The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-16 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN SOLDIERS.

The following is from the special correspondent
of the Morning Chronicle
" WIDDIN, Feb. 2G.—ln the dearth of news that exists
in the neighbourhood of Kalafat, where a reconnais-
sance on the part of the Russians is no longer imagined
to be a prelude to an attack, and those on the part of
the Turks are confined to little expeditions to Czupertzin
and back, no more interesting matter is procurable than
some scraps of information as to the condition, &c., of
the Russian soldier. All agree that his life is one of
the hardest and dreariest in the world. In garrison or
cantonments he is harassed with the most incessant
drills, parades, and inspections. He is cuffed and beaten
by his officers. He is robbed by all his superiors, from
the corporal to the general. He is ill-fed and wretchedly
paid. He has no prospect of advancement beyond the
grade of sergeant or sergeant-major. His very thoughts
are under control. He dare not express them even to a
comrade on the prospect of a campaign or a residence
in garrison, lest they should be repeated to his officers,
and thus bring down most terrible punishment on him-
self. Anything of a public nature, the success or other-
wise of an expedition, the conduct of a regiment or other
force, are subjects upon which he must not presume to
think. His social position is one of abject slavery.
" The regiments of infantry are divided into four bat-
talions (active), one reserve battalion, and a depot bat-
talion. The latter remains always at one of the large
head-quarter stations ; and here the recruits are in-
structed. The other five battalions move with the army,
the sth supplying the other four with men to replace
casualties. Four battalions are thus brought into the
battle-field. Each is divided into four companies, which
are twice as strong as those of an English regiment,
viz., 200 men and 21 non-commissioned officers. The
regiment parades by subdivisions—that is, half com-
panies—and it is in this order that they appeared at
Oltenitza and Csitate. Each regiment has two bat-
talions of jagers and two of fusiliers. They are all
equipped in the same way, with the exception of some
distinguishing ornaments about their accroutrements.
For instance, the cartridge-pouches of the former regi-
ments have a single grenade on them ; those of the latter,
a grenade having three flames—what an artilleryman
would call a " carcass." The leading and last subdivi-
sions of each battalion furnish the tirailleurs. In the
jagers the leading subdivision is called carbineers—for
about the same locus a non lucendo reason that one of
our heavy cavalry regiments is called by that name, par
excellence, though they carry carbines in common with
the rest of our cavalry. The leading subdivision of the
fusiliers is called grenadiers. The rear subdivisions are
called " streuki," or light infantry.
" Each soldier carries 60 rounds of ball ammunition
in pouch, which weighs, with the pouch and belt, about
81bs. His pack, with kit, weighs about 231bs. or
241bs. He likewise carries ilbs. of bread in a cylin,
drical bag, and J lb. of salt. His firelock weighs,
with bayonet, 11 lbs. ; the sword and its belt, 3 lbs. ;
total 5311b5. His dress is a green coatee, with short
tails and red facings. The buttons carry the number of
the regiment. On each shoulder is a shoulder-strap,
some three inches wide, which bears the number of his
division in Roman characters. The pantaloons are black
or invisible green, with a red piping down the seam.
His head-dress, en grande tenuc, is a varnished leather
helmet, with a grenade and flames on the top. It is
ornamented with the Russian eagle in brass, with the
number of the regiment in silver, and a Russian word on
a scroll above it, signifying " For my country." Two
brass side-straps and one back-strap serve to strengthen
the helmet. A chin-strap of brass scales completes the
head-dress.

" The great coat, over which the belts are frequently
worn, as at Oltenitza, is light brown, and made appa-
rently of undyed wool. It is like a blanket in texture,
but closer. It likewise bears the shoulder-strap, with
the divisional number. The firelock, manufactured at
Tula, is made on a French model ; it was altered from
flint to percussion in 184 S, the alteration being effected
precisely in a similar manner to that adopted in France,
viz., closing the vent with a screw with a flat head,
welding on to the breach a small round mass of metal
sufficiently large to carry the nipple, adding a nipple and
percussion hammer, closing up the necessary holes in the
lock-plate. Taking off the feather spring, the pan still
remains, the head oft he screw above mentioned just fitting
it. The firelock further has this difference from the
old French model, namely, that the sight is brazed ou
to the barrel, and not on to the capueine, the advantage
of this being that in the former case it is immoveable, in
the latter that it is subject to getting moved to one side
by accident. This improvement has been adopted in all
the new French muskets manufactured during the past
few years. The calibre is the same as the French firelock,
smaller than the English. The cartridges are made with
the greatest neatness ; the weight of the powder, from
want of means of weighing, it has been impossible to as-
certain. The cartridge-box has no internal divisions, the
cartridges being packed into a stout cardboard case with
cover, which fits the pouch accurately. This is an excel-
lent system. The cartridges can be got at with equal fa-
cility—they can be alltaken out at once without injuring
them from the pouch, which may be necessary in wading
across a deep ford, or for placing them temporarily in
store.
" The system of corporal punishment is one utterly abo-
minable. A court-martial may sentence a man to suffer
2,000 blows with a stick. The method of it is in this
wise :—The prisoner is dressed in a pair of short drawers,
boots, a leather stock, and bandages on his arms. A fire-
lock is then tied to each arm. The battalion forms in
double ranks, facing inwards, each soldier being armed
with a stick. The fifes and drums play a slow march.
Two non-commissioned officers, holding the firelocks,
lead the prisoner within the ranks, keeping step with
the music, and preventing the prisoner by means of the
firelocks from marching quicker. The soldiers each
deliver a blow, those on the right backhanded, those
on the left forwards. As soon as he has passed
through the battalion, the surgeon feels his pulse,
and pronounces whether he is capable of under-
going the rest of his punishment.
" The condition of the officer, as regards discipline,
bears the most marked contrast to that of the soldier.
He is seldom if ever punished ; an extra guard is ad-
ministered ; or, if the offence be of a more grave cast
than could be expiated by passing twenty-four hours on
extra duty, his name is published in the public papers
as having incurred the displeasure of his commanding
officer. If this be not sufficient he is imprisoned ; but
usually the opposite door to that at which he enters is
left open, in order that he may solace his idle hours by
making visits to the cafe, &c. On the other hand, a
general who does not carry out the orders of his master
the Emperor of all the Russias, or is unfortunate
enough to lose a battle or gain a doubtful victory, has
a fair chance of seeing Siberia. And, by the way, it
does not say much for his Majesty's belief in Prince
Gortschakoff's bulletins, that an officer of gendarmie
arrived at the head-quarters of the Russian troops ob-
serving Kalafit, and made a prisoner of General Aurep,
the officer who commanded the force that fought in
the action (Csitate) which his excellency pronounced to
hate been a gloriou victory.