The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-22 00:00:00

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MONDAY "EVENIN

THE WAR IN THE CAUCASUS.
TIMEBISOND, JAN. 12.—The storms of the month of De-
cember had interrupted our relations with the Circassian
coast. Yesterday the arrival of several vessels from Kertch
and Suckum-Kaleh brought us positive stews of great im-
portance relative to events of which Circassia has been the
theatre. The following details,' which are derived from
the best source, are as well known at the Russian Consulate
as at the Palace of Halil Pacha. -After two years of the most
perfect tranquillity, which permitted the Russians to direct
their entire efforts against Schamyl, the famous chief of the
Tschetschenses and Lesgians, war has again commenced on
the banks of the Black Sea and of the Kouban with the
greatest ferocity. On the 7th of December the Governor o.
the Fort Golowin, situate 30 leagues to the north of Suckum-
kaleh, was warned by his spies that the warlike tribe of the
Übbikhs was planning a night attack against the
fort, and that at the same time the Tschigetes,
commanded by Hadj-Terike-Okow, one of the bravest chiefs
amongst the Circassians, were collecting in the mountains, in
order to surprise the fortress of Gag-ra. On the same day the
Russian steam-boat, coining from Redut-Kaleh and proceed-
ing to Kertch touched at Fort Golowin. The Governor of
that fort immediately dispatched it to Gagra, to apprize the
garrison of the danger which threatened it. This circum-
stance saved the Russians, for during the same night 4,000
mountaineers attacked the retrenchments of the Gagra with
the greatest fury. The fortress, which is surrounded on all
sides by lofty rocks, would have been certainly captured by
the Circassians, if the garrison, accustomed to peace during
two years, should have been taken unawares. But, notwith-
standing the brave resistance of the garrison, 800 men strong,
protected by artillery, the loss of the Russians was consider.
able. The mountaineers, not being able to scale the
walls, well defended by the Russian infantry, possessed
themselves of a great rock to the north of Gagra, upon
which the Russians had established a post. Thence they
directed a murderous fire against the interior of the fort,
and their balls reached even the sleeping apartments of the
officers. This position was held during two days, notwith-
standing several sorties made by the garrison, which were
repulsed. The want of ammunition at length compelled the
Tschigetes (the lost Circassian tribe to the south of the great
chain) to retire to the mountains. The attack upon Fort
Golowin took place two dare afterwards. More than 5,000
mountaineers of the ÜbbMa territory had surrounded the
fortress. Although all their attacks were repulsed, the Rus-
sians themselves admit that the enemy showed more courage,
boldness, and fury than on any previous occasion, and that
but for the information given by their spies, the fort would
have incurred a great risk of being captured. With respect
to the movement on the Kouban we have no accurate in-
formation. We are assured, however, that 4,000 Sch.ap-
soukhes, commanded by Chore Beg, had passed the river
near Ladoschskaja. The cause of all this commotion, after
an uninterrupted tranquillity of two years, is owing to
the following circumstances :—The Circassians are in
want of corn and salt, which they are compelled to
purchase from the Russians. In order to accustom
them to pacific relations, Prince Woronzow had accorded
them considerable advantages, and he carried his complai-
sance towards the Circassian chiefs so far as to permit them
to trade with Turkey, and to send their female Circassian
slaves for sale. But by degrees the Russian generals be-
came more exacting. They demanded of the Circassian
chiefs to surrender the Russian and Polish deserters, of whom
several hundreds are dispersed through the mountains. They
demanded hostages for their fidelity, and they required that
the_ Circassians should deliver up Schamyl's emissaries.
When the Circassian chiefs refused to consent to these con-
ditions, the Russians refused to supply the Übbikhs and
other tribes with corn or salt. The Übbikhs were ever re-
markable for their antipathy to the Russians, and when at
length the latter captured a Turkish vessel near Pitzounda,
lad with 60 female Circassians, the mountaineers lost all
patience and revolted on three different poiuts, aided by the
majority of the Works, the nobility of the country.

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