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

TATIA TOPE
was now in the hands of Tatia. Thus, the second crown
of victory crowned this brave and stalwart Mahratta.
Yesterday’s battle gave him a victory which was but in-
direct and partial, but to-day’s victory was complete and
direct. For he had not merely defeated the clever and
famous commander of the English in a battle which lasted
a whole day, but he had routed the English army thorough-
ly ; he had captured the whole camp, tents and all ; he
had driven them out of a portion of Cawnpore and him-
self retaken the city. Even English historians admit that,
if his army had been as disciplined as he was capable, he
would have been able to destroy Wyndham’s army
completely.
And now the cannonade of Tatia had reached Sir Colin’s
ears. When Tatia came to Cawnpore, he believed as cer-
tain that Sir Colin would be engaged at Lucknow at least
for a month. But soon, Tatia heard that, in some un-
foreseen way, the Revolutionaries had been got rid of by
Sir Colin, and it seemed now pretty certain that Sir Colin
would attack him, and try to close him in by attacking
him from both the sides of the Ganges. Tatia’s face cloud-
ed with anxiety at this news. Wyndham felt very hopeful.
That very night, Wyndham resolved to win back the glory
he had lost during the day. But his men were all tired
and therefore, giving up the idea of the night attack, he
began to prepare for giving another battle the next morn-
ing. He tried to repair the mistakes of the previous day
and determined on an attack. The fight began early in
the morning. The Revolutionaries aimed their artillery
on both flanks of the enemy. The fight went on as on the
previous day till midday. But this day, the English did
not retire. They assumed the aggressive and began a
determined, united, formidable and, as they thought, ir-
resistible, charge.
Irresistible indeed ! The right wing is absolutely shatter-
ed ! Brigadier Wilson is down ! Captain M’Crea is no
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