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

TATIA TOPE
While Bala Sahib was holding the fort, Tatia began to
think of attacking the English army.
At this time, General Wyndham who had earned fame in
the battle-fields of Europe was the chief commander of the
Cawnpore regiments. Sir Colin had gone towards Luck-
now leaving this small army to protect Cawnpore. Tatia,
then, had got his opportunity. The Revolutionaries of
Lucknow were engaging the huge army of Sir Colin and
keeping it busy ; it would be difficult for general Wyn-
dham to get help from outside ; and hence, this was the
time to surprise him, engage him, and, if possible, to get
rid of him. Such was the plan of Tatia. Bala Sahib
thought well of this plan and Tatia himself was made com-
mander of the forces. A mere clerk yesterday, this poor
Brahmin of the Durbar of Nana was the commander of
to-day. He crossed the Jumna and engaged openly in
battle with General Wyndham who had spent a lifetime
on the battlefields of Europe ! And with what means ?
With the recently risen unorganised Sepoy mass and with
the peasant rabble who had accompanied them ! He stood
face to face with the English army which had all the ad-
vantages that organisation, military training, and disci-
pline could give. It was instructive to watch such an
encounter, to see how the spirit of independence could
meet all the overwhelming advantages on the opposite
side. It was a living example and lesson showing to what
extent an army without the advantages of discipline but
with the spirit of liberty could fight, illustrating with what
success it might have fought had it all the advantages of
discipline. With the troops of Gwalior which had joined
him, Tatia had reached Kalpi on the 9th of November.
Kalpi is situated about forty-six miles from Cawnpore.
Having accurately ascertained the exact whereabouts of
the English army, he left Kalpi, crossed the Jumna, enter-
ed the Doab, and, leaving all his treasure and other things
at Jalna, occupied some villages adjoining Cawnpore. He
was playing a deep game in not rushing on to Cawnpore
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