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

THE CONFLAGRATION
diplomacy and diversions created by Nana near Cawn-
pore. The isolated army at Lucknow had been brought
under the complete control of the Pandays. When the
British army crossed the Ganges to capture Lucknow,
Nana had pressed on Cawnpore and dragged the forces
of the enemy back into Doab. But Lucknow had not
taken full and determined advantage of this diversion.
The Moulvie tried his best not to let go the other chance
which had fallen in his way through the ability of Tatia.
Though the Begum of Oudh was the chief authority in
the palace, it seemed that her efforts could not succeed
in uniting and concentrating the Revolutionaries, Rajas,
and Maharajas ; internal disorganisation and carelessness
had rendered useless many fine opportunities of destroy-
ing the handful of the British army by a good determined
charge. Delhi had fallen ; Cawnpore, also, had fallen ;
Fatehgarh had shared the same fate ; and thousands of
defeated Revolutionaries from the neighbouring parts had
come to Lucknow. But, instead of helping Oudh, they
became a source of mischief by disobedience to authority.
It appeared certain that this last attack of the British who
were flushed with their victories and well reinforced by
numberless new troops would carry everything before
them. But the Moulvie turned darkness into light. This
patriotic Moulvie inspired with high patriotism many an
Indian heart by his eloquence and the force of his per-
sonality. He showed that it was possible still to beat the
English, if attempts were made to act with one mind and
make concentrated charges against them. He inspired the
Durbar with the confidence that he possessed and evoked
some order out of the chaos in the army. He had great
difficulties to cope with. Some incapables grew jealous
of his growing influence in the Durbar and so brought
about his arrest and imprisonment. But as the Moulvie
had more influence over the Sepoys than the Begum her-
self, and as, further, the troops from Delhi trusted and
obeyed him implicitly, pressure was brought to bear upon
the Begum by these people and the Moulvie was released
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