Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-12-05
Character ofthe Russian Soldier.

lie UQSStUe SFeHSEh VI q RuoSls'H SUI
der or thr ability of suffering Iong all
bodily incenveniences, owing to the same
habit, is almost unexampled AS to
his Principle, til exclusively calculated
to make hin invinci6ie.
TAa, flrinSihIr i. founded upon reli
sion, and sacred devotion to duty. He
goes to battle With al almost Certain an
ticipation Of his end, to meet which he
is not only resigned, but even determin-
cd. To die in battle, he thinks, is a
straight road to Heaven ; Death, there
fore, which is the only enemy that couId
make him shrink froan combat, is the
very one whom he seeks to encounter,
and who, so far from being an object OF
fear to him, is that of joyful cxpecta
ton Of a glorious reward hereaf!er-
The only danger he knows and fears, is
to disobey his officers comnands. Such
is hi, sense. opinion, and conviction OF
duty, which is constantly uppermost III
his thoughts, excluding every idea 81
peril and danger, that to tu!fl it, to ex"
ecute his orders, to as nothing contra
nv to them, is his only system, admitting
of nc modification in peculiar cases oil
imminent danger, Of no exception, no
allowance whatever. Toperform what
ever he is commanded, or to die, is the
only alternative he adopts. Were one
off.rer and one soldier enly left on the
field, out of whole Russian army, and
surrounded by thousands of the victorl-
Gus enemy, the soldier would not lay
down his arms, if the officer command
ed bl,n not to do it. Indeed, there have
been instances approaching to this as
near as possible
The following anecdotes Will fur
Their convince us OF the loyalty and dis
ciplne Of The Russian soldier. Peter
the Great at an if.tervicw with TIE kings
of Denmark and Poland, hearing them
boast of the superiority Of their soldiers,
instead of disputlng the point with them
proposed all experiment which was I'M
msdiately asscn,ed to, and which was,
to order grenadler to jump cut OF a
third floor window. The king OF Ben
mark tried the experiment on one of
his bravs.t and most laval soldiers, who
on his knees refused compliance. Ths
king of Poland waved the trial altoge-
Their, conceivins 1t to be hopeless; When
Peter ordered one Of his soldiers,
the least promising that could be pick
ed out, TO descend the window. The
soldier merely crossed himseli, touched
his hat according to form, boldly march
ed to the window, ard had already one
Of his legs out, when the emperor stop
p,d him, and told him he was satisfied.
The kings were astonished, and EACH
made the soldier present OF 100 du-
cats, requesting Peter to promote him
to tho rank of officer. The car answer
ed be would dc so to obiige them but
not to reward the soldier-for all his
soldiers would do as much, and by re-
yarding them in the same way he would
have no soldiers at all.
Resources Of Russia.
A detachment being ordered by Prince
Potemkin TO take possession Of partl-
cular post, was met on the Way by an
other detachment in full retreat, and
bringing the information that the post
wa. already pre- occupied by a hume
rous enemy, and that to advance was
certain death "Prince Potemkin must
look to that" exclaimed the gallant
band, ard proceeded to destruction tor
net single man escaped.
Wilson'S Camtaign in Poland.