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

THE CONFLAGRATION
Nabha, Jhind, and Patiala rendered an immense service
to the English people by guarding all the highways to the
Panjab and, thus, facilitating the transport of corn, men,
and ammunition from the Panjab into the English camp.
This combination of circumstances, unfortunate for India,
rendered the situation extremely favourable to the English.
High and lowering hills, behind them a plain for the whole
army to encamp beyond the range of the enemy's fire and,
at the same time, escape the detection of the enemy's
scouts, water living and inexhaustible so closely running,
the great highways to the Panjab all open, at hand, and
protected, and the back guarded by the constant watch of
the loyal Panjab states at their own cost—all these cir-
cumstances heightened the confidence of the British com-
mander, Barnard, who along with his officers was of the
opinion "Now, to take Delhi is not the work of even
a day!"
And if it is not even one day's work to take Delhi,
then, why spend two for it? Why should we not reduce
this sinful, treason-loving city to dust by ordering these
English soldiers to pounce upon it just this very minute?
The Panjab is the backbone of our army and when that
is so strong in loyalty, why should we try to take Delhi
by these weak tactics of prolonged siege? Would it not
be better and nobler to rush straightway against that
wretched city and crush it at the very first onslaught?
Let our army be divided; let one of these divisions blow
up this Lahore gate, let another pull down that Kabul
gate, let many others rush simultaneously into the streets
of the city with a torrent-like rush and, taking post by
post, let us all march on straight against the palace with-
out the loss of a moment! Wilberforce Greathed and
Hodson—warriors like these are longing for this bold and
straight onrush, and have taken upon themselves even the
entire responsibility of carrying it out to a successful ter-
mination. Then, there need be no hesitation at all. So,
on the 12th of June, General Barnard issued secret orders
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