stated, the Grand Hetman of the Crown had taken one half
of them long before for Krechovski and Barabash, and the
rebellious mob on the right bank had destroyed the rest
through fear of the prince. But Volodyovski crossed over
with ten men to the right bank on a raft which he had
fashioned in haste from tree-trunks, and seized a number
of Cossacks, whom he brought to the prince, who learned
from them of the enormous extent of the rebellion and
the terrible fruits of the defeat at Korsun. The whole
Ukraine had risen to the last man. The insurrection had
spread like a deluge, which covering a level land occupies
more and more space at each twinkle of an eye. The
nobles defended themselves in large and small castles;
but many of these castles had been already captured.
Hmelnitski was increasing in power every moment. The
captured Cossacks gave the number of his army at two
hundred thousand men, and in a couple of days it might
be doubled. For this reason he remained in Korsun after
the battle, and took immediate advantage of the peace to
marshal the people into his countless hosts. He divided
the mob into regiments, appointed colonels from the ata-
mans and experienced Zaporojian essauls, and sent detach-
ments or whole divisions to capture neighboring castles.
Considering all this, Prince Yeremi saw that on account
of the absence of boats the construction of -which for an
army of six thousand men would occupy several weeks'
time, and on account of the strength of the enemy which
had increased beyond measure, there was no means of
crossing the Dnieper in those parts in which he then
found himself. Pan Polyanovski, Colonel Baranovski, the
commander of the camp, Alexander Baranovski, Volody-
ovski, and Vurtsel were in favor of moving to the north
toward Chernigoff, which was on the other side of dense
forests, thence they would march on Lubech, and cross the
river to Braginoff. It was a long and perilous journey; for
beyond the Chernigoff forests, in the direction of Braginoff,
were enormous swamps, which were not easy of passage
even for infantry, and what must they be for heavy cavalry-
wagons and artillery. The proposal, however, pleased the
prince; but he wished, before going on that long and as he
considered unavoidable road, to show himself once more in
his Trans-Dnieper domains, prevent immediate outbreak,
gather the nobles under his wing, transfix the people with
terror, and leave behind the memory of that terror, which in