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

THE CONFLAGRATION
cussions went on. No scheme was decided on, no arrange-
ment adopted. Disgusted at the cowardice of the rest,
the noble Moulvie swore before all that he would enter
Lucknow right through the British army after having
captured the convoy of the enemy. With this resolve,
keeping his movements as far as possible concealed from
the enemy, the Moulvie marched with his men on to the
road towards Cawnpore. But through Indian spies,
Outram was already informed of this and he had already
sent a party to attack the Moulvie's men. The battle
began. The Moulvie, in order to encourage his men to
do their utmost, himself fought in the front and did his
very best. In the course of the engagement he was shot
in the hand and fell down. The English had been most
anxious for a long time to capture him. But the Revolu-
tionaries skilfully placed him in a doli and brought him
to Lucknow in great haste. When it was known that the
Moulvie had been wounded, everybody was anxious about
his condition. But they felt that the best way of showing
their regard and respect for him was to complete the work
that he had begun; and, therefore, without a moment's
rest, Videhi Hanuman—a brave Brahmin—started on the
17th of January and made a desperate charge on the
English troops. From ten in the morning to six in the
evening, this brave man was fighting in the front ranks.
In the evening, however, he was dangerously wounded and
captured. The Revolutionaries were disorganised and ran
away completely routed. These defeats increased the dis-
organisation in the Revolutionary camp. Characterless
Sepoys demanded pay before fighting. Though their pay
had been given them in advance, they demanded more
before they would consent to take the field. That the
resolute, daring, and capable Begum still maintained, in
spite of all these disorders, the whole administration intact
is a sure indication of her grit.⁸ While these defeats were

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8. Sir W. Russell says about this Begum : “ The great bulk of
   the Sepoy army is supposed to be inside Lucknow, but they will
   406