Yaitfk, delayed his march againft theen^myfor
the celebration of his nuptials, and exhibited
continued fcenes of intoxication and riot.
He was fupported by no perfons of rank or
confequence; but, to impofe upon his army,
fomeof his moft confidential adherents affuxned
the names of the principal Ruffian nobles, and
wore the orders of knighthood. By a fignal to
his attendants, he ordered all Jhe German officers
who were brought into his prefence, to be maf-
facred, in order to prevent his ignorance of
their language from being obfcryed by his fol-
lowers.
During thefe tranfaftions, general Bibikof,
advancing at the head of a very coniiderable ai>
my, detached his major-general, prince Peter
Galitzin, againft the rebels, whq furprifed Pu*
gatchef with his whole force near Tatifcheva,
and worfted him for the firft * time. He was
clofely purfued and overtaken by prince Galitzin
near Kargula, upon the river Sakmara, about the
diftance of twelve miles from Orenburg; he
 completely routed, his troops were difperfed,
* This firft defeat of Pugatchef hitnfelf in perfon happened on
the 23d of March, but oh the 2*d, colonel Michaelfon, with only
l^)Oo troops and fix cannon, had routed his general, who' called
himfelf colonel Tchernichef, at the head of 16,000 men, and took
42 cannon and eight mortars. Pugatchef offered % reward of
190,000 roubles for the head of colonel Mkhaelfo$*
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