b o o k p a r t o f t h e a rm y o n t h e D a n u b e m i g h t n o w b e em p lo y e d
* ■ a g a in f t h im , h e foon- c h a n g e d h i s p la n o f o p e r a t io n s .
He marched down the Volga, routed at Dubofka a party
under the command o f Baron Dies, ftormed Penfa and
Saratof, where the governor efcaped only with fifty fol-
diers, and got pqffeifion of. Demitrefik by treachery, and
executed the commander. Near that fortrefs the aftro-
nomer Lowitz, member o f the Academy o f Sciences, who
was employed in levelling the projected canal between the
Don and Volga, was murdered in a moft inhuman manner.
In this inftance infult was added to cruelty : being informed
that he was an aftronomer, Pugatchef wantonly ordered
him to- be transfixed upon pikes and raifed in the air, in
order to be nearer the ftars •, and in that fituation he was
maffacred by the command, and in the prefence, o f the barbarian.
But the enormities o f this monfter were foon clofed by a
fate which he had long deferved. The court, no longer
embarrafled with a Turkifli war, was able to turn its whole
attention towards crufhing this diftant rebellion ; and count
Peter Panin, who bad diftinguirfhed himfelf by the taking o f
Bender, was font againft the inapoftor. That able general,
moving towards the Volga, detached feveral regiments to the
afliftance of colonel Michaelfon, who, llrengthened by this
reinforcement, forced Pugatchef to raife the fiege o f Tzarit-
zin, drove him towards Tchernoyarik, cut offhis provifions,.
and finally attacked him unawares as he was marching with:
hishalf-ftarved multitude, embarrafled with a large train of
loaded carriages and women who followed his camp. The
rebel army being furprized in a defile between two ridges o f
mountains
mountains which run towards the Volga, was entirely routed ;
many were cut to pieces.; more, as they were endeavour-
ing to efcape, Were precipitated down the fteep precipices
with their horfes and carriages ; and the greateft part o f
the remainder furrendered at difcretion. Pugatchef) after
many defperate efforts o f valour, efcaped with a few o f his
principal followers by fwimming aciofs the Volga, and retired
through the defert towards the river Ufem, where he
had begun his firft expedition. Here he was gradually de-
ferted by his followers, who were worn out with mifery and
hunger, and was at laft betrayed by thofe in whom he placed
the greateft confidence. Tvogorof a Coffac o f Iletz, and
Tchumakef and Fidulef Coffacs o f Yaitilc, were induced by
the promife o f a pardon to betray him. One o f thefe perfons
reprefented to the impoftor, that, furrounded as he was by
the enemy, he could entertain no hopes o f fafety, and advifed
him to refign himfelf into the hands o f the Ruffians upon
condition o f receiving a pardon. Pugatchef, however, was
fo enraged at this propofal, that he drew his dagger, and attempted
to ftab the author o f ftieh daftardly advice ; upon
which his companions inftantly difarmed, bound, and conducted
him a prifoner to a corps o f troops polled upon the
river Yaik under general Savorof’s orders. He was conveyed
to the town o f Yaitik ; and from thence delivered to
count Panin at Simbirfk, who font him, with his principal
confederates, to Mofcow ; where he arrived in the month o f
November, 1774-
Being examined, he acknowledged all the circumftances
o f his impofture, and was publickly beheaded in the city o f
Mofcow, on the z i f t o f January. His body was then quartered,
and expofed in different places o f the city.
L a Nothing