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

KUMAR SINGH AND AMAR SINGH
wavered not, nor did their ranks break up, nor did their
charge flag in the least ! For four miles this living battle
pressed on ! At last, when the army of the enemy showed
signs of exhaustion, the two divisions of Kumar Singh's
army, until now going by different routes, united together
and the whole force marched unhampered, and Raja
Kumar Singh was again marching nearer and nearer to-
wards the banks of the Ganges !
This exhausted British force passed the night of the 17th
of April near the village of Athusi. Early in the morning,
Douglas, thinking he had given no start to the Revolu-
tionary forces, ordered a march again—only to find that
Kumar Singh was already thirteen miles ahead of him.
The whole of the British horse and the British artillery
had been pursuing Kumar Singh ; but, as the British in-
fantry, through total exhaustion, were unable to proceed
further, they were given rest for another night. The
scouts of Kumar Singh were matchless in bringing him
all detailed information about the enemy's plans and
whereabouts. They did not fail to inform him of their
exhausted condition. At this, the old general stood up,
determined to take full advantage of this chance and, with
his force, the octogenarian chief recommenced the march
in the midnight and came straightway to Sikandarpur,
reached the river Ghogra, crossed it, and entered the pro-
vince of Ghazipur. He pressed on right up to the village
of Manohar, and there ordered a temporary rest to the
now tired, worn-out, and hungry forces which had so
bravely responded to the intrepid will of their patriotic
chief. It was humanly impossible to avoid stopping here,
though Kumar Singh knew full well that the position was
rather a weak one. When Douglas heard that Kumar had
gained a start over him, he started in hot pursuit and even-
tually reached Manohar soon after Kumar Singh. He be-
gan the attack immediately and, as the Revolutionaries
were tired on account of their long and continuous march-
ing, their stand was feeble and they lost the battle, losing
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