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

RANEE LAKSHMI BAI
wards Kalpi. The admirable way in which they retired,
the organised manner in which they fell back has been
praised very much even by the enemy.⁷ But then this
excellent organisation came after and not before the
engagement. With this defeat, the Revolutionaries came
on to Kalpi. There, they began to make up for the defeat
by wrangling against and abusing one another,—the
infantry laid the defeat at the door of the cavalry, the
cavalry blamed the Jhansi troops, and all together blamed
the general, Tatia.
But, Tatia Topé is not going to come any more to Kalpi
to hear these wranglings. He has gone at present to the
village of Charkhi, near Jalwan, to see his father. No
one knows definitely where he is going after that, or
whether he is going there at all. Let us remember that
Gwalior lies in the direction of his road ! May the meet-
ing between this extraordinary son and his fortunate father
be full of love ! And after that loving visit, may this
great messenger of the Revolution go with despatch to
carry out whatever designs he might have set his heart on!
While Tatia was going on this journey, Ranee Lakshmi
went to the royal tent of the Peshwa. The heroic
Lakshmi relieved him of his dejection after the defeat of
Kunchgaon and said to him that, if the army was pro-
7. "Then was witnessed action on the part of the rebels which
impelled admiration from their enemies. The manner in which
they conducted their retreat could not be surpassed. They re-
membered the lessons which the European officers had well taught
them. There was no hurry, no disorder, no rushing to the rear.
All was orderly as on a field-day. Though their line of skirmishers
was two miles in length, it never wavered in a single point. The
men fired, then ran behind the relieving men, and loaded. The
relieving men then fired, and ran back in their turn. They even
attempted, when they thought the pursuit was too rash, to take
up a position, so as to bring on it an enfilading fire."—Malleson's
Indian Mutiny, Vol. V, page 124. This praise by the enemy does
credit to the Panday party.
479