Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-06-05
LYNCHBURG VIRGINlAN.
An American in the Turkish Army.


fishes a letter from an American volunteer in thu
Turkish army. which ldisenchants the warfare o.
the Mnssnlman Of much Of the romance and chv
airy with which the splendid pages of Eastern
narrative have in other days inyostedit il. in pub
fishing II the Courier remarks upon the mPossi-
bEty of getting correct and impartial account,
througl.Eagish or French journals and tourists
of what may occur in the campaign, and says I:
This is. doubtless IN measure natural and an
premedtated, and in measure too is designed
because of the exceeding Importance Of keeping
the people of eaeh country satisfied with the con-
dition and prospects of a war which IS burden'ng
them so heavily with taxation. Americans
should Judge Of these accounts with constant
reference to their one-side character. II is
knewn that some of oar young men have already
been betrayed BY the romantic coloring given 10
the war~like operations in the romantic land Of
the paynim. to volunteer into the service Of tho
Turkish army and that others are intending soon
to follow. We commend to al such, says the
Courier the private letter from one Of those vol
unteers. forwarded te US by friend IF ours in
Constantineple 10 whomst was addressed:
KARs, ASIA Alipor) April IL,
4 arrived hereon Saturday last. My journey
from Erzeroum, although long, far from be-
ing unpleasant. But how disappointed | am
now Would that I could accurately convey 10
You my feelings. Dnt let me attempts descrip-
ton of matters. perhaps you may then Judge
The tewn Is built at the foot ofeminences which
command il on all sides, and which the Turks
never dreamed of certifying until 6. fan En-
glish @iiieef GeaeIsl IN the Turkish army,) came
here. The works of tho most paltry dcs-
scription, ard to a determined enemy would offer
no obstacle whatever The troops number at
the mes, s,eee men; they are badly clad, badly
offieeted, and not paid at all. Should reinforce
ments not arrive before the opening Of the Spring
eompaign, every thing is utterly lost. The for
eign officers hereare treated by the Generals
more like dogs than gentlemen. As
to accommodations you can have no idea how
pillanous they are. have large room, in
which, with my two servants, ! am obliged to
sleep. and where | have my cooking II ~
entirely naked, part only being Aoored over;
oiled paper in the three pigeon holes which serve
as windows, and so cold that can scarcely hold
rny pen. Add 10 this, that with everything 10
be done there is no work going gu everything is
scarce and DEAR and no money TO be had beyond
our rapidly diminishing private resources
you can judge of our situation. Every day am
shown more and more TINT the cause of the Turks
is utterly hopeless indeed, they only deserve to
be beaten. ! blush TO confess il, but hope the
next mail may bring news of peace, otherwise we
are hopelssly lost, and should the Turks be de-
feated not a Christian will remain alive, for they
now place - much confidence in them that de-
feat wonh be considered their fault, and
should be massaered TO man,
You wanted true statement Of affairs in
the army, and here il is. ! came here full
of enthusiasm, hut have lost il entirely Apa-
thetie, indolent, and false, taose people
deserving of our sympathes. Thl Government
has no credit heres the other day took an order
TO the forage master from Gen. G.. for forage for
my horses, but h would not accept it. The ba-
ker has also refused further supplies Of bread on
credit. "Let the Government pay me l2WU,00O
piastres first =. Since the foregoing pages
were written have been very sick, aud am now
scarcely able to sit up, though dnty all tho
time. Our men are also sick and dying. at the
rate of sixteen and twenty every day. OF seven
teen thousand five hundred men in knre and vii
lagos around it. fifteen hundred are in the hospit-
al with typhus fever Everything shows that the
army is doomed To destruction. and everything
that can proves that the Turks deserve to
be destroyed. | only regret that ever embark
ed my sympathes in their am charged
with the PREPARATION Of hexagonal fort. The
whole could he done with twenty good men in
two days. These fellows have been more than
two months at it. To-day Invent there, and found
not one of my men on the ground. II is plain !
can be of no use here, and shall sell my horses
anu fetuins loi Shinloi sthY 10 die iih' u N"R'
Z. S.-News has arrived from an authentic
source, that we are to he attacked in about ten
days OF course shall not leave here now, though
we shall be whipped like blazes- The Turks
fight Ike devils behind walls, but we have no ann
munition to hold out. We have only about
hundred rounds for cannon, and three hundred
for each man.
When our General asked for 100000 men, and
900 cannon, and said with them he would re- con
quer Georgia and drive the Russians into the
Caspian, the Diyan laughed at what il called his
'extravagant demands It clearly proven now
that this force is requisite and that, with our lit
tie wretched force, we cannot keep the frontier
against them
The ENQUIRER, ia democratic paper Published
in the city of Riohmond) is looking with some