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

THE CONFLAGRATION
Tatia ordered his army which had fought Wyndham for
twenty-four hours without a minute’s rest that they were
to be ready by the morning to march against the enemy.
But they were not to start the attack until another conting-
ent of the Revolutionaries coming from Shewoli and Sheo-
rajpur opened fire on the right flank of the English army.
As soon as that began, however, they were to begin the
attack in right earnest. Wyndham meanwhile had led
forth his army ready for battle ; but when, even after nine,
the army of the Revolutionaries did not begin the attack,
and not a sign of them was visible, the English army
returned to camp for breakfast. At eleven, the army was
made ready for battle. A vague uncertainty as to the
real intention of Tatia pervaded the atmosphere.
This was soon made known, however, in a terrible manner;
for, cannon-balls were sent flying from the Revolutionary
guns against the right wing of the English. The vanguard,
too, was attacked by Tatia. Directly after this, Wyndham
sent Carthew with six guns to the road to Brahmavarta
to protect that part of Cawnpore. And now a regular
cannonade began. Soon it appeared that the English
artillery-men were falling back. Tatia had arranged his
army in a semicircle and his game was to close on the
enemy from the front and the flanks. Wyndham tried
his best to break through the circle but the guns of Tatia
would not allow him to advance even a step. It seemed
they could not even maintain their position, and the Eng-
lish, within a short time, began to show signs of retiring.
Seeing that the left wing had retired leaving their guns
behind, the right wing held on for a time and tried to
keep the guns. But they could not hold much longer. As
they too retreated, the semicircle of the Revolutionaries
closed on them more tightly. By six in the evening, the
English army was thoroughly demoralised. A short while
more and the rout was complete. Thousands of tents
and oxen, a great quantity of provisions and clothing fell
into the hands of the Revolutionaries. Half of Cawnpore
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