and their auxiliary dogs like
Nanak Chand !
The seal was finally broken on the night of the 4th of June.
According to the general programme, by dead of night,
three shots were fired and the buildings already agreed
upon were set fire to ! This was the sign that the time for
bloodshed, destruction, and death had begun. In the
beginning, Tikka Singh’s horse leapt forth and, immediate-
ly, thousands of horses started galloping at a smart pace.
Some started to burn English houses and stables, some
ran to fetch other regiments, and some went to capture
the military flags and banners. When the old Indian
Subahdar-Major, in whose charge the flags were, began
to dispute with the Revolutionaries, a blow of the sword
on his head sent his corpse rolling on the ground.
“ Subahdar Tikka Singh’s Salaams to the Subahdar of
the 1st infantry regiment. He asks the reason why the
infantry is delaying when the cavalry had already risen
against the Feringhis ?” Two galloping cavalrymen gave
this message, and the whole of the 1st regiment came out
with the cries of Victory ! and Country !—Din ! and Desh!
At this, their officer, Colonel Ewart, said, “ Oh ! my
children (Babalôg), what is this ? This disgraces your
loyal character ! Wait, children, wait !” But the Sepoys
did not waste their time in listening to him. In a moment,
the whole regiment marched in military order to join the
cavalry, and then the whole army together marched to the
music of war-songs to the Nana’s camp at Nabobganj !
Nana’s Sepoys were ready at the Nabobganj treasury.
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