Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-11-15
THE RUSSIAN Amy

THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
The following extracts from ptter written by
hngsh surgeon who is in this Russian service aud be-
ODESSA August 90 l joined the regiment 10 which l
was appointed last month"; and proceed to give
few desutory remaks-not political matters, which
refrain from noticing for motives which you may readily
divine. But must first tell you that my arrival ut
st Petersburgh Immediately proceeded to the residence
of the Inspector General of Surgeons Youmay recol-
lect that several months ago. the Russian Minister pub
shed notices by which all competent professional ndi
vduals entitled enter the Russian service, and
as far as have been able to ascertain upwards of $50
young Englishmen, but principally Irish and Scotchmcn
have been induced to their fortunes IN these regions
and many OF them have already received thcr appoint
ments surgeons in the army connandcd by the En-
pcror Nicholas was we'll received by the Inspector,
and day fixed to undergo my examination. Know
ing you do that objection had been made to my he
qurcments by the School of Medicine in Raris, il
probable hit should have any difficulty ip passing -
ordeal before the ST. Petersburg Professors. Maup"'
latter, found were foreigners; either Germans.
Scotch and the questions put to me wer similar y
those employed by the Partisan doctors wasno found
wanting and instantly received my diploma. have not
heard that any of those who have presented themselves
to be employ ed have been indeed The truth is,
that the period speaking Of there sad lack
army surgeons either because the forces had hcen
creased that during long peace the surgical de-
partment had been much neglected You, of course,
have the Russian Bulletins, and, there has been
good deal of fighting, have not been without my share
of employment. 1t is impossible to finer and better
disciplined army than that of the Emperor ptcu!arly
the which is before Choumla; the soldiers
brave to rashness but they have to contend with
enemy Enthusiastically enthusiastic, who being taughtthat,
when dying the field OF battle, they exchange the
cries Of this world for the happiness of Paradise aud the
company of the evebeantiful honris followers of
Mahomet, | say, scarcely be prevailed upon,
i'll the most dangerous situations and though
rounded by Russian troops to deliver up their swords
body of say 400 500, will certain occasions
when persuaded by their commanders allow themselves
to be taken prisoners but these in isolated
state, will fight like many ferocous wolves, and only
surrender their with their lives Before reach
ed the neighborhood of Chouma witness to OF
dreadful encounters a
gers which was ordered to follow had entered small
village towards the close othe evening, and under
stood the Turks had completely uated in the
nng, we had no fear of being attacked; eight of ts
had however, remained behind for what purpose
have never been able to learn. When they found that
being in perfect security began to SEPARATE and
pair to the dcrsnt quarters assigned for they made
furious onset G of soldiers before the latter
from the snddcnness of the attack they all
cut pieces 1t fortunately happened that the
| was made 90 of troops who, having heard the
C. hing of arms, quite prepared The lieutenant
who with these called out to the Turks to
render They needed not what he said they fred their
pistols, by which two were killed and wounded
and then rushed forward with dra swords Tigers de-
prived of their young could not have been furious
anxious to shed blood but they overpowered
numbers and pershcd not however until they had
duced the number OF the little corps to fourteen. The
Russian soldiers feel extremely e1aspcraed by the orrd
sights they witness during the march; where skirns
has taken place, II the enemy have had the advantage
the unfortunate victims to warfare stretched
the ground deprived of their heads or least of their
ears and IN consequence OF this feeling, has been my
lot to witness dreadful cruelties the part OF
our troops, who determined retaliation. The diff
fercnt Colonies of the have howe given strict
nunctons TO punish with great severity unnecessary
cruelty and two ordered to- be shot, slior
time for perpetrating rape and otherwise abusing
Jewish young female whose father they had murdered
before eyes The Russian officers may with propre
ty, be called the French of the North; they ex
tremeY polite, obliging, and most <efa well edu
Gated. The nave frequcntfy papers
bout ignorant and barbarous hordes, by
correct as far the Russian officers concerned
You seldom hear any other language spoken among then
than German French at all events they SPEAK
Russian when am in their company, and their j.
nearly that of nhabtant the banks of the
Seine During the whole tire have been in this army
we have been well supplied '.h meat, bread, wine ant
srtuous liquors but the beverage preferred by the of
fcers and also by many soldiers is English breakfas
drnk-ine green teaof which there is great abundance
and finer havoured tasted. As it is brought by
landfrom China the Russians say that it does lose
any of the aromatic qualities, which voyage deprvc
| it of. London paper]