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

TEMPORARY PACIFICATION
within the dominions of Udaipur. While the army was
resting there at night, Tatia went for worship in the
temple of Shri Krishna at the famous place of pilgrimage
near by, called Nathadwara. He returned to the camp
at midnight and heard that the English army had come
up close to them in pursuit. He at once gave orders to
the army to break the camp and march on. But the army
was so tired that the infantry replied bluntly, "We can-
not march a step till to-morrow morning. Let the cavalry
go in front." Under these circumstances Tatia was
obliged to give battle. As soon as it was dawn, Tatia
arranged his troops as well as he could under the cir-
cumstances. In that battle, on the 14th of August, after
some sharp fighting, Tatia's troops were routed and re-
treated about fifteen miles, leaving their guns behind.
Now again Tatia was without guns, without provisions,
and with an elated enemy in hot pursuit ! So, avoiding
the enemy at his back, he suddenly darted off, again, to-
wards the river Chambal. The English armies followed
him not only in his rear and flank but one English com-
mander stood in front at the very banks of the Chambal.
But Tatia put some on the wrong scent, eluded some,
pushed back some, and thus, by clever marches, he came
up to the Chambal and, almost under the nose of the
English army waiting there, crossed that river !
Now it is true that the Chambal was between Tatia and
the English pursuing forces. But then, he had no guns,
no provisions, no money—and Narbada, he could not
yet even think of it ! He was thus beset with tremendous
difficulties, and therefore he marched straight on Jhalra-
pattan. On seeing this, the loyal chief of the State took
his faithful troops and his big guns and fell upon Tatia.
But, as soon as Tatia was in sight the forces of the State
began to salaam him as their Malik! Immediately, Tatia
took these troops under his command. In Jhalrapattan,
he got cavalry horses, waggons, and plenty of provisions.
He went there without a single gun and he had now got
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