"Well, if this is the way the king means to carry on war, we shall
have enough of it before we are done."
The sick and wounded were sent into the town, the first thing, but
it was not until the Russians had all crossed the river that the
king, himself, rode triumphantly into the place, surrounded by his
staff, amid the wild enthusiasm of the inhabitants, whom his
victory had saved from ruin and massacre.
The town, although strongly fortified, was not a large one, and its
houses were so dilapidated, from the effects of the Russian
bombardment, that but few of the troops could be accommodated
there. The rest were quartered in the Russian huts. On the 26th, a
solemn service of thanksgiving for the victory was celebrated, with
a salute from all the cannon of the town and camp, and by salvos of
musketry from the troops.
The question of provisions was the most important now. It was true
that large quantities had been captured in the Russian camp, but,
beyond a magazine of corn, abandoned by the fugitives at Tama and
brought in, there was no prospect of replenishing the store when
exhausted, for the whole country, for a great distance round, had
been completely devastated by the Russians. These had not retreated
far, having been rallied by the czar at Plescow, and quartered in
the towns of the frontier of Livonia, whence they made incursions
into such districts as had not been previously wasted.
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