Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-02-02

the Turks. but Peter had ar
mics in different places, and
ordered all Of them to meet
him on the march. For vari-
GUS reasons all these armies
failed to join him, and he
found himself in a Turkish
province with a very small
number Of troops. The dan.
ger was SO great that he ord.
cred Catherine and all the
other women to go back to a
place Of safety. But Cathe
rine would not go. She had
made up her mind to stay
with Peter at the head OF the
army, and was SO obstinate
about it that at last Peter gave
her leave to remain. Then
the wives of the Generals, and
finally OF the lower officers
wanted to stay also. She per
suaded Peter to let. them do
so, and the end waS1that the
women all Stayed eaith the
arm N
At last the soldiers in, cont
reported that the Turks ! Nc
coming, and Peter soon SAY \
great army in front of n
force, which counted up only
$4,000 men. Seeing the odds
against him, he gave order to
retreat, and the army began
its backward march. As il
ncared the river Pruth a new
danger showed itself. The adj
vance guard brought word
that a great force of savage
Grim Tartars held the other
bank OF the river, completely
cutting off Peters retreat.
The state of things seemed
hopeless. With 100000 Turks
on one side, anda strong force
of Grim rartars holding a riv-
er on the other, Peters little
army was completely hcmmcd
in. J,-pcrc was no water in
theI Iap, and when the sold
i9 kent to the river for it.
i fartars on the other shore
5t up a fierce fight with
sm. A great hoard Of Turk
cavalry tried hard to cut
Fthe supply entirely by push
K themselves between Pc
RS camp and the river, but
Ee Russians managed to re-
tAllsc them by hard fighting.
and to keep a road open 10
the river.
Peter knew now that unless
help should come to him in
some shape and that very
quickly, he must lose not only
his army, but his empire also.
for if the Turks could take him
prisoner. it was certain that
his enemies would soon con
quer Russia. and divide the
country among themselves.
He saw no chance OF help
coming. but he made up his
mind to fight as long as he
could. He formed his men in
a hollow square. with the wo-
men in the middle. and faced
his enemies.
The Turks flung themselves
in great masses upon his lines,
trying to crush the little force
of Russians by mere numbers :
But Peters brave men re-
mcmbcrcd that Catherine was
inside their hollow square. and
they stood firmly at their posts,
driving back the Turks with
frightful slaughter. Again and
again and again they fell upon
his lines in heavy masses, and
again and again and again
they were driven back. leaving
the field black with their dead.
This could not go on forever,
of course. and both sides saw
what the end must be. AS the
Turks had many times more
men than Peter, it was plain
that they wouldw win by destroy
ing all the Russians.
For three days and nights
the terrible slaughter went on.
Peters men beat back the
Turks at every charge. but
every hour their line grew thin
ner. AT the end of the third
day 10000 of their brave com
rades lay dead upon the field
and only $4,000 remained to
face the enemy.
Toward night on the third
day. a terrible rumor spread
through their camp. a whis-
per ran along the line that the