Page 100 - A Jacobite Exile

courage, and, when it became quite dark, the assault ceased.

The right column had met with equal success. It had penetrated the
intrenchments, defeated all the Russians who opposed it, and now moved to

assist the left wing.

The king, however, seeing that the Russian defences could not be carried,

by a direct assault, without great loss, gathered the army in the space
between the town and the Russian intrenchments, and placed them in a

position to repel an attack, should the Russians take the offensive; giving
orders that, at daylight, the hill on which the enemy had their principal
battery should be assaulted. The guns here commanded all the

intrenchments, and the capture of that position would render it impossible
for the Russians to continue their defence, or for the now separated wings

of the army to combine.

The officers in command of the Russian right wing, finding themselves

unable to cross the river on their broken bridge, and surrounded by the
Swedes, sent in to surrender in the course of the evening, and two battalions

of the Swedish Guards took possession of the post that had been so
gallantly defended. The king granted them permission to retire with their
arms, the colours and standards being given up, and the superior officers

being retained as prisoners of war.

The broken bridge was repaired and, early the next morning, the Russian
troops passed over. Their left wing was, after the surrender of their right, in
a hopeless position, for on that side no bridge had been thrown over the

river, and their retreat was wholly cut off. On learning, before daybreak,
that the right wing had surrendered, they too sent in to ask for terms. The

king granted them freedom to return to their country, but without their
standards or arms. They filed off before him, officers and soldiers
bareheaded, and passed over the bridge, their numbers being so great that

all had not crossed until next morning.

The Russians lost over 18,000 men killed or drowned, a hundred and
forty-five cannon, and twenty-eight mortars, all of which were new, besides