Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-11-08
by Masser s. EiseIy.
A STORY OF RUSSIAN MILLIrARy LIFE.

,ive says the New York Commercial Adver.
tiser. from the French paper of Saturday morn.
! ing, into which 1t is copied from the Paris Ga.
''tic DIES Ttib"ncaur. That journal gives it
as ve'iiabe history, furnished by one who
was witness of the scenes d, scr bed.
IIorrid Detail ofth- Execution OF a Whole
Regiment
On the 221 of May, 1871, battalion of the
military colony which the Russian Govern.
nent has recently established at Novngero!.
and which closely resembles in many respects
the and.mchr ofPrussia, was drawn W on the
parade ground adjoining the extensive barracks
constructed, few years since. in the most an.
cient and solitary portion OF the city, near the
Church of Saint Sophia.
In front of the rsnks Stood Genral I-efl
a tall man of fifty, remarkable for his erect car.
riage, his meagreness, his sallow complexion
and his grey. restless eye. lie was known
thronchou, the army for his bravery, of which
he had given many brilliant proofs in the cam.
pnions of Turkey and Persia, but, whether it
was tha, domestic iEfctirs had sourpi his
temper, or that his heart had become hardened
by the frequent application of discipline, De.
grading in lis nature and often horrible in its
effects, General Jeff had become A terror 10
the soldiers, and scarcely day passed in which
, his command was not signalized by acts of such
/ severity as well deserved To be called feru.
| cuns.
! 1t was known, however, TIM, this man che.
riAI AI,iu "a ati f,r ,;rl
! the daughter of az old companion in arms, who
had been killed in battle. lie had adopted the
| orphan child. brought her up with care, and
never allowed her to b. separated from him
/ And She, thou-h grateful for the kindness and
atft cton OF her father by adoption, was not less
/ governed !y an Irresistible feeling of cons,raini
| while IN his presence, the result of his stern
brevi'y of speech, his imperious manner and the
cold severity of his aspect. She was known
among the troops by the expressive name of
/ Solowova, (nightingaIe,) given to her in re.
cognition ofthe grace with which she sang the
wild pathetic ballads Vt the Slavonians.
! Solowiova, 10 please the general, always ap-
peared at the reviews and drills; and on the
day when the incidents took place which are
hereafter 10 be related she was sitting at win.
dow of the generals quarters, in room on the
! ground door, whence her eye ranged along
| the extended ranks-and bright blush might
be seen TO overspread her features, as l.er glance
! rested for moment on the handsome features
/ ol young surgeun-malor, named Ivan Polo.
/ vol, whose manly form was set off to rare ad.
vantage by the simple uniform OF his military
/ grade.
General l.---eil had passed and repasSed
along the front rank Of the battalion without
utterlng word, but with trowning brow and
] an angry expression on his features, for he per-
! ceived that some of the men were absent Sud
denly vas heard the SLOW and mufiled beat ur
a drum, AMI tron the extremity oi' the plain was
seen advancing band OF soldiers, each carrying
in his hand one of these long rods which aie
still used in the Russian service as the tools
ot hateful punishment, At this sight the
general turned in amaze to his aIds and in a
voice Of thunder demanded who had given riy
order and who was tu hrn the victim,
A sergeant, conspicuous by hIs SCARED aud
llvld countenance, darted before the general
snatched from hir his ~ ord, struck him Ia the
face, and answered coldly, "Fou~
Al these words an electric shock seemed tc
pass along the rurks, aud CLEAN Of h.te light
ed up the hab,ua'ly plssionlc.s features vi tn,
men. BY spontaneous movement the officer:
advanced from '.Ie line TO the recue Of then
, commander, but in Il moment they were seized
I thrown 10 the ground aud menaced each BY
halfa score OF bayone'>,
Ivan, the surGron.maJnr was alone eXempte,
D fnr his gcn,icaCss ant! humanity had wna tu
a hin the affection OF the troops. A grenade
. who stood near whispered IN his eur "Whe
F. ther the nightingale sings or remains silent, d
d not move. A word, single step and you arr
t deed"
Recovering FUN his stupor General Is--et
had grasped with each hand one Ut the bayonet
pointed at his breast, turned them aside with
powerful effort, and cried out with ierociou
glance along the line, ITO your knees vii
brulesi to your knees and beg for mercy; q
ie there will not 5e skin enough upon your back
10 expiate your crime"
Z. A savage chuklc was the answer to thi
threat and the sergeant, with the irghtfu trar
re guilty which indicates a settled purpose
:" every one Of uS knows the doom that await
lg him, and is prepared to sacrifice his life. Whe
your sentence Is fulfilled we shall 90 beior
N General Surof the Governor of Novogorod, "
~ shall lay at his feet ynnr sMnGd Nnnr holt vnr