The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-11 00:00:00

DIVERSION OF THE LESCHIS IN FAVOUR OF THE

CIItCASSIANS.

CONSTANTINOPLE, AUG. 20.—The news we have
received here from the eastern portion of the Caucasus
is from the 13th of May to the 22d of June. At the
former date General Golafief set out from Vniez..pnaia
with 16 battalions (about 16,000 men), 500 cavalry,
and nine pieces of artillery, for the purpose of repelling
an incursion of the Lesghis. At seven leagues from the
above-mentioned fortress he encountered them, under
command of their chief Shamil, to the number of
10,000 warriors on foot, and 2,000 on horseback. After
many sanguinary contests the Russians were forced to
retire upon their fortress, and to leave exposed the
whole of the northern and more open portion of the
territory of the Tschertchenses, which they had pre-
viously overrun and occupied by numerous colonies. All
the habitations and establishments of these colonists were
committed to the flames by the Lesghis, who also caused
those persons among the netives who were known to have
become partisans of the Russians to be hung forthwith.
During these operations, General Golafief made a stre-
nuous effor t to arrest them ; but he was again repulsed
with considerable slaughter, and again forced to seek
shelter in the fortress. The Tschertchenses now ral-
lied in great force around the standard of the victorious
Shamil, who, in consequence of this accession of strength,
was enabled to undertake more extensive operations.
He, therefore, detached a portion of his large force to
attack the Ruzsian military lines of communication that
lead by V.adi-Caucasus into Georgia, and with the re-
:mender he crossed the Terek, and advanced upon Ki.e.
liar. The ulterior result of these operations is not yet
known, but the effects already produced are most import-
ant—the whole of Daghestan is in a state of insurrec-
tion, and such consternation has spread along the Rus-
sian frontier, that General Grabbe, who was making
preparations for an invasion of Circassia by the line of
the river Labs, has set out for Stavropol in forced
marches towards the Caspian.
Detachments of recruits, calculated to amount to
more than '20,000 men, crossed the Caucacus in the
course of the month of June to reinforce the army of
Georgia ; 18 battalions of the 6th corps, which is
stationed in the government of Moscow, are in march
;or Stavropol. A general and extraordinary recruiting
is now being executed, and the preparations for war are
on so extensive a scale that it is thought they cannot be
intended against the Circassians only, however formid-
able they have shown themselves of late. The purpose
of these preparations may become apparent before long
on the Asiatic frontier of Turkey, when those persons in
England who show such senseless alarm about the war-
like preparations of France, may find reason to be
grateful that she has formed a just estimate of the true
interests of Turkey, has perceived the quarter whence
they would be most endangered, and has kept herself
reserved and prepared to defend them.
The following additional news is from the correspond-
ence of the Augsburg Gazelle of the 6th inst., which
we have received :

BESSARABIA, AUG. 19.—The Russian army in the
Caucasus is still in action, but only for a short time.
Most of the expected reinforcements have already
joined the army of operation. The beds of the river,
which afford the only possible means of penetrating
into the interior of the country, are beginning to be
shallow, and the heat is diminishing. Thus the main
obstacles are removed, and it is thought that operations
will soon begin. Meantime the Russians are fortifying
their frontiers on that coast, and the line of the Kuban.
I learn from good authority that in the beginning of
September, General Grabbe will penetrate by the bed
of the river Lobe, and lay waste the country on both
sides ; and at the beg-inning of the winter again occupy
his cantonments in the Kuban. At the same time
with General Grabbe it is probable that General Ra-
jeidski will advance through the defiles in order if possible
to support Gen. Grabbe, and to unite with him, which
is a most difficult and dangerous operation. On the
eastern side of die Caucasus, Shamil, the famous Chief
of the Lesghis, has long since recommenced hostilities,
and with his 1,200 or 1,500 men constantly harasses
General Galatejew, who has been obliged to concentrate
his troops, and this gave Shamil an opportunity to
penetrate into the country of the Tschertehenses, and
to excite them again to rise. But these trifling advan•
tages of the Cireassians are only temporary ; a mass of
60,000 or 70,000 men will soon be assembled about the
Caucasus, and the issue of the contest now beginning
is not doubtful, though the dreadful fatigues, the heat
and sickness, make fearful ravages among the Russians.
The expedition against Khiva seems to have been
given up for the year. The corps of troops detached
for this purpose, and already on its march to Oron-
trers, is said to have to have suddenly received orders
to go to Georgia, whether to be eniployt d against the
Europeans or against Ibrahim Paella, is not known.