Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-11-20
THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
INTERPRETING LETTER.

| INTERESTING LETTER.
The following extracts from lyttor written nv
an English surgeon, who IL in the Russian service
and belongs To the army which is attacking Turkey
| Odessa, August co. joined the regiment to
which was appointed last month, and now proceed
To give you few desultory remarks-not on political
matters, which | refrain from noticing for motives
which You may readily dvine.-But must first tell
You that, on my arrival at st. Pctersbureh nmedi.
a.cy proceeded to the residence of the Inspector
General OF Surgeons.-You may rccolcct that sevc-
raj months ago, the Russian Minister published IA
notice, by which all competent professional diy
were entitled to enter the Russian service. anil ns
iar as nave been able to ascertain, upwards of $50
young Englishmen, but principally Irish and Scotch
men, have been induced TO try their fortunes in these
regions, ana many OF them have already received
theit appointments as surgeons IN the army comman-
ded by the Emperor Nicholas. | was well received
by the Inspector, and day fixed to UNDERGO nv
examination. Knowing you do, that no objection
hau been made TO my requirements by the School of
Medicine III Paris, IL not probable TINT I should
have any difficulty in passing the ordeal before The
ST. PctersburSh Professors. Many of the latter
found were Foreigners, either German French or
scotch; and the questions put TO similar 20
thosc employed by the PuriStan doctors | was not
found wanting, and instantly received nv dplo.na
have not heard that any OF those who have present
/ ed themselves to be employed have been rcicc,cd
indeeo, the truth Is that, at the period speak
ing Of there sad lack of army surgeons either
because the forces had been Increased or thut urinu
so long peace, the surgical department had been
much neglected. You of Course, have seen the
J
OF lighting, have not been without my share of en-
Ployment. il la impossible to see finer and better
disciplined army than that of the Emperor particular
~ the one which Is now before Choumu; the soldiers
are brave oven TO rasbncss, but they have TO cont
with an enemy Enthusiastically enthusiastic who bc;np
taught that when dying the field Of battle thcv ex-
change the mserics OF this world for the happiness of
Paradise, and the company OF the ever beautiful hour
ls-these followers OF MahomCt, | say, can scarcely
ever be prevailed upon in the most dlnoerous
situations, and though surrounded by Russian troops
to deliver up their swords. body of men, say 100
or 500, will certain occasions, whom persuaded nv
their commanders, allow themselves 10 be taken pri-
soners but these same men, in an insulated state
] VIII night like so many ferocOus wolves, and only
surrender their arms with their lives. Before we
) reached the neighborhood of Chouma was Witness
to one of these dreadful encounters. A co1lpauy of
Russian yagers, which ordered to follow, had
entered small village towards the close Of the eve
ing and, as we understood the Turks had complete
~ evacuated II IN the morning. had fear OF being
attacked eight of them, had, however, remained
behind, for what purpose we have never been able TO
learn. When they found that, being in perfect So
cury, we began TO separate and repair to the dics-
ent quarters assigned for us, they made furious
onset on 6 of soldiers and before the latter could
recover from the suddenness of the atack they were
all cut TO pieces. II fortunately happened that the
next onset was made on % of our troops, who having
heard the clashng OF arms, quite prepared
The lieutenant, who With these men, called ont
To the Turks to surrender They needed rot yyh1t
he said they fired their pistols By which two men
p
ward with drawn swords.-Tigcrs deprived Of their
young could not have been more furious nor anxious
to shed blood; but they ovcrpowered hy mum.
bcrs and perlshed not, however until they had redu-
ced tho number OF the little corps 10 fourteen Tho
Russian soldiers feel extremely eyasperated by the
horrid sights they witness during their march whore
sklrnish has taken place, if the enemy have had
the advantage the unfortunate victims to warfare are
seen stretched on the ground, deprived o their heads
or, at least, of their cars and in conscuuencoof ts
feeling, it has been my lot to witness some dreadful
crue's on the part of troops, who ere dcterIu;n
/ ed on retaliation. The different Colonel; of thc
army have, however given strict inunctions 10 punish
with great severity any unnecessary cruelty and two
men were ordered TO be shot, short time nGo for
perpetrptng rape and otherwise ill-usinr Jewish
young female, whose father they had murdered bof1o
her eyes. The Russian officers may, with prcorictv
be called the "'French OF the North" they are OK
treIncy polite, obligng, ond most OF thcl4 arc vel,
educated. The accounts have frcqueitly seen in
papers about Ignorant and barbarous hordos are no
correct; fur as the Russian officers err.
concerned. You seldom hear any other Ianu,,oyc
spoken among them than German or French; NJ an
events they never speak Russian when om in their
COMPANY and their accent Is nearly pure as TINT OF
an nhabitant of the banks Of the Seine Duriner ,lo
whole time have been in this army we have been
well supplied with meat, bread, wine and spi-ituous
liquors. but the beverage preferred by the officers and
also by many soldiers your English brea Ist drink
fine green ea-of which there is n great abundance
md finer Favored never tasted. As it is BROUGHT bv
! land from China, the Russians say that il does not
lOSeH Vi VIZ AROMATIC quantities, which sea yOynrc
! dcprlvcs 1t Of. Il was In consequence Of severe
fever that left the army for this place. but as am
perfectly recovered shall join again in a fcw davs
This goes by the Ambassadors bag. l'on shall
hear from me shortly"
From h' Supplemental me g9m ~ qCHo Smyrna c7oie,,
| 9H S1L 1929.
l OFFICIAL BULLETIN OP TIE OTTOMAN
i ARMY.
\ CoNsPAy71 NoPr.r, Sept. ..
From NE Camp So1uIG, on tie morning qC me
27h-l In the night of the 1921, Usseinr-Act Pacba
ordered general attack upon the Russian cntrcnch-
ments For this purpose, no put threo divisions on
march, III the folovhs directions tho first under the
command Of Half Riati Pdcha,' composed Of three
battulions Of regular troops and several regiments Of
militia, took tho road 10 the cnemys entertainments
beyond Strandia the second forming the centre con.
slsng Of some botalions Of regulars, and consider.
abe corps Of militia, advanced towards the fortified
tons Of Dajenghalic the third commanded by Alick