The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-28

Shamyl defended with comparatively small
number Of mountaincers. By vigorously par
sung the retroating enemies, Shamyl caused
them equally great loss as if they had boon
defeated In O regular battle.
Taschaw Hadschi, the rival Murschid OF
Shamyl being unable TO show any proofs of
his capacity Of accomplishing any deeds of all
comparable with these glorious triumph was
compelled by the general enthusiasm, which
Shauyl had awakened By his splendid victories,
to resign and submit TO the authority Of his
great rival. Taus Shamyl attained On ann
which he had for 50 many years ambitioGsly
longed.
II was in 1887 that ShamyI was acknowI-
edged as tho cole Murschii and, a. matter
CT course, commander iD-chief OF the Caucasian
tribes. 1t was also in tho Same year that tho
Emperor Nicholas visited Caucasus, in order
to enliyen the courage Of his soldiers, and from
ocular inspection inform himself Of the diff.
culties and obstacles which FOR 80 many years
had retarded tho desired eubi5gaton OF to-
Caucasian population. While, therefore, SEa-
N.Y. endeavored to prove himself worthy Of hjs
enlarged power and new honors, and oouse-
quentiy increased, if possible, his boldness and
6is HvtTits, the SusciL1 Gsreraie a.insea.sd
by the oral exhOrtationG Of the Czsr, renewed.
on their part, with redoubled vigor, the atten,r5
at c0nrelling the Caucasian tribes to ackrov..
edge the Autccrat as their master. The flames
OF war spread consequently, with increased
violence Throughout TIE I1ountains and valleys
Of Caucasus. The work Of death ..as going q
everywhere, and human blocd flowed IN
streams
But the Russian Generals, notwithstanding
all the skill and all the valor which they dis
played, and in spite of all tao means q cor
ruptions and seducGons which they employed.
IN crdGr to breed dissansiona amcog tho
mount2ineeTs Themselves made hut very ins;G.
nlhca1t prOgtess towards accomplishing tie OBJ
Jece IN view. Victorious in some quarters, they
met with defeats IN others but 10 every battle
their loas was proporLionally far greater then
that Of their enemies Shamyl wcs always
present where the Danger was greatest dis
playing an activity which appeared almost
supernatural. Equally courageous sftar de-
feats as prudent after victories, be excited tho
admiration of enemies as we'll a5 Of friends
Dreaded by the Russians, he vas adorei by his
countrymen, and was considered almost ~
conquerable by all
After 81 many fcuitloss victoriel and 50 many
bloody defeats, the Russian Generals began b
change their tactics, AID ceased 70 siil! the
blood cf their eoliievs ia repeated attacks.
ahicb en- tho whole, bad proved # title o. no
dvnntage-sdopting q new mode Ct cIrryiug
on the war, better calculated 20 secure them
selves from 6:sasters, while supposed no less
efficient in ultimately reducing the bravo
20 subiaotiop Consequently, tIe
Russians began 90 cut Of the unsUbiued pari
Of Caucasus from communication with tho
countries. On tho north they C..
5ablshod what is called tho Caucssisn line Of
Gordon, consisting N o long series Of ioIt-esse5
o,,I n, -. <At
which protected the Cuban and the Tcrei,
The beginning Of this Inc dates itself indeed,
from some more years back but was first now
finished. Ga tie wesk, Ia AbkGsa and Min
grelia, and in the south, in Gr0aia ard Geof-
gia, similar lines Of for.if q oUtposts were c.
tab.iChed; while On tho east, the Russians cut
of the mOuptalDeers from the Caepian sea, by
attachments occupying to strongest
places in Daghestan. IL was hoHad IN this
way, to deprive the Caucasian population Of
much Of their means Of sustcnanCe "a well as
Of the necessary supply ct powder ard srus.
But eVen this mode Of warfare proving IN part
6 new one waa 0cbincd with it.
The Russion troops were directed simultaDo-
ously to proceed. on certain appointed days,
from their respective quarters, IN attacking
columns and thus at ono and the same time to
spread terror and confusion in every direction
among the m0untaineers, via, it We Supposed,
would Consequently be lts5 capable Of y!GoT
GUS resistance.
Bus Shamyi knew how to Illustrate oil the
most ingenious plans Of bis powerful enemies,
and bsfiled every attempt Of the Russian Gen
erals 10 bring about Tire final sUhiugalia1 o.
the Caucasian tribes. Sometimes be defeated
their attaching columns, rcrle5mes he obliged
these speedily TO retrace ;bcir steps in order 20
protect the villages and positions from which
they had Issued, and which during their rlO-
inentary absence, had been attacked by Sho-
myl and bis faithful cfi;ers, whc more than
OGce thus succeeded in carrying off much spoi5
from the R1C.iars themselves If defeated ono
day, Shamyl appeared equally formidable on
the following one, or at least within no long
Interval OF time. Always hopeful, he knew how
to infuse the Same feeling in the breasts Of his
warriors, who seemed 70 think no enterprise
too daring under the Leadership OF their diVinely
Hurechid. Therefore, second !
by the skill and zeal Of bis Aiurides, and y
the bravery Cf The whols Cauca.ian population,
Sbemyl continued successfully, io- two years,
to defy the power Of tho mighty Car.
But in 1899, fortune turned for G while her
back upon the Intrepid Marschid. Both enc
mics and friends considered him, and with him
the ancient freedom OF Cavcasns, lost beyond
At that time, the celebrated Ger
erel Grabbe, one Of the best and bTsyest Of tho
Russian Generals, commanded TIE troops On
pIoyed against Shamyl The war was, on both
sides, conducted With the utmost skill ard
ygor, but victory remained generally with
Grabbe, who at last compelled Shamyl to seek
refuge in the fortified anl or village Of Ackulko,
situated on the rocks projecting above the
torrent Of Sulek, and furnished with
peculiar to tho villages of tho
There fortifcatioCs consist
Of q combination of walls OF EARTH With sakli5
or masonry of stones, which, in similarity wish
the Maximilian or MOntalembert towers, are
sunk in the earth, above which they are eleVa-
ted only as much as to allow their defenders 70
scatter their balls over the surrounding area,
and are considered as almost impregDable, ez-
cent by the means Of very heavy esnuOcs, 81
the effect Of those Of small calib-e is trifiiug
upon such Publications and as stormiug par
ties are seldom able to brave the firewhich is
directed from them il such way as TO cause
a terrible destruction among me ssssilants.
Consequently, ell the storms which General
Grabbe ordered against the village of Ackulko,
after in vain employing his small cannons, mis-
carried. He resolved, therefore, to desist fccm
eny further attacks, aud only surround the VII
lago with his numerous troops in order to TO
duce it by the means of hunger. Some weeks
passed in that way. It began by and By to
grow more and more noiseless in the belosguer
cd plGcc--a sure evidence that the hunger was
doing tho work Of death. At length the Rus
SLAMS assembled the rocks; thsy were recei7ed
with but C very feeble fire, and, penetrating IN
tho village, they found only few, nearly to
death starved and severely wounded, SsrrioTs.
But Shamyl had saved himself as they soon
LEARNT bv n v:oo-o,,s attack which he made in
their rear. Bat by what means was his safety
Accomplished It is related, in Caucasus, that
during a dark night he caused to be lowered
- q -..;o,,;n,, rooEs two small boats In