THE BATTLE OF CLISSOW 261

Major-general Schlippenbach, who had sent an urgent re-
quest for aid, as he heard that the Russian army fifty thou-
sand strong was preparing to cross the frontier, and as he
had but six thousand he could not hope to oppose their
advance successfully.

As the king’s orders enjoined the troops to march with
the greatest possible speed, they performed the journey
back to Warsaw in four days, although the distance exceeded
a hundred miles. Mounted messengers had been sent on
before them, and on reaching the town they found boats
already prepared to take them down the river to Danzic,
where orders had already been sent for ships to be in readi-
ness to convey them to Revel. ‘The fatigues since the cam-
paign opened had been severe, and the troops all enjoyed
the long days of rest while the craft that conveyed them
dropped quietly down the Vistula. Then came the short
sea-passage.

On their arrival at Revel bad news met them. They had
come too late. On the 16th of July the Russian army had
passed the frontier, and the Swedes had tried to oppose
them at the passage of the river Embach; but the water was
low from the effects of a long drought, and the Russians
were enabled to ford it at several points. The Swedes fell
upon those who first crossed, and for two hours repulsed
their attacks, obtaining at some points considerable advan-
tage and capturing some guns, but as fresh reinforcements
poured across the river the tide of battle turned. The
Russian cavalry drove back the Swedish horse, who, as they
retreated, rode through the infantry and threw them 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