GREAT NORTHERN WAR - PART 2

Peter the Great continued the transformation of the Russian army when he quickly realized that his forces needed a major overhaul. Peter's military outlook during his adolescence and for many years after that was focused on creation of an army and navy of the modern type. He feared and hated the streltsi and he ignored the traditions and principles which underlaid the Russian feudal cavalry. His remoteness from political and court life promoted his military and navy concerns. As a young child he had been given military toys, wooden models of cannons, and firearms. His favorite pursuits were various military games and mock warfare. His arsenal even included some real guns, small braces, and iron cannon. From varied sources (court chamberlains, hunters) he had formed "poteshnya" regiments, the Semenovsky and Preobrazensky, which later became the lifeguard and took an active part in many political events in Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries. These units were engaged in parades and mock battles. They were the pattern for the other troops and had a strength of several thousands, including the noblemen who began to join these regiments. Their barracks and stables were built in Semenovskoye and Preobrazenskoye where the soldiers drilled and exercised. The organization of a modern army required special knowledge, grasp of fortification, and tactics. Peter tried to acquire these subjects.

He was greatly influenced by foreigners who lived in the German Sloboda (suburb) of Moscow and had service in the Russian forces. For instance, F. Sommer from Germany taught Peter gunnery and Timmerman acquainted him with elements of ballistics and fortification. The Dutchman, K. Brand laid the foundations of his intense and lifelong interest in the sea. Among them, two foreign officers, Scotsman and Swiss, Patrick Gordon and Frans Lefort, played the most important role in Peter's training.
Lefort, a native of Geneva, had lived in the German Sloboda since 1676. He had not any political ideas or plans of reforms, moreover he was a man of limited intellectual depth but his capacities as a drinker and his engaging manner made him popular with Sloboda residents. He was genuinely attached to Peter and influenced him greatly. The young tsar made him an admiral and built for Moscow palace for him, which distinguished itself with size and luxury.
Patrick Gordon had service as an officer in Russia since 1661 and was a much older man and force for stability among Peter's entourage. He took part in Golitsin's Crimean campaigns and with other foreign officers helped to turn the tide in favor of Peter. He seems to have been a man of some intellectual pretensions but at the same time Gordon was typical of foreigners who had come to Russia in search of success and came in contact with Peter during drinking bouts. Peter had received from him not only services but practical habits additionally thorough studying some military historical writings.
By the beginning of the 1690's Peter had decided to test his knowledge in real practice. He arranged several maneuvers with artillery and musket fire, hand-to-hand fighting, and others. The last of them "The Game of Mars" at Koshukovo became the forerunner of the future war, which began in the spring of 1695. A new outburst of struggle between Russia and the Ottoman Turks was connected with Russian wishes to provide security for the southern boundaries. The Crimean Tartars continued to carry out constant raids against Russian territory, which were accompanied with burning towns and carrying off of prisoners.

Peter decided to attack the Turkish fortress of Azov situated at the mouth of the Don. In the summer of 1695 the Russian forces set out towards Azov, but the assaults undertaken by the Russian commander were a complete failure. There was not any assistance from Russian ships, which were unable to bar accesses by water to the fortress and to blockade the garrison from the seaside. The main Russian troops were divided into three groups and there were not sufficient interactions between them.
Only the Preoobrazensky and Semenovskoy Regiments demonstrated their advantage over both streltsi and feudal cavalry.
After this failure, Peter faced the need to construct rapidly a navy, especially transport ships. At Dobry, Sokolsky, Voronez, and Kozlov (places on the Don river) he ordered the boyars to build vessels on which troops might be carried down the river to Azov. To improve the siege train miners and engineers were sent from Brandenburg and the Hapsburg Empire.
At the end of May 1696 Russian regiments again reached Azov, partly by land and water. The fortress was isolated from the sea and after a two-month siege the garrison surrendered.
It was Peter's first victory. It presented new opportunities for increasing Russian naval power that might be used for entry into the Black Sea and even into the Mediterranean. Simultaneously the creation of the modern strong army continued. Peter sent a Major of the Preobrazensky Regiment, A. Weide, to Western Europe to collect numerous information about the organization and structure of the best European armies. Weide then composed the text of the first regulations for the Petrine Army.
This elaborate work was intended for training of both the whole army and separate detachments. Later it was expanded and improved by A. Golovin, the author of the "Militaria" exercises. Of very important significance in the creation of the modern army was the Great Embassy of 1697-1698. During this trip, Peter obtained a deep knowledge of engineering, shipbuilding, and other subjects. Many European specialists were invited to Russia. Besides that, scores of Russian volunteers were designated for study of maritime and military subjects abroad. After returning home, these young men mainly remained the new officers corps. It was very important because to produce well drilled officers was much more difficult than to drill troops. The Russian army lacked necessary skills of middle ranking officers and subalterns and Peter attempted to put straight this situation by sending Russian young service men to have service in foreign armies. It was explained that foreign officers were often unpopular with the men they commanded. At the same time many of them were unskilled and incompetent. Peter decided to produce officers for his army in Russia with the help of Weide. He established in the Preobrazensky Regiment the first military school.
Peter himself gave great importance to this method because the native officers corps was still rather weak in both quality and quantity. By the beginning of the Northern War only a small minority of the Russian regiment's officers were foreigners. The majority were the young sons of nobles and serving-men's families who had already completed their training abroad or in the military school. The most important step in the transformation of the Russian military forces was the development of a new system of recruitment.

In November 1699 Peter gave orders for the enlistment of both volunteers and peasant conscripts. The central commission of this levy, led by F. Golovin, was located in Preobrazenskoye. In accordance with new orders volunteers were to have the pay of 11 rubles a year. Their food wage was equal to that given to members of the guard regiments.

Landowners had to nominate one foot soldier from each 50 peasant householders and a cavalryman from each 100. Monasteries and churches must provide a man from their lands for each 25 households. By May using these means the army obtained about 32-33,000 men who formed three divisions of infantry (each was divided into 3 regiments).
The Russian infantry numbered 27 regiments. Each of them had a strength of 1,152-1,170 men. The officers' staff comprised a lieutenant-colonel, major, 9 captains, captain-lieutenant and 11 lieutenants. The first Petrine regiments of infantry consisted of musketeers and pikemen. Separate grenadier companies were established in each regiment.

The privates were armed with flintlock guns, broadsword, and grenades. The sergeants had partizans and the officers had swords and halberds. The overwhelming majority of the Russian cavalry were the feudal units and only two dragoon regiments were formed by sons of nobles and service men.
In this way the reorganization of the Russian forces was incomplete, but Peter was in a harry to embarked on the struggle against Sweden. The most important matter, which attracted Peter's attention was the navy. The fleet was his greatest passion, and during his adolescence he much experimented in shipbuilding on Lake Pleshcheev near Pereyaslavl-Zaleski.
He tried to work with his own hands and forced Preobrazensky soldiers to work as carpenters. His first maritime teachers were foreign shipwrights recruited in England and Netherlands. Later Peter indulged in maritime activity not only at nearby Pereyaslavl but at Arhangelsk, where he also frantically built ships. His visit to England and Holland had confirmed Peter's determination to create a Russian navy. His sea objectives defined to a great extent the character of his every day behavior and moreover influenced on the outlines and plan of policy and reforms not only naval.
From 1693 till 1700 he constructed about 10 shipyards, where crafts of various kinds were assigned. For the second Azov campaign he launched many transport vessels and galleys at shipyards on Don. The first sizable ships of war, "Apostle Petr" and "Apostle Pavel", were launched at Voronezh. A new naval base was built at Taganrog, which was situated 30 miles north-west from Azov.
In accordance with Peter's edicts of 1696 even churches and monasteries had to provide a ship. It applied to merchant companies also. Peter demanded efficient actions from local administration, but the last very often brought to nought his plan in practice. The main characteristic inherited by the Russian administrative structure was sluggishness. Besides that, peasants mobilized for shipbuilding hampered the work. In spite of these difficulties Peter attempted to build the fleet that he wanted.
He, himself, laid the keel of the 58 guns "Predestinatsia", which was considered the most modern ship of Russia. Peter learned himself and sent young men to learn maritime to England and Holland.
In 1698 a school of navigation was established. All naval actions and shipbuilding were controlling by the "Voenny Morskoy Prikaz" set up in the same year. Undoubtedly the power of the Russian navy grew and achievements were made in this sphere. But the further quantity and quality development of Petrine navy was restrained by the lack of an outlet to the Baltic.

Among those who for many years of the war were to follow their Tsar through all his vicissitudes were several persons distinguishing by their merits and qualities as military leaders. For example A. D. Menshikov (1673-1729) was an outstanding statesman, and most intimate associate of Peter. He was of obscure parentage, and according to one version was a vendor of meat pies. At the age of 20 he was taken into the service by Lefort and later became the favorite of Peter and his right hand. Menshikov took part in Azov marches and accompanied Peter on the Great Embassy. He worked in the English and Dutch dockyards and acquired knowledge of colloquial English. During the Northern war he won a series of remarkable victories. He defeated the Swedish troops near and played an important role in the battle at Poltava. Later he showed his talents in the siege of Riga and in the operations in Pomerania and Holstein. Mostly he commanded cavalry, acting impetuously and decisively. He was appointed general-governor of Ingermanland, the first captured province and so he was engaged in building St-Petersburg and reinforcing the northwestern Russian frontiers. But otherwise during Peter's reign he was accused in bribes and corruption. Moreover he was implicated in the Soloviev's process connected with the export of corn. As a part of this operation he misappropriated 100,000 government rubles. After Peter's death, Menshikov supported the accession of Catherine I to the throne and during her reign (1725-1727) was almost absolute. Later he attempted to marry his daughter to the Emperor Peter II, but was overthrown by the old nobility led by Dolgoruki. He was arrested, degraded and exiled to Siberia.
Another representative of the Petrine galaxy of military leaders was F. M. Apraksin, who came from one of the oldest noblest families. He was the first celebrated Russian admiral and the creator of the Russian navy. During the war he defeated the Swedish squadron of Lubeker, captured Viborg, and held the chief command on the Black Sea in the Pruth campaign. In 1713 he took part in the actions in Finland and in 1719- 1720 conducted the landing raids upon Sweden herself, ravaging that unhappy country with fire and sword and thus extorting from her wretchedness the peace of Nystad. He was made a senator and Admiral-General of Russia.
One of the remarkable associates of Peter was B. P. Sheremetev, military leader, General-Fieldmarshal, and diplomat. He began his service as voevoda, took part in actions against the Crimean Tartars. In 1684-86 he conducted the negotiations with Poland and conclude "Eternal peace" treaty. In the Northern War he commanded the Russian gentry cavalry and also large scale units. In spite of his caution and sluggishness he succeeded to win a series of victories in the Baltic provinces. At Poltava battle he commanded the Russian infantry. In Pruth campaign he was Supreme commander of the main Russian forces. His forces acted against Turkey in 1712-1713 and in Pomerania and Meklenburg in 1715-1717.

The beginning of the Northern war.

Siege and battle of Narva.

The two opposite sides entered the war with different hopes and ambitions. In February 1700 Augustus ordered the Saxon troops to invade Livonia and capture Riga. This invasion and a second attempt that took place in May were repulsed by the Swedish troops led by E. Dalber with the aid of units from Finland and Estland. But the Swedish forces were not sufficiently strong to defeat the Saxons. Augustus succeeded in crossing the Dvina in July and without any opposition to sit down before Riga. By this time the Danes had occupied the whole of Holstein and were besieging the strong fortress at Tonning, defended by the Swedish General Baner.

In April Charles arrived at Carscrona to superintend the mobilization of his army and equip his navy. As a result of these preparations the Swedish numbered only several thousands men and had provisions for 5 days. The Danish government was sure in its army's advantage over Charles and relied upon its fleet. But the Swedish squadron under command of Wachtmeister passed through the dangerous strait "Flintfurrow", guarded by Danish vessels. The Charles' army was rowed in large-bottom boats and landed on the coast of Zeland near the capital of Denmark. Frederick IV, the Danish king, was forced to sign with Charles the treaty of Travendal and withdraw from the war. This Swedish triumph greatly influenced Augustus, whose army began to retreat from Riga.

Meanwhile the Swedish forces dashed into Estland and in October reached Pernau. At first Charles planned to march to Riga but later he decided to turn towards Narva, which he considered the key of Estland. Simultaneously the first Russian initiative also was connected with Narva too, because Peter suggested cutting the Swedish land communication between Ingria and Livonia and to draw off the Swedish army from Riga. He realized the significance of this fortress as the strong point over Ingria and attached great importance to the preparations for the future campaign. He assigned an army of about 40,000 men with siege artillery and great train. Peter himself accompanied his forces only as an officer of the Preobrazensky regiment.

Narva was considered a strong fortress with well trained and self- confident garrison. Moreover the access to it was hampered by a wide rampart. It was situated on a narrow neck of land round which the River Narova made a wide bend. Early in October the siege was begun by the Russians protected by a strongly entrenched camp. The siege went badly, there were not sufficient skillful officers and engineers. At the same time Charles had undertaken a march towards the besieged fortress through wasted land along a boggy road and several times Swedes had to bivouac in the open air. But the Russians had not taken their advantage and had neglected to blockade two passes in the Swedish line of march. The 6,000 Russian troops of Sheremetev, who controlled the third way at nearby Puhajoggi, were forced to retire by Swedish cavalry charges. At last on November 19th Charles reached Lagena, which was about 9 miles from Narva. Two days before, Peter had abandoned the camp and gone to Novgorod to organize the despatch of reinforcements. Probably he did not expect a successful result of the future engagement. The supreme command was transferred to the Duke de Croy, who was a spectator and stranger to Russia. He himself surrendered to the Swedes after several non-Russian officers were killed by soldiers who suspected them of treachery. Early in the morning of the November 20th in a snow-storm the Swedes surprised the Russian regiments, most of which were in a panic. The Swedish cavalry dispersed the Russian feudal cavalry on the flanks and Charles' regiments broke through the center of the Russian position. Only Peter's former "poteshnya" succeeded in repulsing Swedish attacks, and they continued to fight until the 21st, when they were completely surrounded. All Russian cannons were lost and almost the whole officers corps was captured. The casualties of Russians were about 5,000 men. It was real tragedy for Peter and his army. The first period of the Northern War ended gloriously for Charles XII, who had displayed his military gifts and merits of leadership.

Reconstruction and changes after Narva.

The Narva crushing showed the Russian army was still far from the best European patterns. Peter realized his military machine was in need of more radical changes. He attempted a series of reforms with energy and persistence. He attached great importance to improving the recruiting system, to make it more unified, difficulties in this way were explained by the fragmentary information, which was sent by local administration.
In 1705 a decree was promulgated, which established a new recruiting mechanism. Each 20 households had to provide a man between 15 and 20 years and fit for service. Beginning from this year and until Poltava battle there were arranged several levies for cavalry and infantry and special ones for the navy. These actions were heavy burdens for Russians more or less on all classes. The mobilization points were spread over the country and were under the control both military and local administration.
The possibilities of reduction in the scale of the levy appeared after the Poltava victory. However, the total strength of the army remained formidable. For example 42 field infantry regiments numbered more then 62,000 men and 33 cavalry units had a total strength of 44,000 men. Besides that, garrison forces included 2 regiments of dragoons and 30 of infantry - totally about 44,000 men, including artillery detachments.
The separate militia forces in Ukraine and Baltic provinces were composed from former soldiers and irregular forces, cossacks first of all, and reached the strength of about 100,000 men. Peter strove to improve his army not only in quantity but quality. One of his military reforms was the reorganization of the unit structure, which became more harmonious and regular. Henceforth the regular Russian infantry regiment was divided into two battalions, seven fusilier and one grenadier companies and 36 plutons. The cavalry regiment, represented by dragoons, comprised five squadrons and ten companies including one of grenadiers. The division of infantry consisted of 2-3 brigades. The cavalry formation was similar.
Great importance was attached to "korvolant" -special cavalry corps, accompanied by artillery. It was intended for the carrying out of strategic tasks. The only weapons required by regulations for infantry privates was the "fusia" with bayonet, and sword. Officers had partizans and sword and NCO's were armed besides that with halberds. The cavalry main weapon consisted of sword, broadsword, musket, and sometimes a pair of pistols.

Under Peter the cavalry used firearms much less frequently and relied mostly on cold weapons. Peter's cavalry initially was still composed of gentry, reitary, and hussars. After 1708 these detachments were admitted into the dragoons. The year before this transformation a separate hussar command was created. That way one of the most important tasks was settled and Peter succeeded to turn the nation's forces into a regular standing army of proper balance between infantry and cavalry. By 1704, as a result of Peter's reforms, his army comprised two guards, five grenadiers, forty-seven regiments of infantry and thirty-three of cavalry. The Russian artillery was amended by improvement and modernization both technically and tactically. Artillery was initially allotted as follows: regimental, battlefield, siege and fortress. All these kinds of artillery comprised mortars, howitzers (of one and two pounders), field and position guns (of three, six, eight, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four pounders). Each regiment of infantry and dragoon had three pdr mortars and 18, 24 inc. guns. The artillery regiment in 1712 consisted of one bombard and four cannoneer companies and also a miner's company, pontoon and engineer's crews.
During Peter's reign, line tactics was perfected in accordance with the new technology. Optimally the infantry detachments were arranged in two lines in the center of the battle order with cavalry on either flank. Usually the artillery was placed in a line in front of the order in theory, but flexibility in the positioning and use of artillery was strongly recommended and practiced. Fire power was preparation for the hand-to-hand fight.
Under Peter, the Russians perfected the strategy of maneuver in linear formation, and developed tactical ideas of active battle. Besides that they learned to pursue an enemy. And this element can be regarded as a sign of the professionalization of the Petrine army. As to the engineer art and engineer troops, Peter attempted to use European experience but at the first time more in theory. During early campaigns, -Azov and Koshukov- he did not attach importance to arrangement of lunets, conterscarps, and even entrenchments. The single traditional engineer means for Russians was the "Gulaj gorod", one of the kind of "Wagenburg".
Later, after defeat at Narva, Peter realized the necessity of using intensively the achievements of European engineering art. Already the first operations of the Northern War showed the Russians successfully putting into practice some engineering methods. For instance, during the sieges of the Swedish fortress, the Russians applied efficiently high angle fire of howitzers, undermining of walls, and arrangement of false strong points. During assaults, there were totally used storm's escapes and cross fire. European tactics assumed also using of field entrenchments, which divided into namely field and temporary. The first kind erected before battle as it was at Poltava, during sieges, crossings, and landing operations. Often erecting of field entrenchments was carried out without any protection. Temporary entrenchments were used mainly as separate strong points which were arranged along borders, as occurred in 1705-1708, when Peter waiting the offensive of Charles XII, bade commanders to erect the line of fortification on the north-west of Russia. By the end of war the Russian army had been fully adopted to modern means and methods of engineer art.
One of Peter's innovations dealt with reorganization of command. He introduced a General staff and General-Fieldmarshall was considered as head of the army. Also he gathered a Military Council, which was regarded as the Supreme Body in ruling of army and conducting of war actions.
The quality of its officers remained a weak point of the Russian army but much was improved. The importance of foreigners declined. In 1706 they ceased to be promoted automatically to higher rank. However in artillery and engineering troops the majority of the officers were foreigners. This situation was changed by the War College in 1721, which ordered that only Russians might be promoted to officer rank in artillery. Whereby Russia attempted to achieve a self sufficient military power. All reforms required accordingly a reorganization of the administrative system. It was clear that the old machine of Prikazy had exhausted itself. Peter decided to replace it and in 1718-1719 established 13 colleges. Some of them were intended to control and supervise the army - War College and Navy College. These establishments were connected with administration of the provinces, which were liable for the accomplishment of the recruitment, provision, forage, shipbuilding and others. The immense war and Peter himself compelled the administrations of at all levels to be engaged into the military reforms and in the first turn they were made responsible for collections of taxes. During the war, Peter established new kinds of extraordinary taxes, for instance, dragoon money, ship money, recruits money, and others. Besides that, local settlements had to provide great amounts of food and forage for army and navy. The supplies of this kind were brought from all districts and provinces. The growing weight of taxation was added to by the Russian peasants's obligation to take part in construction of new fortress, roads, rafts, and bridges. Thousands of men were mobilized for this work and the action was accompanied by harsh and ruthless methods. Most of the workers were recruited by compulsion and the government did not take care of their health and normal conditions. The natural reaction to these measures was flight, mainly to the cossacks. In spite of this circumstance Peter had turned out well to increase military and to some extent made his ambitious projects a reality. One of the most important directions of the tzar's activity was militarisation and modernization of industry. The growth of the army and navy gave an impetus to contain kinds of economic development. During the first several years of the war Peter embarked on a major industrial program. He encouraged the production of all products that were more and less were good for his forces. So there were arranged new iron metallurgy factories in the Urals and the first copper foundry on government initiative. The production of iron increased from 120,000 - 150,000 r. to 1,165,000 r. Peter even ordered that church bells be melted down to provide metal for casting cannons. There was a remarkable introduction of new technology in the Tula arm foundry where skilled masters worked. The metal industry complex at Petrozavsky in Karelia had became one of the most efficient iron producing area in Russia. If in the beginning of the XVIII century many batches of muskets, guns, and pistols were brought to Russia from Europe, after some years later Russian arms industry almost fully satisfied the requirements of government and supreme command in fire and pointed weapons. There was established an arms factory at Sestroreck near St. Petersburg, which was specialized not only on production of order but decorative and parade swords and guns. The Northern War was ended impetus for establishment and development of light industry. There were arranged state-owned textile factories in Moscow and Voronezh, which provided uniforms for army and navy. Clothes and dyes for this production were brought from England, Germany, and Turkey. Russian artisans and merchants arranged their privately owned tanneries producing harness, gloves, hats, and other leather things. Russian increased and improved army industry was one of the greatest achievement of Peter's reign. Upon it based the impressive growth of Russian army and decisive victory in war. Simultaneously, the rise of industry had an influence on the strengthening of the Russian navy. Shipbuilding continued to be favorite object of Peter. He endeavored to increase the quantity of shipyards and the achievement of an outlet in 1703 to the Baltic gave the opportunity to do it. The whole rank of shipyards was created on nearby Baltic shores Svirskaya, Oloneskaya, St. Petersburg's, where frigates, ships of line, and transport vessels were launched. This unprecedented scale of shipbuilding rapidly brought about the creation of a powerful Baltic fleet which was a real threat to Sweden and England. More then 500,000 rubles average was being spent on the navy every year. By Peter's death the Russian navy numbered 48 frigates and ships of line, apart from small vessels, manned by 28,000 men. Peter realized his navy suffered from a shortage of well trained, skillful officers. To prepare officers for the navy was more difficult then for the army, apart from engineering troops, and the navy was more dependent on foreigners. Peter set up a school of navigation at Moscow in 1701, but during his reign foreign officers of all ranks and various specialists continued to be indispensable to the Russian navy. The radical changes took place in the navy supreme administration. The Admiralty Prikaz was established in 1701 supervising the shipbuilding. Later, in 1718-19 the Admiralty College came into existence as the supreme organ of the Russian navy. In 1720 Peter composed The Morskoi Ustav, which regularized the organization of navy, order of service, and determined the duties of marines. This elaborate regulation was based on modern foreign codes and corresponding documents. After Peter's death, it was clear his efforts and energies were largely wasted. His successors on the Russian throne did not attach any importance to a fleet. Harbors remained neglected and vessels were destroying themselves in their docks.

The Russian campaign in Ingria

Peter was disappointed by the first results of the war. Charles' victory at Narva opened a straight path for him towards Pskov, Novgorod and even Moscow.
But the Swedish king preferred to hurl his forces against Augustus II, considering Peters's army be routed. He placed a 6,000 man unit at Dorpat and in the summer of 1701 with 11,000 men set out towards Riga. In accordance with the treaty sighed in Birsej in February 1701, Peter had to send an auxiliary corps led by A. Repnin to join the Saxons. In his turn Charles received reinforcements and had all prospects of success.
On June 27th there was a battle at Riga. Charles planned to attack the Saxon troops from all directions. The regiments of Fieldmarshal Shtenau were not able to repulse the massive frontal attack of Swedish infantry and the impetuous charges of dragoons on his flanks. Repnin did not take any part in this engagement. After that, the Saxons were forced to retreat to Kurland, and Russian forces turned out rapidly to Pskov. Charles had determined to crush the Saxons and undertook to march to Lithuania hoping to find a serviceable ally in the Lithuanian shlacht, who were hostile to Augustus.
But following this plan "Charles XII had got tied up in Poland", as Peter said. The Russian Tzar decided to take advantage of this situation and took the offensive in the Baltic region. He attempted to protect the northwest borders of Russia and assembled there rather numerous forces numbering more then 40,000 men.
In August B. Sheremetev succeeded in defeating the Swedish troops at Ryapina Myza, capturing 800 men, and Rimsky-Korsakov routed Swedish units at Pevka. Peter had formed a separate corps (18,000 men) under command of Sheremetev and moved him to Lifland. At the end of December 1701 he attacked general Schilenbach's regiments and dispersed them by cavalry charges.
In all these engagements the Russians out-numbered the Swedes by several times. A second time the opponents clashed themselves near Hummelsgoth. In July 1702 Swedes halted cossack and Tatar charges and undertook the counter offensive. Only with assistance of the main body Sheremetev succeeded to press them. At the same time Apraksin acted successfully against Kroniort on River Izora and forced him to retire. Sheremetev forced the surrender of the garrison of the fortress Marienburg, where, among captives, was Marta Skavronskaya, the future wife of Peter and after his death Russian empress.
After these victories, Peter composed the project of capturing Noteburg, the strong Swedish fortress at the mouth of the Neva River on Lake Ladoga. Its garrison numbered only 450 men but with 150 guns. Peter had come to the fortress at the head of his guard. He had 13 vessels dragged around the island by land. So the garrison found itself in utter isolation. On October 13th Peter ordered Golitsyn and Karpov to begin a storm. Their boated units attacked but were forced to retreat faced with enfilade. Menshikov had arranged the second action and his forces of about 500 succeeded to burst through the walls. Noteburg was captured.
A few months later in April 1703 Sheremetev with 20,000 men besieged fortress Nyenskans situated on the right bank of the Neva. He encamped and entrenched and placed several batteries of siege artillery. The commandant had rejected the overture of capitulation. But intensive artillery fire compelled the Swedes surrender.
After that, very soon the Russians won a remarkable victory. The guard in boats led by Peter himself and Menshikov surprised in early morning May 5th the Swedish vessels "Astrild" and "Gedan" and captured them. For this exploit Peter and Menshikov were rewarded with the first Russian order - of Saint Andrei. It was the first marine victory over the Swedes in the Northern War.
All these successful actions allowed Peter to begin strengthening and fortifying districts near the Neva and Finish gulf. He set up a new city, St. Petersburg -the future capital of the Russian Empire.
Simultaneously he began the building of a new fortress of Kronshtadt - Kronshlott, which was regarded as the main strong point of the Baltic fleet.

As was said, Charles XII took great importance to the struggle in Poland and spent men and money for it and this indeed meant some corresponding weakening of the Swedish hold on the Baltic provinces. So the Swedish garrisons in Ingria had no prospects of getting reinforcements.
In May and June the old Russian towns of Jam and Kopor'ye fell into the hands of Sheremetev and Wreden. The Swedish units, led by Kroniort, attempted to take the offensive along the bank of the Sestra River, but were hurled back from the Finnish gulf.
At the beginning of July Swedes made efforts again to recapture a position of the Neva district. At the same time a Swedish squadron moved towards St. Petersburg.
The danger of the capture of Kronshtadt was probable. But the fire of shore artillery and activity of forces led by Petersburg senior commandant R. Bruce repulsed this invasion. Meanwhile Peter deployed the offensive in Estland and ordered Sheremetev to move towards Derpt. After intensive artillery fire of batteries placed on the hills round the fortress, its garrison surrendered.
The Russians lost 314, Swedish casualties were about 811 men and 1,383 captives. Narva remained the last Swedish strong point in Ingria. Its garrison had a strength of 4,555 men with 432 guns. The Swedes attempted to assist the blockaded fortress but Russian artillery repulsed the attack of squadron of De Prua who planned to land troops.
On one day of siege the Russians succeeded to hoodwinking the Swedes. A few Russian units were disguised in Swedish uniforms and thereby part of the garrison was enticed from the fortress and crushed. During 10 days the Russian artillery was shelling the fortress but commandant Horn rejected surrender. Peter undertook a storm, which was accompanied with massacre of town people and brought about the capitulation.
The results of Ingria campaigns was Peter's control over important stretch of coastline on the Finnish gulf. Russia received the outlet to the Baltic.

Link to Part 3=- Great Northern War