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

THE CONFLAGRATION
attack the town. The three chief commanders, Campbell,
Jones, and Nicholson, taking their followers, fought their
way to the Kabul gate. The guns found in the way were
captured ; on every tower and pillar was placed a British
flag, and the force went fighting right up to the Burn
Bastion. But, from this place onwards, instead of empty
guns, lifeless hillocks, and vacant fields, they encountered
the fierce war-cry of the Revolutionary force. The Revo-
lutionaries opened a terrible fire ; fierce bloodshed and
death marked every foot of ground they covered ; the
English army which had advanced far in the heat of
victory was forced back beaten. When thus the English
force received this check, Nicholson dashed forth like a
tiger. His motto was nothing is impossible, in this world,
to a brave warrior. When the irritated Nicholson left
the Water Bastion and again entered the Gully—the
bloody battle was renewed. Whichever Englishman
stepped forth was shot down by the Revolutionaries fight-
ing for freedom. From the roofs, from the windows, from
the porches, from the verandahs, this obstinate, freedom-
loving Gully began to pour forth fire and forced even
Nicholson to retire. The brave Major Jacob also fell in
it ! Now, rush forth, Nicholson ! All other English
officers, except you, have been killed by this Gully ! Oh!
freedom-loving Gully ! Nicholson himself is coming
forth—now is the true test ! The fight began in a dead
encounter. Suddenly, there was a cry in the English
army, as if it had been struck by lightning descending
upon it ! Nicholson, Nicholson ! Where is he now ?
Some brave Sepoy had singled him out and hit him—and
he was rolling on the ground ! There was an uproar
— “ Hato ! ” (Retire!) in the English army, and “Chato”
(Cut down!)” in the Sepoy ranks ! The dreadful Gully!
Every inch of her length was the grave of an Englishman!
Hardly did this column of the English army retreat
through this heroic Gully and reach the Kashmir gate,
when the bugle also sounded for the retreat of the column
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