Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-14
Colt In the Caucasus.

I On motion, the convention then adjourned.
Colt In the Caucasus.
We find the following interesting anecdote
illustrating the value of a recent American in
vention, in an English paper of the 18th of
February:
In Daghestan young Lesghian chief be-
ing severely wounded during one Of the fire.
quent razzias of the Russians took refuge in a
ruined sakli,* in order to apply bandages to
his wounds. While thus employed, he was dis
covered by party of twelve dismounted dra-
goons, who Immediately gave chase on his
taking flight. Being fleet of foot, for short
while he outran them, during which time such
of them as had their carbines loaded and fred at
him Intellectually. Having crossed one of the
flexible bridges, common in that country, and
mountain, the fugitive, finding himself unable
to proceed much further, and having time to
put his arms in order, stood at bay under pro-
jecting rock. With yells of delight and up
lifted sabres, the Russians approached the
bridge. The foremost nearing him cried,
Yield, dog Not whilst have twelve lives
at my girdle,' cried the pndaunted noun
taineer. The Russians in the rear laughed
loudly at the boast; but he in advance fell
dead, pierced through and through by bullet,
nearly at the feet Of the Lesghian. The second
soldier stumbled over his dead comrade, and
as he rose received shot which caused him to
fall severely wounded. The next seeing the
same weapon, which had twice been discharged,
still pointed, rushed on; but, to the surprise Of
the Russians, third shot was fired at him
untouched, however, he was about to cut down
the Lesghian, when fourth discharge seat
tered his brains on the rocky parapet, and his
lifeless body tumbled into the torrent beneath
Three Of the Russians had now fallen. "What
devil of pistol is this, that speaks so oftdo?"
cried the survivors to each other. The Les
ghian still stood firm, merely folding his pelisse
of sheep's.skin round his left arm, ready to re-
ceive blow, a precantion not unneeded, since
now two Russians, abreast, were on the point
of assailing him. Certain Of their prey these
advanced more cautiously than their predeces-
sors. This time two deliberate shots brought
them down right and left; each felt pierced
near the region of the heart. The remaining
soldiers were amazed. .
The Lesghian, faint with loss Of blood, and
feeling his strength fast cbbing, now drew forth
another pistol, movement unobseryed by the
enemy, and rapidly fred three shots at the
group Of Russians, some fifty yards distant, at
the other end of the bridge. Owing to his
sight being now dim, only one shot took effect,
wounding one of the dragons in the shoulder
Let us fly they cried "t is the evil spirit
of the mountains; he would kill our whole
army" Accordingly they precipitately fled,
just as the Lesghian sank down exhausted at
the foot of the rock. AT a distance they ven
tured to look back. 1t hath vanished in the
mist, cried the superstitous Muscovites
The Lesghian chief was succored by some Of
his own people, and ere long recovered from his
hurt, as did the wounded Russian, n At his bri.
dial feast, some four months after, the pistols,
which were pair of Colts revolvers, and were
a gift from an American traveller Capt. X,
to the youthful hero of the Caucasus, were hand
ed round amid the general benedictions of the
party. The bride is said to have even kissed
them, saying; {" All! my Dehemet were all the
brave Circassians armed like thee, there would |
not be SO many fearful maidens and bereaved
widows in Daghestan."
The Russian prisoner, soon reconciled by |
kind treatment to his position, has had the |
cruel horse-hairf removed from his heel, and |
has often cleansed and loaded those identicel
specimens of the fatal weapons, destined to eff
feet such revolution in the warfare of the
world.
The story of the .devil's pistol" was long
told among the simple Russian soldiery,t when
on their weary march, as the wind
ing column assembled some interminable noun
lain, or when the grateful samovar (kettle)
gave promise of tea at the close of their days |
Journey. Now, the partial introduction of the
arm among the officers has in some degree
lissipated the telling effect of the story, but
many still devoutly believe that the young
Lesghian chief was no other than the prince
IF darkness himself out on q sporting expedi-
ion for the express purpose Of bagging Rus
sian soldiers.
\ The asak is the habitation of the eastern
Caucasus. II is constructed of unhewn stones,
,emented with clay, instead of mortar.
I A tuft of horse hair is commonly inserted by
he Crcassans in the heels Of their prisoners, in
rider 10 create such degree Of lameness as TO
prevent their escape.
/ The simplicity of many of the Russian soldiers
$ almost touching in its childshness. II is against
he car that we are making war, not against these
Unfortunate beings