That very day, the Russian army, amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand men, arrived within sight of Kezan.  A prairie four miles in width, carpeted with flowers, extended from the Volga to the range of mountains at the base of which the city stood.  The Tartars, abounding in wealth, by the aid of engineers and architects from all lands, had surrounded the city with massive walls defended with towers, ramparts and bastions in the most formidable strength of military art as then known.  Within the walls rose the minarets of innumerable mosques and the turrets of palaces embellished with all the gorgeousness of oriental wealth and taste.  The horde, relying upon the strength of their fortification, remained behind their walls, where they prepared for a defense which they doubted not would be successful.  Two days were employed in disembarking the artillery and the munitions of war.

While thus engaged, a deserter escaped from the city and announced to the tzar that the fortress was abundantly supplied with artillery, provisions and all means of defense; that the garrison consisted of thirty-two thousand seven hundred veteran soldiers; that a numerous corps of cavalry had been detached to scour the surrounding country and raise an army of cavalry and infantry to assail the besiegers in flank and rear, while the garrisons should be prepared to sally from their entrenchments.

On the 23d of August, at the dawn of day, the army, advancing from the river, approached the city.  The moment the sun appeared in the horizon, at the sound of innumerable trumpets, the whole army arrested their steps and the sacred standard was unfurled, presenting the effigy of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, surmounted by a golden cross.  Ivan IV. and his staff alighted from their horses, and, beneath the shadow of the banner, with prayers and other exercises of devotion, received the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.  The monarch then rode along the ranks, and, in an impassioned harangue, roused the soldiers to the noblest enthusiasm.  Exalting the glory of those who might fall in the defense of religion, he assured them in the name of Russia that their wives and their children should never be forgotten, but that they should be the objects of his special care and should ever enjoy protection and abundance.  In conclusion, he assured them that he was determined to sacrifice his own life, if necessary, to secure the triumph of the cross.  These words were received with shouts of acclaim.  The chaplain of Ivan, elevated in the view of the whole army, pronounced a solemn benediction upon the sovereign and upon all the troops, and then bowing to the sacred standard, exclaimed,

“O Lord, it is in thy name we now march against the infidels.”