Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-04-06
THE CIRCASSIANS.

THE CIRCASSIANS.
The region of the Caucasus is little known to
travellers. The gay capitals Of southern Eu-
rope, the vne.clad hills of France, the sunny
plains of Italy, the delights of Capua--these fill
their fances, and attract their worship. An oc-
casional tourist, wrapped in furs and preceded
by courers, is sometimes drawn further north
by the fame of ST. Petersburgh. The splendid
palaces, the novel spectaces, the prohigate
amusemens of that mighty city, for while
transport him with pleasure-but the intense
rgor Of the climate soon drives him back to Pa
ris. Only one man in thousand dares to ex-
plore the Caucasus. He encounters the most
cutting winds, and endures prvatons unknown
10 the people of the south. He finds country
almost inaccessible, impervous to the arts, and
unmarked by the achievements of modern Sci
ence. He is assailed by hunger and cold. He
scales lofty mountains, and penetrates deep
drifts Of snow. If he survives the perils of the
way, he is rewarded for them all He sees the
fairest women and the bravest men, on whom
the light of Heaven ever shpne. He admires
The gigantic bulwarks, stronger than Gibraltar,
with which Nature has protected them. But he
feels that were they all removed, were these
mighty mountains leveled with the plains, and
those intricate ravines converted into post-roads,
this people would still be invincible. Fear can
not live among those hills. Among the Circas-
slams, there is no such word as cowardice. They
possess a patient courage, and passionate pat
riotism, which are proof against cannon. Their
deeds are comparatively unknown TO history
Their victories are not chroncled in the Euro
pean capitals No military gazette recounts
their operations. Poets have not sung their glo-
ries, nor authors described their desperate vaor.
The snow absorbs their blood, and the comblt
is forgotten. The eternal mountains of the Cau-
casus are the only monuments to their heroes.
Nevertheless, for long years, this people have
been acting grand epic-for long years, they
have been performing deeds of noble daring and
chvalric enterprise, to which the united records
of moderR and ancient warfare furnish no par.
allel whatever. Greece had but one Thermo-
pyle, but Caucasus is full Of them. The books
do not describe them, but the tears of Russian
mothers tell the story just as well.
Italy has been called the grave of the French
But the French have often overrun her territory
and enjoyed her wealth. At least they have
supped and made merry before they died. The
Russians have no such solace. To them the
Caucasus has been grave ungraced by previ.
Gus gIories. The best soldiers of the Gar lie
buried there. Army after army move down up.
on Circassia, but they go forth to certain de-
struction. The bravest troops Of the Autocrat
led on by his abest generals, cannot stand be
fore that terrible sodiery. They defy every ar
that can be used against them. Force cannot
subdue, nor diplomacy conciliate. AT times, they
are apparently conquered. 1t is only the lul
that proceeds the hurricane. Experience has
taught the Russians, that when they seem MOS
tranquil, they are, in fact, most dangerous
They draw back, it is true, but it is only to pre-
pare for the spring. When the intense colo
weather sets in, and the discipline of the inva
ders become relaxed when the campaign is ap
parently ended, and the drowsy sentinel dreams
Of seeing home once more, the Clrcassiaps burs
upon them with the fury of wild beasts. The
dream is broken by the warcry Of the enemy
But it is soon exchanged for a sleep too deer
for dreams. In enterprises of this sort, the Cir
cassian rarely fails. lie does not emerge frou
his retirement for nothing. 1t is to slaughter
entire garrisons-often to rout great armes.-
On such occasions little is said, but much i
done in st. Petersburgh. The papers contain
not one word upon the subject. The Gar il
studiously silent. Europe must not know his
disaster. But the people are not deceived
They see new levies marching gaily forth-they
know that it is TO death. In the Russian Gotta
ges they need no official bulletins to know tht
fate of an army in the Caucasus.
Thus has it been for years-the Circossan,
guarding the frontier of Asia, and the Gar vain
y attempting TO conquer them. There they
have fought for twenty years, presenting the on
ly barrier between Nicholas and the Asiatic do
mipion. The Russian forces have been dashins
against the Caucasian mountains like the bill
lows of the sea against granite rock-beating
and then returning only to beat and break again
Their defeat is seduousy concealed, but occa
sionally we hear, as was the case last week, o
the Circassians breaking blockade and destroy
ing an army. AT such times all Europe breathe
freer. They know that, for another year, ASH
is safe from Nicholas. The Grand Turk head
procession to the Mosque, and INDUCES il
f,.,icn ns nnch sherhef M nsnal To the ofhe