Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-07-29
LETTER FROM RUSSIA

rope, from which though not mtended Tor pubic
tom we cannot sorbear ma king an extract. The WI
ter had the good fortune to be present at the late al
n,'al review OF the Russian Imperfect Guard, by tn
Emperor, at ST. Petersburgh---which is compose
of6O,OO0 men; and as such desctiptionsare seldom
afforded the American reader, it will be read with
interest :--.Ne,v Hdeen Register.
| ST. PETERsBURGII, June lS47.
every year this Review takes place
at the Imperial City, preparatory to the departure
of the troops for their summer quarters For about
four hours | had good view of the magnificent
sight, and my hurried pen will fail me to give YOU
an adequate description Gifts exceeding splendor-
When arrived upon the ground the troops had
already begun to march. The balconies and win
dows of the public buildings and elegant private
residences surrounding the field, were filled with
ladies and gentlemen, and the sides of the field it
sell covered with dense mass OF men. women and
children. On one side of the field gorgeous tent was
pitched upon raised platform, for the Empress,
aud before her Majesty and the Emperor the troops
were to pass in review. The panoramic view OF
the whole field, you can readily imagine, was beau
hful. But TO the Review itself, of this great BODY
OF oU,OOO troops, who an part only compose the
Gdrde Lmperiale Of the Emperor Nicholas, and who
are distinct from the main army of Russia, which
believe numbers near one million, rank and file
The foot soldiers, infantry principally, first pass
ed in view, marching by platoons accompanies con-
tanning, perhaps, one hundred and fifty men each.
and III double order. As the several platoons ar
rived opposite the Emperor, the peculiar Russian
hurrah went up the whole length of the line, ma
king the welkin ring. The soldiers were all pick
ed men, tall, athletic and every one of them with
heavy black moustache. They moved with math
emalical precision, and whether on a slow or quick
march, seemed like pieces of mechanism, and their
muskes not varying, 1t seemed, an inch either in
the height or inclination given to them. OF all
the marching have seen, and have seen the A
mercan French, Dutch and Prussian soldiers. none
will at all compare with the Russian. The mi
form of the infantry was blue and red not unlike
our militia uniform in Connecticut. 1t was about
two hours before the infantry had passed in review,
and then came the cavalry, advancing in double or
der by platoons of sixty horses abreast; and here
was sight that beggars description, and which.
when recall it, seems like magnificent VISION
First came a company OF Caucasian Princes. mount
ed upon black, cold black fiery steeds. with lonU
names and tails almost sweeping the ground. The
Caucasans were dressed in red garment fittnq
closely TO the skin, and over this finely wrought
steel chain arrnor covering the entire body fen
from the head loosely over the neck and shoulders
upon their feet they wore 4 kind of sandal and M
on their legs leather leggins similar 10 those of our
Indian warriors across their backs they carried a
bow with well filled quvers; in their hands car
gain.
They were fierce, though handsome loolinu
set of fellows. Next came the Iartars. upon their
wild looking fleet little horses--the horses. all Of
them, carrying their necks forward and their heads
high up in the air, as ii shutting the breeze or, SO
uniform was the line OF heads, if they were all
drawn up by pulleys. The costume of The Tartar
soldier Is blue frock trimmed with silver. and a
kind OF skull cap bound with fur in his hand he
carries spear, the end Of which he rests upon the
head. between the ears OF his horse. Then came
the Cherdtisr LaHccrS, splendid looking men, dress
ed IN white cashmere. with heavy aud highly pol
SiIed brass breast plates. and brass helmets sur
mounted by The imperial eagles, all mouu,ed upon
most elegant horses. Regiment after regiment
passed by. each regiment with different coorCd hor
ses and the horses in each regiment 80 well match
ed IN size, form. color, and indeed every respect
that to distinguish them each had braided in his
name his number upon small plate. The Ian
GERS are all picked men, and of the flower of the
Russian army the officers being of noble birth and
were 1t not for the different coored pennants they
carry upon their lances and the color of the horses
no one regiment could be distinguished from anoth-
er, so nearly alike are they After the Lancers
came the Imperial HusSas. in their costume OF red
with high fur caps, and mounted every one uDon
white sleeds. This regiment, it is said. is the IA
vorlte regiment OF the Empress. Then came the
Imperial Carbneers mounted on black horses, and
dressed IKE Inc lancerS except that their helmets
and breast plates of STEEL hirhly polished
Following these came the Cossacks-ther black
steeds carrying their heads high in the air. The
dress OF the Cossacks is similar TO that of the Tar
tars, which have above described, except i'm their
caps, which high and of fur their weapon is a
steel, sharp pointed lance.
The rear of this immense body of cavalry, a
mounting 10 over $4,000, was brought I'D by reoj
n mpiIn tnla civil a.
to each gun, and OF sapPers and miners and then
came the baggage wagons, and the ponton train.
But the greatest sight was the marching OF the bor
ses attached 10 the different regiments They
seemed like machines. You think it 'sstrange.''
no doubt. and yet It's no lesSs strange than true"
that every horse in marching Kept perfect time ,oih
has feet lCiH The music. ! never saw soldiers ON
foot do ii better--indeed, not so well, for when
quick, lively tune was played by the music, euery
horse commenced trot and kept no the same uni
tOrmty OF step as before, when on walk And
then TO see those horses wheel by companies, and
in double order, coming round with the precision of
compass describing circle it exceeded any thing
| ever imagined.
After the whole army, for the Imperial Guard is
organized as entire and distinct army had pass
ed IN review before the emperor, the infantry left
the field, and the cavalry refnaired in full posses
sion Of 1t and went through with some evolutons
First tho 'Caucaslans came at a full run down the
field and then the other regiments in succession.-
After this the whole body stationed themselves at
some distance opposite the Emperor in close order;
and ct given signal halfo this body, over 5000
/ horsemen, started OH run and suddenly halted
few feet in advance of the Emperor, preserving. as
they halted, the same compactness and the same
perfect front which they had before starting
few more eyolutous, which ! have rot time to
write about now. finished the review of the day-a
day which las done much TO impress on me the re
mark of Napoleon. that with an army Of Russian