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

LUCKNOW
the terrible battle was raging near Alam Bagh. The
enemy captured five of the guns of the Revolutionaries,
one of which the Revolutionaries recaptured. Both sides
determined to spend the night on the field. But when the
army of the enemy began to rest at night in the muddy
and swampy ground, the Revolutionaries foreswore all rest
and started the fight again. That night rain was falling
in showers. But the waves of enthusiasm in the English
army were stronger even than the showers of rain, for the
electrifying news of the fall of Delhi had reached them
that night !
At last, the critical day of the 25th dawned. Seeing that
Havelock's army, avoiding the regular roads leading to
Lucknow city, was marching to the Residency by an odd
road, the Revolutionaries opened a terrible fire. Bearing
this artillery-fire bravely, the English came up from Alam
Bagh right up to the bridge at Char Bagh. To cross this
bridge was to enter Lucknow, and, therefore, an obstinate
fight began on this most strategic point. Captain Maude
directed a heavy fire for half an hour on that bridge, but
neither the bridge was emptied nor were the guns on it
silenced. Nay more, the English had lost already twenty-
one killed near the Yellow House and more on the bridge.
Was the whole English army to be checked by this one
defiant bridge ? So, Maude said to Havelock's young son
standing near by, " Young hero, find out some remedy
for this ! " At this, young Havelock came to Neill and
told him that the Revolutionaries could not be driven
away by the artillery, and requested him to give the order
to lead an assault on that bridge. But General Neill said
that he could not give such an order without consulting
Havelock. What was to be done next ? Young Havelock
at once found out the answer to this question. He spurred
his horse and galloped a little in the direction where the
general-in-chief, Havelock, was and, pretending to have
seen him, returned to Neill. He humbly saluted Neill
and said : " The commander-in-chief has ordered the
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