Rebellion of Stenko Razin

Prince Dolgorouki, who commanded in the Russian Ukraine, was desirous of retaining a Cossack regiment for some time longer that he was warranted in doing by the stipulations agreed upon with the Cossacks, who had just previously thrown themselves into the arms of E/Ussia, and which stipulations had been formally ratified by the Czar Alexy. The soldiers refused to remain, and with their colonel, Razin, at their head, marched ofi" home. The Russian general had the colonel seized, brought privately back to the Russian camp, and there hanged under his own eyes. This colonel had a brother, named Stenko Razin, a simple Cossack soldier in the ranks, but whose lofty and enterprising character, uncommon courage, strength of body, and skill in military affairs, greatly distinguished him above all the rest of his companions. Indignant at the infamous treatment experienced by his brother, he swore an oath of vengeance for the injury, and to extend that vengeance to all that bore the name of Russian. For the moment, however, he managed to restrain his feelings, and, under the appearance of submission, to gain the favour of his superiors, whilst at the very time he was secretly nourishing the flames of discord, and spreading the seeds of revolt. Under the pretext of avenging their outraged religion, he assembled a body of his companions, and proceeded privately with them towards the Don, in order, as he gave out, to free all the Cossacks from the Muscovite yoke. Pursued by superior forces, he pushed forward to the Volga, and, after having taken the command of all the robbers and banditti there congregated, and of as many Cossacks as he could gather together, he attacked and took possession of a rich caravanne, which the czar was sending to Persia, escorted by one of his favourites; enrolled such of the soldiers as were willing to enter his service, and had all the rest massacred without pity, together with their officers. He then descended the Volga, gained the shores of the Caspian Sea, and surprised the town of Goui-ief, at the mouth of the laik (now Ouralsek). The fame of his robberies and his victories brought him a numerous accession of partisans and of vagabonds attracted by the hope of plunder. Prince Khilkuf, the governor of Astrakhan, alarmed at his success, sent him a deputation of officers to offer him a free pardon, on condition of his returning to his allegiance to the czar. Razin received these officers at first with great politeness, and then had them all put to death in his presence. The governor, having some misgiving as to their fate, despatched a regular division of the army, under Siverof, against Stenko Razin; but the latter, still retreating, enticed his pursuer into a disadvantageous position, and cut his army to pieces. He then attacked and took by surprise the town of latskoy (Ouralsk), where he had all the officers hanged, and all the soldiers who refused to submit to his orders massacred. In this fortified position, at the -extremity of Russia, surrounded by fearful deserts, and by savage hordes impatient of the Muscovite yoke. he used every possible means to attach the half-savage Cossacks of the laik to his cause. He organised and disciplined his troops, increased his flotilla, and, anticipating that he must very shortly be attacked, despatched emissaries in all directions to rouse the spirit of insurrection. He descended the Volga, seized upon all the merchant-vessels, and annihilated the Russian fleet, that had just been sent out against him. He attacked Persia, after having augmented his forces by the incorporation with them of another famous band of Cossack corsairs, led by Krivoy, who came voluntarily to place himself and followers under his orders. In the course of a very short time they, together, sacked several towns, and beat the Persian army, giving out that they so did by order of the czar. As, however, the united force of Persia threatened to crush them at once, they retreated towards the mouth of the laik, amongst the islands, or rather forests, of reeds and osier-beds, which there formed an asylum inaccessible to any other vessels save their own light barks, and where they made provision of food, ammunition, and military stores, previously to recommencing their piracies and excursions for propagating rebellion.