Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-06-29
RUSSIAN SOLDIERY.

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The military resources Of Russia are
immense; authors are not agreed with
regard to the effective strength Of the
empire. In the late wars in Europe,
more reliance was placed on the despe.
rate character Of the Cossacks than on
true courage or correct military disc
pine. To fight for the honour Of the
Virgin Mary, to die for their m MOTHER
for all the royal family; tina, if slain in
battle they shall have an immediate
transition TO the arms of ninety thou
sand virgins of their church who off
ciate in paradise, forms an important
article in every Russian soldiers creed.
This prompts them to rush incouside-
rately to the fight, regardless of conse
gu noes. When peasant is enrolled as
d soldier he places implicit confidence
in his superiors, his life is entirely at
their disposal, and his greatest salts
fiction consists in his devotedness to
their most unreasonable demands. Sir
Robert Wilson in his account of the
Russian campaigns gives several in
stances 10 character. The unframed
Russian, undaunted, whilst he con,
fronts danger, disdsins the protection
of favouring ground, or the example
of his adversary; presents his body
exposed from head to foot, either to
the aim of the marksrnan, or the storm
Of the cannonade. No carnage, says
Sir Robert Wilson, intimidales the
survivors: bullets may destroy, but the
aspect OF death awes not, even when
a commanders evident error has as
signed The fatal station "Comrades. go
not forward into the trenches" cried
out a retreating party to an advan-
cling detachment "retreat with US, or
you will be lost for the enemy are al.
ready in possession.'' Prince Pc.
temkio must look to that, for it was
ne who gave US the order,' replied the
commander. And he and his men
marched forward and persisted, the
victims of their coarse in,rigues of
duty.
DIR, Clarke, in his travels in Rus
STA, has given an interesting extract
from the military mode of the celebra.
| ted Suwarrow, in which the Russian
soldier was well instructed, and TO
which he owes much of his sense of
subordinatlon, and, perhaps, dcspera.
ton in battle. As it may afford some
entertainment to our readers and shew
the character of a general who had the
dispositions of his soldiers perfectly at
command, we shall make few ex
tracts from his military catechiSm,
which was transmitted by orders of
the Russian government to every re
glmentin the service after the late Tur
klsh war. "stab once and off with
the Turk from the bayonet. Even
when ne is dead you may get scratch
from his sabre Stab the second!-
Sab the thirdi--a herd will stab half
dozen. Ii three attack you, sta the
hrst- fire on the second, and bayonet
the third. When you fire, take aim
at their CUTS, and fire about twenty |
balls. II you see the match upon the |
gun run up to it instaniIy-the ball
VIII fly over your head-tn people
are yours-dOwn with them-siab
them!" The Russian soldiers will
hear fatigue and privatlons longer. per
haps than any other whatever; and this
Is partly constitutional and partly the
result of example and discipline =
Their generals impose no heavier bur
'hens or priVations on their privaies
han they are willing to endure them
selves. The MANNERS Of The iilustrious