American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1845-10-22
From the N. Y. Commercial Advertiser.l


We Translate the following horrible narrative
from the French paper of Saturday morning,
INTO which it is copied from the Paris Gazette
les TriOuneaur. That Journal gives it as a We
-itable history, furnished by one who was
witness of the scenes described.
On the 22d Of May, lS4l, battalion Of the
military colony which the Russian Govern
:nent has recently established at Novogorod
and which closely resembles in many respects
The Ldnd-tCehr OF Prussia, was drawn up OH the
parade ground adjoining the extensive barracks
constructed, few years since, in the most an
Gent and solitary portion Of the city, near the
Church of Saint Sophia.
In front of the ranks stood Gen'l L--ef' :;
= tall man OF fifty, remarkable for his erect car
-lage, his meagreness, his sallow complexion
and his grey, restless eyes. He was known
throughout the army for his bravery, of which
he had given many brilliant proofs in the cam
pagns Of Turkey and Persia; but, whether it
was that domestic infelicities had soured his
temper, or that his heart had become hardened
W the frequent application of discipline, de-
grading in its nature and often horrible in its
effects, General Left had become Il terror
20 the soldiers, and scarcely day pissed in
which his command was not signalzed by acts
ofsuch severity as well deserved to be called
ieroCious.
Il was I'm ,wn, however, that this man che
-ished profound attachment for young girl,
the daughter of an old companion in arms, who
Aad been killed in battle. He had adopted the
orphan child, brought her up with care, and
never allowed her to be separated from him
And she, though grateful for the kindness and
affection of her father by adoption, was not the
less governed by an irresistible feeling of con-
straint when in his presence, the result of his
stern brevlty of speech, his imperious manner,
and the cold severity of his aspect. She was
known among the troops by the expressive
name of Solowiova, (nightngae,) given TO
her in recognition of the grace with which she
sang the wild pathetic ballads of the Sclavo-
mans.
Solowiova, to please the general, always ap-
psared at the reviews and drills; and on the day
when the incidents took place which are to be
hereafter related, she was sitting at window
of the generals quarters, in room on the
ground floor, whence her eye ranged along the
extended ranks-and bright blush might be
seen to overspread her features, as her glance
rested for moment on the handsome features
of young surgeon-major, named Ivan Polo
vol, whose manly form was set off to rare ad-
vantage by the simple uniform Of his military
grade
General Left had passed and re-passed
along the front rank of the battalion without
utterng word, but with frowning brow and
an angry expression on his features, for he per-
ceiyed that some of the men were absent. Sud-
denly was heard the slow and mufiied beat of
drum, and from the extremity of the plain
was seen advancing band of soldiers, each
carrying in his hand one of those long rods
which are still used in the Russian service as
,l,n &c bato al nupahment AZ this
sight the general turned in amaze TO his aids
and in a voice of thunder demanded who had
given the order and who was to be the victim
A sergeant, conspicuous by his Scared and
lvd countenance, darted before the general,
snatched from him his sword, struck him in the
IL face, and answered coldly, "Youn'
At these words an electric shock seemed to
pass along the ranks and CLEAN of hate light
ed up the habitually passionless features of the
men. By spontaneous movement the officers
advanced from the line to the rescue of their
commander, but in moment they were sez-
cd, thrown to the ground, and menaced each
by half score of, bayonets
Ivan, the surgeon-ma jor was alone exempt
ed, for his gentleness and humanity had won
for him the affection of the troops. A grena-
, der who stood near whispered in his ear,
whether the nightingale sings or remains ST.
lent, do not move. A word, single step and
you are dead.'
Recovering from his stupor Gen'l Left
mad grasped with each hand one of the bayo-
nets pointed at bis breast, turned them aside
with powerful effort, and cried out with fe-
rocous glance along the line, ''To your knees,
vile brutes; to your knees and beg for mercy;
or there will not be skin enough upon your
backs to expiate your crime"
A savage chuckle was the answer to this
threat and the sergeant, with the frghtful
tranquility which indicates settled purpose,
said EVERY one of US knows the doom that a
waits him, and is prepared to sacrifice his life.
When your sentence is fulfilled we shall 90 be-