Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-12-15
nlisfelIaneous.
Schamil, the Leader of the
CIrcassians.

4
take active part in any war attempted by Tur-
key agaisnt Russia. and it is a certain that in
such an event we shalliear Of -dssisa -expIoits
on the part Of Schamil their brave chief We
have every reason to believe that Schanlil has
succeeded in bringing about defensive union
betw cen all the tribes of thu Caucasus. and that
he possesses their unrestricted confidence. Some
accounts represent him as being almost an idol
and the people as imagining him to have a
charmed lite. Their enthusiasm indeed, may
we'll have been stirred by his past career.
The first time we hear of Schanl 10 in 1892.
In that year, devout Mussulman Kasi Moab,
held chief command in the bands OF Lesghans,
Tehetchenizes, and other tribes of the eastern
chan and theppes abuting on the Caspian and
traversed by the Koisu. Kasi-Moab's reputa-
ton for sanctity WAS greater than that which he
acquired for the higher military qualities, al
though dashng leader, and lndlv vduay one of
the bravcst of the brave. He was brought to IN
1895 by General Rosen,at place called Gumri
Enclrced on al sides, almost the last scrap Of
food devoured, nothing remained in the opinion
of Kasi Mellah, and about thirty Of his most zeal
Gus disciples, but to hew tor themselves a path
through the Russian bayonets, ia freedom or to
| Paradise-either alternative a welcome one !
This resolution finally taken,they suddenly emer-
ged from the fasiness they could no longer
hold, and burst upon the Russian troops with the
shock of an avalanche, and the furious discor-
dant yes Of a troop of madnen. For one OF
two brief moments, it seemed that they must es.
cape, so far through the beIeaguering circle uf
their foes did they ceave their desperate way
before the monenty-recolllng ranks reclosed
around them, and they tell by twos ard threes,
wildly fighting to the last, rdded by musket
balls and bayonet-stabs. Kasi-Molab "dled
with his hand on his beard, and last prayer
murmurng from his lips" and as his pupils per-
ished with him, all save one, aid he the bravest
and feIcest of thea all, who broke through the
eacreliag bayone,s, dashed at haadlong spesd
past the more distant lines Of running fire un-
harmed refined suddenly up as he reached thu
angle Of u mountain gorge, into which he knew
none dared TO follow shook his red scimitar, and
hurled defiant execration in the faces OF his
batflsd fOes, and the uext moment, with an ex.
utlng shout of '' Allah II Allah - disappeared
in the dark mountain pass. This fortunate horse.
man was Schamil, the future Imam preacher. J
| tho prnntat soI1;ar # ha
cape, as just described, many Of his followers to
this day firmly believe was due to the direct in
terposi'ion OF the angel Gabriel
Schamil, who is one of the dark. eyed, dark
haird. partly Tartar race Of Tchetch-niz's, was
born at Tschirskei, place of about 5000 inhab-
itan,s; aud after his escape from G ,nrl, he en-
pioyed several years IN peambulaing the noun
tans of the Leshan Chain, preaching wherever
he went with fervid eloquence upon the sacred
duty, devolved by G'd, upon all true believers,
to extirpa,e the intrusive inhdel, and the parndi.
sal rewards which death in so high and holy 4
caus: must iafa ably insure. THIS prophet call -,
as it was deemed. to battle from the cupeas and
mnarets Of the sublime and towering hills, grad.
ually kindled the latent facaticism of the noun
taineess to fame, which soon communicated
itself to the dwellings, in the cities and steppes
of Daghstan, and the adaceut valleys and
plains. The story of Schamil's miraculous es
cape from General Roseana by favor of the arch
angel Gabriel, was repeated from mouth to mouth
with endless variations and adiitlons-hls dar
ing skill and success, as solder confirmed the
illusions Of credulons bigo;ry; and he gradu-
ally drew around his staniard, and 10 his sway.
the multitude of rugged warriors whose swords
have inscribed SO m,ny victories upon the backs
Of the Russisn armies, and 10 this hour present.
; ed an invinclble front 10 their dlsmayed, and
! piactcahy discounted advsrsarics.
} Many we'll authenticated instances of his
daring are related in a number of Chambers
excellent " Repository" published some months
, since. One or two Of these may interest the
} reader at this iuncture:-
In 1880, Schlnil found himself surround,
by General Grabbe, and $4,000 veteran Russian
troops, at Achuko, kind of mud encanpmen
perched upon the top Of rock on the baaks o
the kosu. The position of this place was 81
strong that the attempt to storm 1t was abandon
ed after the loss of $4,000 men; but Schaml
had soon deadlier foe than General Grabbe
and his army to contend w,h-hunser hunger
vergng upon famine, came before the week h,,
passed. THIS was kaowu IN the kussan camp
and the place having been strictly invested OF
" all sides, it was certain that the hour Of surrend
I; er could not be long delayed.
"On the last day but one of August, Gen
J. Grabbe learned, trsn On saanciated L,sghian
IS whom his soldiers had causai ~hiest attenp,
ing to crawl pasl tks boclad,ng lines, that no
d a particle Of food 80 ls;t in Achulco the Scha
mil Bey proposeS 10 escape that very night, vii,
> one or tvo chsseA comrades, by means Of
< rope lowered dssn the face of the rock 10 III
;, Koisu; and Achulko, he added, would be sur
IS rendereA immediately afterwards. A stric
. watch cas- immediately ordered to be kept
II he indicated spot, and directions were given t
. awaken the General at whatever hour Of th