Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-05-20
A Martial Scene in Russia.

The position and power of Russia are be-
ginning to excite more than ordinary atten-
ton. An American traveller who recently
visited that country, speaks of the govern
ment as military despotism with an army
of million. Even the peace establishment
includes 200 troops, of which 10000
follow the person of the Emperor. A par
ade at St. Petersburg is thus notced:
Early the next morning went out about
twelve versts from the city to attend a grand
military review by the Emperor in person.
The government of Russia is a military
despotism and her immense army, nomi-
nally amounting to a million, even on the
peace establishment numbers actually SIX
4 hundred thousand, of which sixty thousand
/ follow tho person of the emperor, and were
al that time under arms at ST. Petersburgh.
When rode on the parade-ground, the
spectacle of this great army, combining the
/ elite of barharic chivalry with soldiers train
ed i'm the best schools of European dIscip-
4 line drawn up in battles stern. gray, and
gIittering with steel, was brilliant and al
most sublime; in numbers and military bear
/ ing, in costliness of armor and equipment,
! far surprising any martial parade that had
seen, not excepting grand review OF French
troops at Paris. But when strains OF mar
tial music burst from a hundred bands, and
companies, and regiments, and brigades
wheeled and man9uvred before me, and the
emperor rode by, escorted by general and
/ field officers, and the most magnificent staff
/ in Europe, and the earth shook under the
charge of cavalry, | felt strong marital
spirit reused within me, perhaps was ex-
cited by the reflection that these soldiers had
been in battles, and that the stars and med
ais glttering on their breasts were not mere
holiday ornaments, but the tokens of des-
perate service on bloody battle-fields.
I'm a body. the Russian soldiers present
an exceedingly fine appearance. When the
serf is enrolled, his hair and beard are cut
off, except on the upper lip, his uniform Is
simple and graceful, a belt is worn tightly
round the waist, and the breast of the coat
is thickly padded, increasing the manllness
of the figure, though sometimes at the ex-
pense of health. In evolutions they move
like great machine, as If all the arms and
legs were governed by single impulse.
/ The army under review was composed OF
representatives from all the nations under
the SWAY of Russia: Cossacks of the Don,
and the Wolga, and the Black Sea, in jack
cts and wide pantaloons of blue cloth, riding
on small horses, with hgh-peaked saddles,
and carrying spears eight or ten feet in
length. One regiment had the privilege of
wearing ragged flag and caps full of holes,
as proofs Of their gallant service, being the
only regiment that fought at Pultowa. And
there were Calmucs in their extraordinary
war-dress; helmet with a gilded crest, or
/ chain cap with network of iron rings
( falling over the head and shoulders, and
hanging as low as the eye brows in front;
shirt of mail, composed of steel rings mat
ted together and yielding to the body, the
arms protected by plates, and the back of
the hand by steel network fastened to the
plates on each side; their offensive weapons
were bows and arrows, silver-mounted pis-
tolls peeping out of their holsters, cartridge
boxes on each side of the breast, and dag
ger, sword, and gun.
The Imperial Guards are said to be re-
markably fine looking men. The standard
is six feet, and none are permitted below
that height. Their uniform is white cloth
coat, buckskin brooches. boots reaching to
the hips, and immense swords.