Page 254 - A Jacobite Exile

The army still advanced. Augustus sent in several proposals for peace, but
these were all rejected. The Saxons had speedily rallied after the battle, but

were not in a position to oppose the advance of the victorious Swedes, who
occupied Cracow without meeting with any resistance. Seeing that

Augustus would not be strong enough to hazard another pitched battle,
Charles had, on the morning after the victory, ordered three of his
regiments, of which Jamieson's was one, to march with all speed to

reinforce Major General Schlippenbach, who had sent an urgent request for
aid, as he heard that the Russian army, fifty thousand strong, was preparing

to cross the frontier; and as he had but six thousand, he could not hope to
oppose their advance successfully.

As the king's orders enjoined the troops to march with the greatest possible
speed, they performed the journey back to Warsaw in four days, although

the distance exceeded a hundred miles. Mounted messengers had been sent
on before them, and, on reaching the town, they found boats already
prepared to take them down the river to Danzic, where orders had already

been sent for ships to be in readiness to convey them to Revel. The fatigues
since the campaign opened had been severe, and the troops all enjoyed the

long days of rest, while the craft that conveyed them dropped quietly down
the Vistula. Then came the short sea passage.

On their arrival at Revel, bad news met them. They had come too late. On
the 16th of July the Russian army had passed the frontier, and the Swedes

had tried to oppose them at the passage of the river Embach; but the water
was low, from the effects of a long drought, and the Russians were enabled
to ford it at several points. The Swedes fell upon those who first crossed,

and for two hours repulsed their attacks, obtaining at some points
considerable advantage, and capturing some guns, but, as fresh

reinforcements poured across the river, the tide of battle turned. The
Russian cavalry drove back the Swedish horse, who, as they retreated, rode
through the infantry and threw them into disorder. These were attacked by

the Russians before they could recover from their confusion, and were
almost entirely destroyed or taken prisoners.