That town, situated on the banks of the la'ik, on the verge of a bleak desert, and noted for some fine buildings and extensive commerce with the most remote parts of Asia; at a great distance from the centre of the Russian empire; fortified also by art and nature, was an excellent place of defence, and well suited his purposes. He expected also to find money there and some partisans. He would have taken it by storm, stratagem, or bribery, had not the garrison of Krasno'iark cut its way through the rebel army. Soon afterwards the Baskirs and the Kirghis, the remainder of those ferocious and barbarous hordes which followed the star of Bathu-Khan, and who were nominally subject to Russia, weary of the Russian yoke, and longing for pillage and rapine, joined the impostor's ranks. The Nogay Tatars, inhabiting formerly the deserts of Boodziak, not far from the ancient country of the Zaporogues, and whom Russia transplanted to the banks of the Volga, lost no time in following the army of one who offered them the opportunity of returning to their fatherland, and of taking signal revenge on the Russians. This example was quickly followed by the inhabitants of all the principal colonies in those inhospitable regions, and especially by the exiles condemned to work in the mines in the bowels of the Uralian mountains. Many Poles, who fought in the ranks of the Confederates of Bar, and who had been taken prisoners by the Russians, sent to these wilds, deprived of their country, and torn from their homes and families, by the violence and injustice of the Empress Catherine, animated by the thirst of revenge against E-ussia, flocked from all parts of Siberia, to serve in the ranks of the rebels.
Hitherto nothing seemed to have checked the gigantic projects of Pugatchef. His sway extended from the Uralian mountains to the banks of the Volga, about three thousand three hundred miles. The Russians, shut up in some of the towns, expected to be crushed and annihilated at any time, by the ever-increasing forces of the daring impostor. The troops sent from the interior of Russia, could scarcely defend the most important military points between Kazan and Orenburg. The siege of Orenburg was followed up with great spirit and constancy by undisciplined bands, unacquainted with the formidable means of prosecuting war adopted by regular armies, in spite of the gallant resistance of the Russian general, Reinsdorf, who vainly attempted to repulse the attack made by Pugatchef on the latter town. General Carr received orders to take the command of the Russian army, and to quell the rebellion of Pugatchef. He travelled by post from Moscow; arrived in the neighbourhood of Orenburgh; and sent a detachment of regulars against Pugatchef, who was besieging that town; he was, however, not successful. One part of Pugatchef 's army attacked and so completely routed the detachment, that scarcely five men escaped.
The general himself then advanced with a larger force; but, contrary to the advice which he received fi:om some of his friends, to be extremely cautious in all his movements, he rashly attacked Pugatchef, fell into the snare laid for him, lost his forces, and, completely beaten, seeing no chance of success with that celebrated rebel, he returned by post to Moscow, with as much haste as he came from that city. In the meantime, whilst one part of the rebels were engaged near that town in the dead of winter, Pugatchef, always restless and enterprising, went to the mountains to take from the mines all the silver and gold he could lay hands upon, and likewise the store of brass, far more necessary to him for casting cannon for the purpose of battering the walls of Orenburg. During this daring excursion, at the head of numerous bands, Pugatchef returned with rich spoil, but failed to take the fortress of Uffa: * soon after, a false rumour, purposely spread, of the march of a large Russian army, made him more cautious in his movements; and gave time to some scattered regiments on the Siberian frontier, to prevent his taking Ecatherinendstat, where he would have found considerable sums of money. Duriag Pugatchef s absence in the Ural, the Polish exiles who had joined his standard, and whom he left behind near Orenburg, were specially entrusted by him with the organisation and drilling of his untrained troops: a task in which they succeeded to his entire satisfaction. At a latter period, Pugatchef promised them a safe return to their country, gave them the command of his chosen cavalry. made Major Suchodolski (previously sent to Siberia by Catherine's order,) the chief of his staff, and ordered him to take particular care of his artillery.