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Rh tion might reach even Banáras. Realising to the fullest extent the possibilities which Kunwar Singh might utilise, whilst Oudh still remained unsubdued, Lord Canning took prompt and efficient measures to nip the evil in the bud. There happened to be at Allahábád a wing of the 13th L. I., commanded by a most gallant soldier, Lord Mark Kerr. Lord Canning sent for Lord Mark, explained to him the situation, and authorised him to take the measures he might consider necessary to deal with it. That night Lord Mark started, with his wing, 391 strong, for Banáras, picked up there a troop — fifty-five men and two officers — of the Queen's Bays, seventeen gunners and one officer, with two six-pounder guns and two 5½-inch mortars, and set out for Ázamgarh the night of the 2d of April. His entire force consisted of twenty-two officers and 444 men. On the evening of the 5th he had reached Sarsána, eight miles from Ázamgarh. Kunwar Singh had notice of his arrival there, and prepared an ambush for him, to entrap him whilst he should be pushing on in the early grey of the next morning. Lord Mark did so push on, and became entangled in the ambush, but by a display of combined coolness and courage, very remarkable under the circumstances, largely outnumbered as he was, not only extricated his men, but inflicted upon the rebels a crushing defeat, and relieved Ázamgarh. It was one of the most brilliant achievements of the war.

The Commander-in-Chief had received news of Milman's disaster on the 28th of March. Realising, as Lord Canning had realised, its full significance, he despatched at once General Lugard, with three English regiments, 700 Sikh sabres, and eighteen guns, to march, by way of Atráoliá, to Ázamgarh, there to deal with Kunwar Singh. To Lugard's operations I shall refer presently. Meanwhile, I propose to take up the story