hem into disorder. These were
attacked by the Russians before they could recover from their
confusion, and were almost entirely destroyed or taken prisoners.

The general, and many of the mounted officers, effected their
escape, rallied the broken cavalry, and fell back towards Revel.
The Russians spread over the country and plundered it, burning the
little town of Valk, murdering its inhabitants, and carrying off
into slavery the whole of the population who fell into their hands.

The arrival of the three regiments was hailed with much
satisfaction by the people of Revel, who feared that the Russians
might besiege the town. They did not, however, approach within many
miles, but, after completely wasting the country, retired across
the frontier.

The victory that had been gained over the Swedes at Embach, and the
destruction of the greater part of General Schlippenbach's force,
enabled the czar to turn his arms against Ingria, the extreme
eastern province of Sweden, which included the shores of Lake
Ladoga and the whole of the coast of the Baltic between Narva and
Finland. Urgent messages were sent by the governor of that province
to General Schlippenbach, requesting him to send him aid, as he had
not even sufficient men to garrison the walled towns. The general
was, however, afraid that Narva would be again besieged, and he
therefore dared not reduce his small force to any considerable
degree, but drew one company from each of the three regiments, and
embarked them on board a ship for the mouth of the Neva.

As there seemed little prospect of service, for a time, near Revel,
all the officers were eager that their company should be chosen for
the service in Ingria. Colonel Jamieson therefore said:

"I do not wish to choose one company more than another; all can
equally be depended upon. Therefore, I think the fairest way will
be to draw lots as to which shall go."

The lot fell upon Charlie's company, which therefore formed part of
the expedition. On reaching the mouth of the Neva, they heard that
the town of Notteburg, situated at the point where the Neva issues
from the lake, was already besieged by the Russians, and that the
Swedish vessels on the lake had been obliged to come down the
river. A fort had been raised by the Russians on the bank, to
prevent succour being conveyed into the town, and two thousand men
had crossed the river and occupied a small redoubt on the northern
side, so that the town was comp