CHAP. XVII.] CHARLES XII. 'S CAVALRY. 



303 



resistance, while they would be at the same time attacked 

 in flank by the wings which were advanced. Charles, 

 aided by Field-Marshal Ehoinfeld, formed his army for a 

 final effort, the infantry being in the centre, the cavalry 

 on the wings. Peter the Great adopted a similar for- 

 mation, advancing all his line from the entrenchments, 

 and moving six regiments of cavalry from the right wing 

 to the left. Then at nine o'clock in the morning the 

 action recommenced on the Russian left, and soon ex- 

 tended along the whole front of the two armies. After 

 a desperate struggle the Swedes were utterly defeated, 

 large numbers being slain and many more being taken 

 prisoners. The pursuit of the Swedes was vigorously 

 kept up. The debris of the army under General 

 Lcevenhaupt had reached Perevolotzna on the banks of 

 the Dnieper, but were unable to cross, before General 

 Prince Mentchikoff with a large force of cavalry, with as 

 many infantry, carried en croupe, came up, and sum- 

 moned them to surrender. After a short parley they 

 .surrendered to the number of 14,000 men. The King 

 of Sweden with a handful of men succeeded in escaping 

 into Turkey. 



The victory was one of the most decisive in the 

 world's history, and shows great military ability on the 

 part of the Emperor, in the skilful manner in which he 

 arranged his redoubts, and supported bis cavalry with 

 artillery and infantry. In fact we see in this battle a 

 further development of the idea of the mutual support 

 between the mounted and iufiiutry services. 



