New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
WHAT A SMALL ARMY DID TO RUSSIA
EIGHT THOUSAND SVEDES DEFEATED PETER THE
GREAT AND EIGHTY THOUSAND TROOPS

At a time when rumors OF war between Russia
and Japan and impending hostilities between other
nations are on the daily programme OF worlds
Incidents when the strong and weak points or the
armies and navies OF the respective powers are
rninutely discussed and commented upon oy ex-
perts and when the personalities Of the rulers and
generals of the contending forces and the justice
Of their respective causes are daily submitted Tor
public Judgment and opinion. short account OF
how Charles XII. the young King OF sweden az
the head of a heroic little army Of eight thousand
loyal subjects little over two hundred years ago
defeated Peter the Great Of Russia and his army OF
eighty thousand will no doubt. prove Of general
interest.
History in this case. in many others. proves
that victory does not always attend the army hu-
ercaIly the strongest but that success more often
denards ON resourcefuiness decision. quick action
and the fact Of knowing how and when TO foilo"
up advantages gained. The following incident FUR
Their shows that Charles XII. whom the great VOL
taIre allied the most extraordinary man. perhaps
that ever appeared IN the world. was not oaly
mos. generous and noble hearted roe. but also
most strenuous exponent OF what has been styled
IN these latter DAYS "shirtsleeve diplomacy. he
placed but little faith in the rice ana intS'cate
peace propositions of his owE diplomats rope
sentatives and those Of enemies. and insisted on
conducting peace negotiations himself AT the Place
whore he had gained the victory. The following
historical incident also shows the douo!e-deahngs
OF the Muscovite ambassadors attached to Charies
court who had sworn to preserve 'invtolaole
peace"
The founder OF the Russian Empire. Peter the
Great was ambitious Of being conqueror. and he
wanted a port on the east side OF the Baltic 10
facilitate the execution Of his numerous schemes
He wanted the Province Of lngria TO the northeast
OF Idvonia. Tho Swedes were in possession OF IT,
and from them he resolved to take II BY force and
he therefore made a league with the King OF 20
land TO wrest from young Charles MI all the terrl
tories bounded by the Gulf OF Finland, the baItc
Sea Poland and Aiuscovy. NOltaire described the
ssypelI do
pable OF enduring the greatest fatigue. want and
hunger Born with military genius and high
spirit they are more brave than Industrious. hav-
ing long neglected. and even at present but little
cutivatng, the arts OF commerce.
Realizing the danger which beset his country
Charles who formerly had been fond OF gayety and
dress resigned his magnihcence and INDUCED no
longer in sports and recreations. but henceforth
never clad otherwise than as a common soldier lie
hardly ever assisted the council OF state. but at
this critical moment his councillors happened 10
hold a elaboration in his presence concerning the
dangerous situation OF affairs Some OF the mem
bers proposed to avert the storm by negotiations.
when all OF a sudden Charles arose. with an air Of
gravity and assurance, like man OF superior con-
sequence who has chosen his side. Gentlemen
said he 81 am resolved never to begin an unjust
war nor ever 70 finish just one but by the de-
struction OF my enemies. My resolution is fixed.
Will attack the first that shall declare against me.
and, after having conquered him. hope shall be
able to strike terror into the rest The old coun-
King. but they dared not reply They received his
orders for the war with admiration Charles at
once took the offensive. dispatched fleet TO Copen-
hagen. the Danish capital and defeated the army
and navy Of the King Of Denmark. who was IN
league with Peter the Great against Charles. IN
war which lasted less than six weeks. Charles
was then eighteen years old. Exactly at this time
the King Of Poland invested Riga. the capital OF
Livonia and the Gar was advancing on the east
at the head OF nearly a hundred thousand men.
Riga was defended by the old Count Dalberg.
Swedish general. who at the age of eighty. joined
all the fire OF youth TO the experience OF Sixty
campaigns He bafied all the efforts OF the enemy,
ard the King OF Poland. after despairing OF being
able TO take the town. laid hold OF an honorable
pretext for raising the siege which he did The
only thing that Charles had now to do toward the
finishing of his first campaign was 70 march
against his rival in glory Peter Ae&iovitch. he
was the more exasperated against him as there
were stin at Stockholm thres Muscovite ambassa-
doris who had lately sworn 10 the renewal or an
inviolabe peace Possessed Of the most incorrupti-
bio integrity. he could not conceive how legis-
lator like the Car should make jest OF what
ought to be held sacred. The Emperor OF Muscovy
had just published a manifesto. in which he alleged
the reason OF the war the little respect that
had been shown him when he went incognito TO
Riga and the extravagant prices his ambassadors
had been obliged pay for provisions. Such were
the mighty injuries for which he ravaged lnsrla
with eighty thousand men! At the head or this
81 eat army. he appeared before Narva on October
J.,
The Muscovites had hundred and fifty cannon,
but hardly able TO make a breach, while the
artillery of Narva moved down at every discharge
whole ranks of the enemy in their trenches. Narva
was almost without fortihcations; Baron Horn. who
commanded there. had not thousand regular
troops: and yet Peters immense army could not
reduce II in six weeks. On November Is the Car
learned that the King of Sweden had crossed the
sea with two hundred transports. and was adj
vanclng to the relief Of Narva. The Swedes were
not above twenty thousand strong. Not content
with eighty thousand men. the Gear resolved to
oppose to Charles another army still. and to check
his progress at every step. He had already given
orders for the march OF about thirty thousand
men, who were advancing from Pleskov with great
expedition and resolved TO shut up Charles MI
between two armies. y detachment of thirty
thousand from the camp before Narva
posted at a leagues distance from the city. d.
rectly in the King OF Sweden's road; twenty thou
sand Strelitz were placed further of. upon the
same road. and Ave thousand others composed an
advance guard Before reaching the camp. which
was fortified with rampant and double fosse
Charles must necessarily force his way through all
these troops. The King of Sweden had landed a.
Pernau in the Gulf of Riga with about sixteen
thousand foot and little than four thousand
horse. From Pernau he made flying march 10
Revel.
followed by all his cavalry and by only four thou
sand foot. He always marched In the van of his
army without waiting for the rear He soon found
himself. with his eight thousand men only before
the first post of the enemy. He Immediately re-
solved without the least hesitation TO attack them
one after another before they could possibly learn
with what small number they had to engage.