Lion of Jagdishpur Roars Again

Today General Lugard appeared on the opposite bank of the river Tons which flows past Azamgarh. He was heading three regiments of European infantry, 700 Sikh Cavalry and eighteen guns. Lugard probably thought that he was coming up with a clever strategy. Since he knew that Kunwar Singh had posted the cream of his troops on the bridge of boats on Tons river, he thought that the rebel leader intended to give a fight to sustain his hold on Azamgarh. But, of course the Lion of Jagdishpur proved to be far more clever.

Kunwar Singh knew that he stood no chance against such a formidable enemy. He therefore decided to abandon Azamgarh, take the road to Ghazipur, cross the Ganga and return to his beloved Jagdishpur. With this objective in view, he resorted to a clever stratagem. He stationed some of his best soldiers on the bridge of boats who could give a tough fight and he himself with the bulk of his troops would then move on and would be as farther as possible from Azamgarh before his flight could be discovered by the enemy.

The stratagem of Kunwar Singh was eminently successful. His troops held the bridge of boats with great resolution and it was not until they had, by their long resistance, ensured the safety of their leader , they fell back and as planned beforehand succeeded in joining their chief. But they were pursued and harried by a detachment of European Cavalry under Brigadier Douglas.