Page 92 - A Jacobite Exile

Chapter 5

: Narva.

For the next fortnight, drilling went on from morning till night, the officers
receiving instructions privately from the sergeants, and further learning the

words of command by standing by while the men were being drilled. At the
end of that time, both officers and men were sufficiently instructed to carry

out the simple movements which were, alone, in use in those days.

It was not, however, until two months later that they were called upon to

act. The English and Dutch fleets had arrived, and effected a junction with
that of Sweden, and the Danish fleet had shut themselves up in the port of

Copenhagen, which was closely blockaded. A large army had crossed to
Zeeland, and repulsed the Danes, who had endeavoured to prevent their
landing, and had then marched up to within sight of the walls of

Copenhagen, which they were preparing to besiege; when the King of
Denmark, alarmed at this unexpected result of his aggression on Holstein,

conceded every point demanded, and peace was signed.

The negotiations were carried on in Holland, and the Swedes were

extremely angry, when they found that they were baulked of their expected
vengeance on their troublesome neighbours. The peace, however, left

Charles the Twelfth at liberty to turn his attention to his other foes, and to
hurry to the assistance of Riga, which was beleaguered by the Saxons and
Poles; and of Narva, against which city the Russians had made several

unsuccessful assaults.

Without losing an hour, the king crossed to Malmoe. The troops there were
ordered to embark, immediately, in the vessels in the harbour. They then
sailed to Revel, where the Swedish commander, Welling, had retired from

the neighbourhood of Riga, his force being too small to meet the enemy in
the open field.

No sooner had the troops landed than the king reviewed them, and General
Welling was ordered, at once, to march so as to place himself between the