The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-05-26
Tskemder Bey. The Dashing saOref'

erso,,T nrowess and chivalrous deeds on the field
nt ha1,lc rival those of Murat, and remind us ol
pages of romance, is given by correspondent oi
Ihe Daily News and is dated at halaiat
alt is to be regretted that at the moment VINE"
his services are most needed, lSkendcr Dey' one
Of the best officers in the Turkish army VINO cU''i
mands the outposts, should be confined to his pea
bv severe illness at Widdin. In the action al
Citale he was riding flriousIy down the strcet OF
the village, heading "a charge of his troops "Heh
the horse of Cossack, who was advancing 10
meet him. was struck by some shot, ana IeH I'M
mediatelv IN front of hIm.
s.Iskender Bey continued his course, and leaped
over the PROSTATE bodies OF The Russian ana MS
horse but, when in the act OF dong so lhe iauer
ATTEMPTED 10 rise, and lSkender Bey was thro"H
violently, and he and the Cossack, and thtIr TWO
steeds, rolled over and over in the mud. lie h"d
no sooner regaIued his feet than he found himself
in the grasp of Russian soldier, ho called on
him to ask for quarters, to which he replied WIN
blow of his sabre prorasting his assaiIant IN 'he
mud. FIe was enabled to retire in safety 10y me
advance of body of the bashl buzaks, but touho
that his ribs had been disocated, and that ho hao
received severe internal injury. lie renamed al
his post for few days, but was at last compelled
to give way, as he was no longer able TO mount
his horse, and came to Widdin TO put himself under
the care of the surgeon.
mos, remarkable man in the Turkish army. He
is about the middle height, but rather muscular and
SYMMETRICAL His hair and beard are coal black,
but if possible not near black as his eyes, which
flash like fire under dark overhanging brows. A
long and slightly curved nose, small mouth, thin
lips, and a high forehead, and a complexion
hronzed by sun and wind, combined TO form one
Of the most striking physiognomies have ever
looked upon. He is OF Tartar origin, and Mus
sulman BY birIh and is the owner OF large es
tate in Bessarabia, but has been in political exile
ever since he attained the age of manhood. Per-
sona taste and family traditions have made him
soldier. Hatred Of Russia made him soldier OF
fortune, and as might be expected, there were
few wars in any part OF the world, for the last
twenty wears, in which he has not taken part.
s'FIe served with distinction in the Carist war IN
Spain, and :he Don Pedro war in Portugal, in both
of which he was famed for his dashing courage as
a cavalry leader. Such was his cha racter for de-
termination, that while in Spain he was appointed
10 the command OF legion called Legion ProVlso'
rie composed Of all The mauUalS Su1etS OF the army
cut throais and brigands from every cline under
heaven, who were found mtolerable in the company
Of more decent men. This legion acquired
the habit Of killing their officers, and at last no one
could be got TO command them except lskender
Bey, then Count lnsky. He sooner found HIM
self in his post than he took the initiative by
killing three men on the spot, who gave signs OF
nsubosdinaon. Everybody was expecting each
day to hear of his death; but his troops, finding
the sort Of man they had to deal WITH gave up
their old practices and follwed him in action with
unconquerable vaIor and devotion.
He left Spain and Portugal with eleven cross
es of various orders. 1886 found him at the ia
nous siege of Herat in Persia, during the Russo.
Persian difference which excited so much interest
in our Indian possessions. The Chinese war
brought him TO Canton, where he spectator
Of the hostiIIlies from beginning TO end He then
entered the French service at A Igiers, and was
present at most Of the actions of Add :el-Kader,
and likewise shared E the dangers and disasters
of the terrible retreat from Constantine. He left
the French army with the star of the legion Of
honor, and in 1848 took service IN the Hungarian
war cf independence, under his old companion in
arms, General BEN.
"The treachery and misfortune OF 1S49 sent
him into Turkey with crowd of others. He
quickly obtained employment, and bore promI
nent part In the campaigns in Bosnia and Monte
negro. In the former he commanded division
of the Turkish army, which defeated vastly su-
perior force Of the insurgents. and captured
large number Of their guns. This service was
most important, it inflicted a blow on the Bos.
mans from which they never recovered. The
government evinced its gratitude by raising him
~ uO lhhh vi oSHh1 DuL AuSlIId hUu huSSId
Jointly procst against his elevation, and he re.
lieved the Sultan from his embarrassment by vol
unfairly reIinquishng his new dignity. He now
bears the grade of colonel Of cavalry and has
had command Of the oufposts Of Kalalat; though
nominally second to Muzur Hasha, the son Of
Reschd Pasha, who, though quite boy, ami
without experience, as brigader Of cavalry, but
has the good sense never 20 attempt to perform
The oherous duties attached TO his rank
"lskender Bey is not above forty years Of age,
but war and weather and fourteen wounds have
done their work so well, that he looks fully ten
years older. As horseman and sabrer he has
few equals, aud probably no superior in Europe
He is ldozed by the soldiers, rather for his bril-
liant courage than anything in his manner. When
he first took the comman nd of the outposls so high
was the opinion entertained in Turkey, as well as
in the rest of Europe, Of the capabilities Of the
Cossacks that the Turkish troops viewed them
with considerable apprehension. When the vi
detes saw two or three approaching they were
in the habit Of rushing TO Iskender Bey and report.
ing :he circumstances as one Of grave import
He dIssPatcd their illusions by a very simple
process. Whenever he received news of the an.
Pearance Of two, three OF four, he mounted on
horseback, rode out, and in sight Of his men, flung
himself into the midst OF them, with sword in
hand. They seldom awaited his onset, but when.
ever they did, found reason 10 regret it. Bu,
few displays OF Ibis sort were sufficient to con.
Vice The soldiers that "a courageous man with
good sabre, had nothing TO fear from the Cossacks