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

THE CONFLAGRATION
should he not, then, tear Sir Hugh to pieces and eat him
up ? He advanced to do this, but his twenty-two thou-
sand claws seemed all of a sudden disabled, they could
hardly be lifted. And what could even a tiger do without
his claws ? Alas ! A most shameful poltroonish
cowardice was exhibited by the Revolutionary troops on
the river Betwa. The army of Jhansi was to attack the
rear, and Tatia was to attack the front ; the plan was
admirable. But the English, with the dash of despair,
advanced on Tatia and opened fire on Jhansi. This nulli-
fied the two attacks of the aggressive party. One deter-
mined attack, like that of the Mawalas of Shivaji or the
select band of Kumar, and vultures had fed upon the
Union Jack and its followers. But, the English charged
straight on the enemy. The cowards did not even offer
fight, and—was it treachery or terror —not a cannon-
shot from Jhansi was heard. So, the army and its com-
mander were routed and ran away. Plentiful military
supplies were captured by the English, Tatia's guns fell
into their hands, and one thousand and five hundred of
the Revolutionaries were killed in the pursuit. Fifteen
hundred people killed in the flight ! Mad men and fools!
Instead of dying the death of cowards while fleeing, if
you had only attacked Sir Hugh Rose, you would have
died the death of the Ghazis of Bareilly, you would have
destroyed the whole army with Sir Hugh Rose, and your
name would have lived for ever ! Yet God forgive you !
If not our respect, you deserve at least our sympathy. For,
howsoever you died, you died for the liberty of your coun-
try ! May my country learn from your death at least the
lesson that soldiers who. fly to live, die, and that those
who fight to die, live !
And for death was Ranee Lakshmi Bai fighting ! Why,
then, this hopelessness on the part of Sirdars, Thakurs,
and Sepoys ? For nine days and nine nights, you stood
the deadly charge of gun-fire in the hope that Tatia Topé
would soon come to your aid. When he came, you shout-
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