The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-23

ARMY OF THE RUSSIAN HAPmR-THE VAST IN
CREASE AND THE DETERIORATION OF THE RUS
SIAN ARMIEs--CHARACTER OF THE RUSSIAN SOL
DER At THE PRESENT DAy-HFERIoRiTY OF THE
ovYICERs OF THE RUSSIAN INFANTRY, &C, &C.
Hr BENNETT.
Sir-At this interesting period OF public excite
lnent, beg 10 offer the following paper, with the
above CAPTION of the military elements and physical
force Of the Russian Empire. Very respectfully,
A. e. CASTLE, M. ID.
To form an approximate idea Of State, 80 essen
tally military and warlke in all its institutions
the Russian Empire it is not only necessary to
4oire a correct knowledge of its actual military
strength, but we must also investigate the latent
elements which may be called into action to in
III. and 10 what extent they are, or may be,
fitted for the mission OF extensive conquest,
which the apprehensions of the civilized world
ssclibes to them II examine dispassonately
and calmly the military history OF Russia during
the last century, we shall find more causes
ef alarm than have ever been admitted Yet
II we continue our investigation as far as the late
Polish, Turkish and Hungarian wars and combine
their results with the observations which the aspect
presented by the Russian army to the eye Of an OBJ
server, we shall end our apprehensions rapidly dis
appearing before tho researches which have led to
The explanation of facts apparently anomalous and
perpexing. We shall, then, at first, find ourselves
startled by the conviction that the Russian armies
have been much more formidable than we had ac-
sustomed ourselves to believe. careful perusal Of
impartial histories shows that eighty years ago,
OF Two great battles fought with almost equal forces
by the Russians, against an army as highly disci-
plined as any which has ever been collected in E-
rope. and commanded by one Of the greatest cap
tains The world has ever produced-Frederck the
Great-one battle remained undecided; and in the
other, they obtained the victory. When we reflect
that Suwarrow, with an army less than 10 600 men,
drove out Of Italy 100 600 troops Of the French Re-
public, commanded by such men as Moreau, by Mo
Donald and by Joubert; when we reflect therefore,
what the Russian soldier has proved himself, and
pause to consider that the empire, which threatens
to send forth her bordes to conquest, to crush
the spirit Of liberty has now about q million OF
men under arms, there would appear to be- in con-
junction with these facts, most OF alarm
fortunately, however, for the liberties and the in
dependence Of Europe the Russian soldier of to-day
longer the Russian soldier of the last century
ne is no longer what he was; diluted as the mill
taTy vigor OF the ovcrgrown masses OF the Russian
troops is, compared to the small brave armies Of
Elizabeth and Suwarrow. This, with many other
causes, have cOncurred to render the Russian armies
less formidable than formerly; as, by a comparison
OF their former with their recent campaigns in
Europe and IN Crcassia. we shall very easily de-
GOnstrate We may very readily understand the
of this uniavorabe change. All their
cesses have been chiefly owing to good and steady
infantry, and probably they have never had but one
General Suwarrow. To the talent Of their chiefs,
excepting in the ease Of this remarkable man, they
have seldom been indebted This infantry still con-
tinues to render the Russian armies respectable;
but its officers. who have at all times been Indifferent
most lanentably deficient in intelligence.
The fanatic confidence in the holiness Of their cause
and the blind belief in fatalsm which formerly ami
mated the masses of the military and supplied the
place of more noble enthusiasm. now exists no
longer. Its last flashes seen at the battle Of
Borodino, where the evies just recruited from the
peasantry, and still in their gray dresses, Napoleon
says, moved steadily and unHinchingly in the face
Of destruction from their entrenchments trembling,
and crossing themselves. but still pushing forward in
their first and last field to the death bed that
awaited them.
The Russian peasantry, who, when disciplined
constitute some Of the best infantry in Europe--su
perior in steadiness to any excepting the English
The Swedes, and the Swiss--are naturally most
pacific race. Feeble in constitution, they
neither endure long marches resist the hardhps
Of q campaign. Accustomed to a watery food, of
which they require great quantities, they soon fall
victims TO famine, diseases, and epidemics, which
rapidly thin their numbers when exposed to scarcity
or fatigue. How different in reality, from the pic
ture we have been accustomed to contemplate of
bold and enduring barbarians, whose iron frames set
at defiance all prvations and fatigue. Their supe-
lOrty consists only in this they the soul of
Obedience--they serve without a murmur. A Rus
sian regiment. if destined for long march, cannot
60 than % wersts Q62 English mles) per
day--marchng two days. and resting the third. If
extended beyond this. too many men are left upon
the road. With sour black (rye) bread for his food
and over eighty pounds weight in arms, munitions,
and equipments it is not surprising that seventy-fve
miles ia six days should be the limit of the Russia
soldiers physical powers. History tells us in the
nails Of the Russian last campaigns with Turkey,
that the Russian army lost 100000 men from sick.
ness and fatigue alone. Montecuculi, in his spirited
military memoir, says, notwithstanding the European
tactics enabled the Russians to gain every victory,
little rmness and short prolongation of the war
the part of Turkey would have conquered them. In
fntry constituted of component parts SO despicable
is yet, n whole, comparatively formidable, not
outstanding the deficiency in their officers, for the
simple reason that experience teaches and history
shows that theseRussian troops will preserve their
line. or continue to move on in unbroken column,
when commanded to do so, where the Austrians and
Prussans give way The Russian soldier. uninspired
by any military enthusiasm, or any patriotic feeling
even stimulated by any spirit of natural pugna-
city, which with energetic invests the very
act OF strife and contention, peculiar charm and
pleasing mode Of excitement. The Russian soldier
stands aoof from these natural charms of other men;
he will stand passvely to be cut to pieces, he will
advance rs he is directed: his arm may be unncrved
indeed, by his individual terrors but still he keeps
his place; the man is there at his post, forming part
and parcel Of brave and formidable whole-a whole
which stands unawed by danger, or which itself ad-
apparent physical force. This negative quality is Of
vital importance in the presence of an enemy, because
if one do not give way, the other must, or will. 1t
is not record that troops crossed bayonets as
the Americans and British did, during our last war
On our Northern frontier
The Russian soldier, whether infantry or cavalry,
is almost invariably taken from the class OF sers,
though all who are not noble are liable to the con-
scrpton. Every proprietor of "sclaves,' or slaves,
s bound to furnish yearly percentage on the num-
Der he possesses, proportion which varies accord
ing to the exigencies Of the State. The proprietor
consequently, generally selects the most idle, the
most worthless and the most useless Of his peasants
The recruit leaves his family, with the regrets Of the
separation to be forever. He is told that he is now
a freeman but he is forwarded to the head quarters
Of his regiment, and chained to some other equally
unfortunate Russian freeman. The average pay of
Russian soldier is about three dollars per annum,
which he can add to by any employment he can
gain by work obtained not interfering with his mill
tary duties. This brings him nothing, or an amount
beneath notice. His food in garrison consists of
rye bread always more less inurious) fermented
cabbage, buckwheat grits, and hempseed oil. The
''guards' attending the Emperor, receive one half
pound Of indifferent meat twice week. His drink
is called guass-two slices of rye bread being
allowed to ierment in half bucket of watcr-which
they drink in large quantities. Some temperance
philanthropists endeavored lately, to debar them
even Of bis beverage. The Russian infantry consists
on paper of 100000 men. each regiment being di-