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

THE ERUPTION
They embraced their comrades and, at once, the enormous
treasure and the great arsenal fell into the hands of the
Revolutionaries ! While this was going on at Nabobganj,
there were still two regiments left behind at Cawnpore.
The English immediately called them on parade in order
to keep them in their hands. As the English had the
artillery in their hands, the two regiments together with
their officers stood in arms on the parade ground all night.
At daybreak, the English officers satisfied themselves that
these regiments at least were not rebellious. They were
permitted to go back to their lines and the officers also
began to leave. Now, the Sepoys saw a good chance.
A couple of officers whispered something from a corner,
and suddenly, one of them rushed forward and shouted,
“ God is on the side of Truth ! Brethren, come arise ! ”
At this order, swords began to flash on all sides, and,
seeing the crisis coming, the English artillery opened fire.
But the Sepoys had already gone beyond its range! It was
quite possible for the Sepoys to have killed their officers
at the time, but, without doing so, they went away to
join their comrades at the first opportunity. Thus, three
thousand Sepoys encamped near Nana Sahib at Nabob-
ganj, on the 5th of June. Sir Wheeler had one satisfaction
—that not a single Englishman was killed. He thought
that the Sepoys would, as usual, march towards Delhi,
and the danger to Cawnpore would be over.
And if there had been a lack of able leaders in Cawnpore
as there was in other places, the Sepoys, would, indeed,
have gone to Delhi as Sir Wheeler surmised. But, at
Nabobganj, at the time, there was no such lack of bold
and able leaders. Nana Sahib was there ; his brothers,
Bala Sahib, Baba Sahib, and his nephew Rao Sahib were
there ; Tatia Topé was there ; and Azimullah Khan too
was there. When such brilliant and intellectual leaders
were there, what need had the Sepoys to go to Delhi to
seek one ? The best interests would not be served by
shutting up all the available forces in Delhi alone. The
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