Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-11-24
VARIETY.

DEATH.
VARIETY.
TIE SPAR'rANS OF TURKEY.
Captain Alcxanjcr's Travels to the Scat of
War, relates sirprisin. instance OF homeless
bravery aud sif-sle,osioN Ly Tuskisi, ba.s,i. in
lone night happened to sleep in
q Turkish house, in the next apart
ment to very Intelligent young oil.
Ger, Baron Schiliing dc Courland, Of
the regiment Of Azoif: we soon became
intimate, and he related to me MANY
anecdotes Of his service during the
campaign. lie said, 1t is generally
supposed, that after Schonin;a was
left in state Of blockade, and the
Balkan turned by the pass Of the
kempcheck, the Turks gave up the
contest and fed on every occasion, af-
ter mere show Of resistance: this.
however, was not the case. Certainly
they did not generally fight with the
determined valour which they eyinccd
at Brailow, Silistria, Varna, &C., vet.
on many occasions, their fanatici,m
and confirmed hatred Of the Giacurs
induced them still TO oppose manfully
the progress Of the invaders; and to
prefer joining their blessed prophet.
sooner than remain on earth, dcfiled
as 1t was by the triumphs OF the inf.
del over tho sons Of the faithful. /
shall now relate an instance Of this
spirit Of resistance in a small BODY of
rurks:-The division of the army to
which belonged was advancing over
broken country at the foot Of the
Balkan.
The Cossacks sent in advance to re-.
eonnoitrc. reported that village If n
lew hundred houses was occupied by
the enemy; and shortly Afterwards, on
ascending an eminsnce, We observed
the village below US, in a narrow val.
ley, and completely surrounded By
hills. There we're enclosures and gar.
dens about it; and the dark green of
graceful poplars set O6 the dazzling
Wilderness OF tapering minarct. But
no smoke or signs Of life appeared in
the secluded village, until, looking
more attcntivcly through my glass, 1
deserted two or three white turbans
watching our movements from a de.
tached house near Us. As the village
had not the defence Of walls, and as
two or three roads led into il through
the hedges Of the gardens, il was
imagined that the Turks would imme.
diately surrender on being summoned.
To make sure Of them, a strong party
made a dctour to the other side. and
thus they were completely hcmmed in.
a nag OF truce was then sen, down TO
those we had seen: they allowed the
dag, with the escort, 10 approach and
parley. Their reply TO the summons
was, We spit on the boards Of the
Gisours, and set them at defiance.
We have sent away our old men, wives.
and children, TO place Of safety; and
there are three hundred oF Us here who
have sworn on the Korani-sherrv ne.
yer 10 leave the place alive. Carry
this our answer TO your chief and tell
him 10 choose another road; for his
lies not through this village, exccpt o.
yer our bodies.' This insulting an
swer. TO such an overpowering force,
was Immediately followed by the stimuli
famous advance Of several parties Of
Russian infantry by the differcn. roads
which led into the sillakt; but the mo-
mcnt that the head Of the columns was
sufficiently exposed, a sharp volley
was sent from the houses on each side,
which caused many Of the Russians 10
bite the dust, and the rest to fall back.
Again they rallied, and endeavoured
TO penetrate into the village; under
the fire Of covering parties posted 10
The gsrhensi but every man whO ex.
posed himself was shot dead; and the
troops were compelled to keep out Of
the fatal aim Of the Turkish tofhnicks.
The general, eHraged that his met.
should be.ihus repulsed by 80 small a
numb@r. gave orders to ERE the village
at all risks; few cossacks according
y crept with their usual cunning Co
wards the wall Of house. aud sue.
ceeded Ia setting fire 90 the roof Ut il I;
the wind allied their eflorts; The flames
rapidly spread over the village. and
the smoke eurlcd over the trees. Eve.
~ one was prepared to intercept The
Turks, when they should attempt to
make their escape from their burning
Labitaiions. The fire continued Go
rage, one by one thc roofs fell, and
sent up clouds sf sparks toto the air;
but stiil no Turks appeared. The a.
venues were strictly ao9ftrd b-f =,