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

THE CONFLAGRATION
It was neither a victory nor a defeat. Therefore, instead
of advancing, Havelock fell back on Mangalwar. In the
meanwhile, Nana’s plans were becoming ripe. The Revo-
lutionaries of Sagar and of Gwalior and bands of volunteers
came and joined him. Taking them with him, Nana
marched to Bithoor and threatened to attack Cawnpore.
General Neill had not enough troops to march against him
and so sent word to Havelock of his critical position.
It was now impossible to think of proceeding to Lucknow.
Therefore, on the 12th of August, Havelock had to recross
the Ganges and go back to Cawnpore ! When the English
bands sounded the retreat, everywhere there were joyful
shouts of acclamation as if the victorious drum of inde-
pendence was being beaten ! You faithful Zemindars, you
have served your country well in thus shedding your blood
and driving away the foreign foe, and wanted to re-enter
Oudh, away on the other side of the Ganges ! Innes
writes : “ This retirement from Oudh produced a result
which he had, doubtless, never contemplated. The
Talukdars openly construed it as the British evacuation
of the province and now formally recognised the Durbar
at Lucknow as the de facto government ; and, though
they refrained from supporting it by their own presence,
they obeyed its orders which they had hitherto disregard-
ed, and sent to the scene of warfare the contingents which
they had been called upon to provide.”⁴
The victory of the Revolutionaries was not a direct but
an indirect one. If, in the above four or five skirmishes
fought by Havelock, he had been defeated and driven away
to Cawnpore, a greater self-confidence would have been
seen in the Revolutionary ranks than was to be seen now
by simply forcing him to retire by harassing his rear.
And, proportionately, the English forces would have been
more demoralised. The English army perceived that the
retreat to Cawnpore was due not to lack of bravery but
4. The Sepoy Revolt, page 174.
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