Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-04-11


army OF the capital numbers from sixty
to eighty thousand men, and all of them
now IN camp. few wersts only from
their position around the emperor. The
city in almost every pathway presents
some signs of these military numbers,
and m all the country round sou see evil
dences enough Of this the nlust potent
arm OF the Russian government. can
visit no place that | do not see imposing
shadows of the military goverhment.--t
They line The city streets and country
roads. They are iii the villages and
towns OF the county and in The field OF
battle. Go where you will you see them,
and IT the thousands of infantry, artille-
~, and cavalry of the capitol be speci-
men Of the Russian troops, they are. the
most splendid troops of Europe, though.
perhaps, they are not the bravest. II
Russia. IN the reign Of Great Peter. was
somewhat remarkable for the display and
discipline of her troops, how much more
now when treasures of money and years
OF labor have been spent upon their i'm
provement! Peter and Paul, Alexan-
der and Nicholas, the renowned Suwar.
row, one of the most wonderful men of
Europe, in the field. and a whole score
OF officers OF renown, have raised the
Russian army to the highest pitch of mag
nllcencc. The policy of Suwarrow was
rather of the Ma poleon than the We'll
lington school, and the Russian troops of
all men were the best fitted fot his svs-
tenn OF tactics. He despised all recon
nolsance, aud plunged his columns with
charged bayonets headlong amidst the
centre of his enemies. Fatigue is no
hardship fer Russian, and death often
but small sacrifice. A superstition
bordering upon fanatcism makes full a.
tonement for death when it comes, and
! OBEDIENCE to commander is deemed
most religious duty. No European troops
can endure so much as the Russians,
and the service of none costs the govern
ment SO little. Upon tie scantiest fare
they can pass an ordeal that would bring
most men to the grave. No men resist
an army with more courage, and no bod
OF men could present holder or a bra
yer appearance. The Cossacks, from
what | had read of their daring and mode
OF warfare, interested me most, and
though they are: said to have fallen into
decline from neg lect and other causes,
could see in ali of them the germs of that
proves for which they have been so
long renowned. You may see small reg
iments of the Cossacks in Russia at the
--'l '-~--'"~rrto Of -tl,oa, oil tiIro'
the empire, mounted upon their lean and
rat-l'ke horses, which, like themselves,
are bred upon the sieppes of the country.
ana IKE them, too, Injured to hunger and
thirst and the severest atmosphere.
you may see them, as it were, omnipres-
ent IN the service of of their hard mas.
ters, Their pay, in war; is the plumber
they plIlage, and fire and rapine follow
their track as surely as they make an in
vason. Their appearance even in
peace, in the towns and cities of the
t country, is most imposing as you see
them upon horseback, with their red or
blue jackets and pike in hand fifteen
! feet long, and resting verdicaIy upon
/ The right stirrup, but which awkward as
! it looks. they use with all. The quickness
! of the. foil. This instrument is even
made Convenient as we'll as necessary for
defence. The Cossack, with his weap-
on in bis right hand and his left upon
the name, springs into his saddle in an
instant. As he rides he has no spurs,
and heavy whip usually hangs sus PEN
ded from his left wrist. A pistol or
cafbinei is all the weapons he has beyond
his pike. and thus armed he is a most
terrible foe, as all who have combatted
with him will bear witness. If there is
a daring, patient or exhausting enter
prise, it is given to the Cossacks of The
army. They scent dangeras The blood
hound scents his prey, and as merciIess
when their masters prepare them
for the chase. They thread mountain
Businesses as the wild beasts born in the
very caverns of the mountains. In ma
ny things they seem 10 resemble the
most ferocious OF our Indians. and like
them they can travel with as little world
| " comfort and endure as much fatigue.
Their sagacitv is as far reaching as their
power of endurance, and place them u
pom the waste lands or their high lands
where plenty reisns or where desolation
rules. and they are in all things the same
peculiar and wonderful people. Alone
in the tfackless path, the sun and the
stars are his guide, and when the sun
and stars are obscu.ed, there is an in
stinct that leads him on, and never from
the pathway he designs to tread. The
earth is their bed, water their drink and
the herbs of the field their. food, and If
need be, the skins Of the wild beasts their
covering. Like our Aborigines. again.
they mins'e a pastoral character with
their savage bravery, and in the wild
ness of their native homes. they seem to
relysupon spirit of divination to soothe
their pains and relieve their wants. =
The French army, and all others whosI
have come IN contact with these. wild
men OF The empire. will tell you what de
mons they are, and their very name and