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

HAVELOCK
ries, of extraordinary military skill. He called together
his officers and drew out for them, with his sword, on the
ground a map of his plan of attack. While Havelock was
explaining to them that, instead of a front attack, the
Revolutionary left wing should be attacked first, Nana
Sahib, mounted on a white horse, joined the efficiently
arranged troops of the Revolutionaries. From the English
camp, the figure of Nana Sahib could be seen distinctly
galloping into the different ranks and encouraging the
soldiers. About noon, the English attack on Nana Sahib’s
left wing commenced. To check this fierce, sudden and
unexpected attack on the left, the Revolutionary artillery
began fire. As the English artillery was a little late in
arriving, these guns did very effective work. But when
Havelock, irritated, by the success of the eRevolution-
aries, began to push forward again in desperate vigour
and when the Highlanders, with turned eyes, ran straight
to the guns and when the English, without going back an
inch, rushed forth with the cry, “ Death or Victory !’’, then,
the left wing became quite unable to resist the united,
sudden and orderly attack and retreated, leaving their
guns behind. While the left was retreating, the English
artillery had defeated the right wing. Seeing the English
army victorious, the Revolutionaries began the retreat
along the road to Cawnpore. But, with the courage of
despair, Nana Sahib rallied them and, with the rest of
the guns, renewed the fight. At this time, Nana Sahib
made marvellous efforts to encourage and lead the Sepoys.
“ Such was the battle of Cawnpore. The Revolutionaries
fought very well. Some of them did not retire even when
sword clashed with sword. They saved their guns
with determination and the firing was, also, splen-
didly aimed.’’³ One more assault from the English
side, and even this desperate resistance became in
vain and the defeated Revolutionaries retreated to-
wards Brahmavarta.
3. Red Pamphlet.
309