The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-11

The Victories in the CdlrlSs and Humiliation Of Skn.
my-Httory # The Russia, Operations md Na.i,e OPP
| position TAere-thnaticim anil Fsq.ttng-7ae Work
| Russia Had to Do--an Ehnologcat Ooryeron--Ths
| Oaucassians not Ctscassian, d.
My last letter informed you the decisive
tanned by Prince BaratiDsky in the Caucasus stated
that after the fall Of Nedcne Of the tribes subec,
Shamyl had renowned his authority and acknowledged
themselves the vassas Of Russia that the great lmaum
deserted his followers hiding in the recesses Of the
mountains, and that the might be considered as viz
tually at an end. We have received intelligence that
the Abde kader and Osceoa Of Asia has shared the fate
Of his African and Amcrc predecessors HIS adherents
having fallen OH after the other ana his
relatives the fathers and brothers Of his wives having
abandoned him, or been delivered up the conquerers
by their own subjects, he sought refuge in small
tain fortress called Ghoonib whittier he pursued by
the Russian troops and tho native miia, and naally
overpowered The particulars not yet nown the
having arrived here per telegraph but it stated in the
despatch that Prince Bariatnsky intends sending his
prisoner to St. Petersburg, may expect to see him
here in the course Of the winter fe sure be tho
lion Of the season. shall not hang him, the English
do their Indian Shamyls, but treat him with all the
courtesy due to gallant enemy
The capture Of the Imam the closing of struggle
which has been carried on with various for
thirty years. When tho Russians first appeared in the
Caucasus they met with but little resistance tn, part
Of the mountaneers, who split up into numerous
Clans each hostile to the other and therefore incapable
Of organizing common plan OF defence Their occa
sonal forays were easily repulsed aud after being de-
feated in several by the celebrated General
Yermooh their princia Khans submitted, swore
fealty to the White Tsar, and accepted rank aud
pay in the Russian army. About the year 1928 how
ever, complete revolution effected among them by
the appearance Of q prophet named Kazi- Mola He
called upon all true believers to unite against the Gaous
and his hery eloquence made such impression upon
the warkc inhabitants Of the Tchechmer and Doghes-
tan that after expeng numbering such of their chiefs
devoted TO Russia they chose kaz Aol as their
leader and formidable political and religious eag le
then formed which gradually spread the whole
eastern portion Of the Caucasus The government ust-
tuted by the prophet strict heocracy the doctrine
preached by him called the Tarigat, and its first pre-
cept consisted in intoxicating Of determination
against the nfdes. Russia engaged at the time in
hosttes with Persia and Turkey, which prevented her
from paying much attention what going in the
mountans. This enabled Kali Molla To extend his ia.
fuence, and to collect strong force that he
yentured TO descend the plains and attack the Rus
slams in their ortresses He burned the town of Kizar
occupied the Khanat Of 1arki and even penetrated to
Derbend on the Caspian Sea- which only saved by
the approach Of Russian division under General Koha-
noh The Prophet retired TO his fortified camp Gmry
followed by Bawn Rosen Governor General OF the eau.
casus who, alarmed al the progress Of the insurgents
had taken the command IN person. and hoped ermi-
nate the war by single blow. Gimry was invested by
the Russian army, and after obstinate resistance il
taken by storm the 18th October l83, Kazi
Mola himself was Killed in the breach his faithful ad
herens died fighting by his side to the last man. and of
the whole garrison only one individual is said to have
escaped, desperately wounded. This individual was
young murid, warrior priest, native of
Gimry, called Shamu (SlmueD Elend since SD famous
by the name OF Shamy
This great defeat aud the loss of their prophet could
hardly fail to discourage the fanatics. They chose indeed
second lmaum, IN the person OF Hamzai Beg but this
new leader possessed meme of the qualities of his prede
cessors Disguised with his conduct Of partisns
abandoned him, and il seemed If the spark kindled BY
Kazi Moa was about 10 be- ext.ngasicd The death Of
Hamzat Beg, however, who by his own
people, soon changed the aspect OF affairs, sue
ceedcd by Shamyl, Of The reniar kabe men of
our age, and who, in other times and under fvora
Bile auspices, might have rvacd the exploits of Omar
or Iamerane. We have rea.on to love him.
for he has been the life aud soul of a war thai
has cost us many thousands of brave soldiers, but
We have never done injustice to his command
ing talents and the rare fertility Of his resources
When he assumed the head the Of the Targat was
at its lowest ebb He infused fresh vgor into it, and
troouced system Of military and evil administration
among his followers, which enabled him concentrate
and organize their strength without deractng from the
wild energy that charactcrzs the Caucasian mountnaer
In his straegcal operations he showed the intuitiye
genius OF an able general always ready take advantage
Of the slightest mistake coted by his adversarics and
himself never greater than when apparently reduced TO
extremity. His personal courage has been Questioned
aid has been remarked that he seldom appeared at the
post OF danger, but left the most hazardous enterprises
TO be accomplished by his ieutenants III thus however,
he only acted the part Of prudent nman ler who
directs the movements Of his bordnates without unne-
ccssarly exposing his safety The same accusation
HIS been dreccd with no better foundation, against Ma,
poeon l.
The Russiaps soon felt the renewed IMPULSE rvcn IN
the by Shaniyl. The tribes who had demanded
peace again took up arms against them, the Russian
ouposts were nsule and driven in and sudden incur
sions spread terror among tho peaceablc settlements
the plains After Of partial engagements which
led to no decisive result General Golovin had sue
ceedcd Rosen, as Governor General Of the Caucasus
teImned to strike another crushing blow and in 1884,
General Grabbe despatched with strong CORPS to at
tack Shamy in his stronghold Of Akuigo. After siege
of three months Akngo carried by assault and most
of its defenders killed made prisoners but Shamy was
not among the number Once more he had managed to
escape, and take refugein another mountain fastnes cali
ed lmrgo situated in the nst OF the dense forest Of Ich
keria second expedition under taken against this for
by Grabbc but while advancing painfully through the
gloomy wilderness of rock and thckct he surrounded
all sides by the enemy and compelled to submit with
immense loss. This check was attended with the most
disastrous consequences. Grabbe and tio!Ovin were
recalled, and the chief command in the Caucasus was
entrusted to General Ncidard old German who had
distinguished himself in the Polish campaign but was
quite ignorant Of Asiatic warfare The rapid movements
of Shamyl completely Disconnected him. they were alto
gcher at variance with his theory of military operations
and he remained in helpless mbccIi,y while the Imaum,
following up his victory, tho province OF Avara
put the Russian garrsous 70 the sword and established
his sway IRON the k0uban 10 the SAVIOUR spreading
terror almost to the very gates OF Tc1is at this
M ment when The dominion OF Russia in the Caucasus
seemed To be trembling in the balance, that Count Voront
Zoi arrived there with the title Of Vceroy and armed
with extraordinary powers to stop the inundation that
was carrying everything before it. Thanks 10 his tact
and energy the tide which had hitherto favored Shamyl
began to turn against him. In ls45 Drgo captured
by voron'zon after desperate resistance; Salty and
Ghefbeil followed and Shamyi withdrew to vedene a
position naturally almost imprcgnabc, and which he
exerted all the Of his native skill fortify In
the meantime, Voronzon, by cutting roads through the
forests and establishing garrisons all points egress
conrved TO enclose him in circle VI iron, which kept
gradually contracting excluding him entirely from the
lowands and driving him further and further into the
barren and unacceptable mountains. More than once he
endeavored TO break through the raised against
him; but, in spite Of his skiiul manmuvres and the
heroism Of his followers, he invariably rcpulscd
and forced to seek shelter in his mountain citade
The situation Of the brave maum was web nigh despe
rate, when the Oriental war afforded him Temporary re-
spite. great part of the Russian army in the Caucasus
was obliged to be marched frontiers Of Turkey and
the coasts of the Back Sea, " make head against the
Allies and the operations against Shamy limited 10
the stctes defensive He has often been blamed for not
making better use of this opportunity, and dealing some
,,hil