Topic: Battles
Lindehielm sent his next report on the 13th. A lieutenant by the name of Knorring had arrived from Nyen, stating that the enemy had retreated beyond Duderhof. Colonel Appoloff intended to march towards Koporie with a few hundred men in order to collect information and see if it would be possible to attack the Russians, who appeared to fear something as they had withdrawn. Appoloff had requested that Lindehielm move towards Nyen with a force in order to be at hand if needed. Lindehielm had as result ordered those units and soldiers who were arriving at Viborg to move on.
Next report was sent on the 16th. No more news had arrived from Narva, but reports from Nyen did not suggest any cause for concern. The feeling was that the arrival of the King and his force had made the Russians more careful. Appoloff was advancing towards Koporie.
On 20 November Lindehielm sent his next letter to Stockholm. Appoloff had crossed the Neva on the 15th and 16th. No more firing had been heard for 12 days, but last Sunday (the 18th) heavy gunfire had again been heard from the direction of Narva. According to a rumour from Keksholm the Russians had killed a leaseholder and his entire entourage, but the information was unreliable. It was claimed that the peasants at Sordavala had offered to march into Russia on a revenge mission if they were given muskets, powder and a good leader.
Letters from Nyen arrived just as Lindehielm wrote. They said that peasants had captured a Russian who was carrying a lot of letters back to Russia. According to him there had only been one assault (on Ivangorod), which had resulted in heavy losses. 200 Russians had attacked Loppis and plundered two estates. There was no way of stopping them due to the shortage of soldiers.
On the 22nd Lindehielm wrote again. 106 infantry had arrived the previous evening, but their clothes were very poor so it was hardly påossible to let them continue to Nyen. 333 cavalry, which had not been able to get to Reval, were continuing to Nyen. The clergy was supposed to produce 30 dragoons, but there had been much delay despite the fact that the clergy should set a good example. Letters from Nyen stated that Appoloff was advancing towards Koporie and had yet to encounter any regular forces.
Next letter was sent on the 25th. In this Lindehielm reported that a courier from Appoloff had arrived with a very pleasing report. At Duderhoff the Colonel had captured a peasant and a Russian soldier. These had said that the Czar had marched towards the King's army and there had been a heavy battle some 20 km west of Narva. The Swedish had attacked so fiercely that the Russians had been thoroughly defeated, Narva relieved and many thousand of the enemy drowned when fleeing across a bridge. The Czar was supposedly at Jama. Koporie had been abandoned, leaving plenty of supplies and ammunition. A strong Swedish cavalry force was according to rumour already east of Narva. The King was safe.
Source: Riksarkivet, ÄK 243, vol. 77.
