The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-07-07
Battles Which Made the WOrd---Blen]eim and PultoWa

cd for 400 league, protected only by
Lcwenhaupt. who with larg force
an invaluable convoy Of supplies march
cd full twelve days march behind his
I lord. Napoleon condemns this dispose
ton as incXcusablc laundering.
The czar meanwhile had collected
WAS much inferior to the conquer
ing Swcdcs. but il seemed TO learn
stcadincss AMI general ship from Its
defeats. In September Peter with an
overwhelming force nf $4,000 fell upon
the floundcring Lewenhaupt. who was
striving TO join Charles in the Ukraine.
For three days Lew enhaupt struggled
against The impossible odds. finally cut
| ting himself loose. but abandoning his
cannon and ammunition. together with
his convoy of provisions. and reaching
Charles with only 1000 Of his original
! Is 900. On very short rations the stout
hearted Swedes pulled through the win
ter in the Ukraine. advancing in tho
spring until they brought UP against
the town Of Pultuwa, which command
ed the passes to Moscow and which
had been made by the Russians great
depot Of supplies. II was heavily for
tilted. its garrison resisted sturdily
and Peter, kcenly alive TO the impor-
tuncc Of the post. advanced TO It's re-
lief In June with an army OF 10000
mch.
Possession OF Pultowa would give
Charles the supplies he needed. so sore
~. as well 90 u secure base for his OPP
crations against Moscow. He pressed
the siege hGtly. his cannon laundering
night and day, but the cZar. maneuvcr-
ing with no mean skill, crossed the
NIrSkla and pnslC.! his army on the
same Side uf the river with the be-
siegcrs but Il little higher up. The
Eorksla falls ntn the Borysthenes Is
leagues below lultuwa. The Russian
line stretched from river 10 river 1t
WAS Peters design TO drive the Swedes
back into tn" acute angle formed by
the Two rivers and there overwhelm
them.
Against The Muscovites Charles OPP
posed "i.00p mon, his force having
been greatly reduced by battle. sick
ness and famine. He himself had been
severely wounded in the foot during. a
recent skirmish. but mainGIining that
his dignity required he should be the
assailant and that he should lead the
TO the front IN Il litter and waving on
command and encouragement from
this couch he headed his army out Of
tho trenches.
So furious WIS the Swedish onslaught
that two OF III. Russian rGdoubiS were
actually carried and the Swedish infan-
try raised III" cry Of victory, yrt inc
their guns while fresh masses of troops
were poured In to their support. Never
was the ancient Swedish vnlor more
eloriousIy cxrmplihad than upon that
dreadful day. yet the Swedish line final
IL broke before the Russian works.
whcrcupon The car himself led his in
fantry ana cavalry outside the fortilca-
lions, formed them steadily under lire
and advanced over the open ground.
Both sovcreigns w"r" In the thick Of
the fray. They battlcd as medieval
knights. welding sword alonsdc tho
On valrymcn IF their bodyguardS and
striving desperately to turn the day.
which for two hours hung in the bal
arce.
But. heavily outnumbered. the Swcd"S
finally fell into disorder. Instantly the
Russians launched a terrific charge. The
Swedes were completely routed, rushing
Gown 10 the junction or the rivers.
where they persisted in the waters or
surrendered L. their enemies. Only
few hundred escaped by swimming tho
river. among them Charles and Mazcppa.
who made their way into Turkish terri
tory. Nearly 10000 lay dead or wound
cd on tho bloody field.
The peace Of Nystadt transferred the
falrest possessions Of Sweden TO Russia.
Russian attacks on Turkey and Persia