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

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
now! The Ghanagarj (thunder-clap) gun began its
work. The noise made by that gun was terrific.
We shall quote an eye witness's account of the early stages
of the siege.
"From the 25th, the engagement began in right earnest.
The enemy poured in a heavy fire all day and night. In
the night came cannon-balls on the fort and the city.
The sight was terrible to see. A cannon-ball of fifty or
sixty pounds weight would look as small as a tennis ball
but red like live charcoal. During the day one could
not see these balls clearly for daylight, but in the night,
they were clearly visible and gave a weird appearance to
the night. On the 26th, at midday, the English silenced
the guns on the southern gate, and not a man could make
a stand there. All men in the field were nearly dishearten-
ed at this. Then, the gunner on the western gate moved
the gun round and fired at the enemy; the third shot
killed the best gunner in the English army, and the Eng-
lish gun was silenced, in its turn. At this, the Bai Sahib
was very pleased and presented the gunner with a silver
anklet. The name of the brave gunner was Gulam Ghose
Khan. He had displayed similar skill in the engagement
with Nathe Khan also.
"On the fifth or the sixth day, the same sort of engage-
ment took place. For four or five hours, the Bai's guns
were working wonders and the English lost heavily. Many
of their guns, too, were silenced for some time. Then
again, the English guns would be more vigorous, and the
Jhansi troops would be disheartened and their guns silenc-
ed. On the seventh day, at sunset, the gun to the left
was disabled. None could stand there. The battlement
was destroyed owing to the enemy's fire. But in the
night, eleven masons were brought under cover of blankets
to the walls of the fort, and the work was completed
before the day dawned. Thus, the battlement was re-
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