The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-06-28
Ihe Capture of yedeno.

We find IN the lie Nord letter from Rus
sian ohcef, giving an account OF the capture
OF Nedeno. the stronghold of Schamyl. The
fortress Is surrounded by such wild mountain
country that the Russian battalions occupied
twoive hours in marching the last eight miles
ih'y Were not opposed; SchaInyl appeared to
e waiting to attack them where there would
IH no retreat. Ihcy encaln pod a mile ffOm
Nedeno, ~ b1tialions with 10 small mountain
hoWltzers. Another column of hyo battaions
brought Two mountain howitzers to the sum
NIT OF The mountain range behind Nedgno, but
Hhuing The mountain 80 declivitous that they
could not descend ii, We're Obliged to retrace
their steps. The Russians now found them
selves 30 miles from their supplies by Il terri
Die road, and before Il strong fortress well
supplied with artillery. They had provisions
for but few days, and no seise guns There
was no attack during the night but next
morning all the heights around 'their camp
were covered with masses of Circassians, who
seemed 10 look upon the Russians as an easy
prey.
Fire was opened upon their camp from a
battery OF two guns. Before them was tede-
40, surrounded by strong entertainments, and
defended by six redoubts, whose ramparts
were decorated by thousand banners of live
ly eolors, while the great black banner, with
NE silver crescent OF Schamyl, fioated above
All, lit up by Il magnificent winter sun spark
ling in Il thousand reflections over the icy
snow. A magnificent picture. In an hour n
Russian battalion were in possession of the
height from which the battery had been play
done for 4 month except to secure their conn
municatlons, to make ii practical road in the
open country, and TO bring up scigo guns
Even then ii took fonr battaiions three days
II bring up four l2pounders and To repcl tho
attacks " hich were made on the working par
ties. The Russians could see the munitions
which were brought into Eedeno, but they
could not get At them; they could not attack
the place from the upper side.
On tho Goth of March they got up some NOR
tars and several batteries of i2-pounders; on
tho 3Uth the trenches We're opened three
sides, and Oh the 18th OF April the first and
largest OF the rodouhts, Andi, was bolnbarded.
After bOmbarGment Of twelve hours the as-
Sault was given, and it WAS taken in less than
half an hour. Schamyl had held out braycly
all day. and, in spite of the crushing xuperiori-
ty of the Russian fire his artillery and rife
men had responded. There was one strange
incident in the assault; At the same time above
all its roar, the national hymn of Russia was
heard IN the Fe<lOubt, and half Il mile aWav to-
wards Nedeno, the feeble and diving sounds Of
tho Ns5ns, the evening prayer sung by the
warriors IN the midst of grape and ball. To-
wards $ O'Clock all became calm, and tho Rus
sian troops blTouacked IN the redoUbt they had
taken but at midnight they were startled at
seeing tho great house of Schamyl i'll namas
kndied by the faithful. who would not have it
profaned by the hands of unbclievers.
Al dawn there was no sign OF the enemy in
Nedeno; tboy had fled The Russians were
rs tonished * the misery. poverty and filth re-
vealed by the condition OF the houses. They
must nave Teen very TIlhS. tOfpStS were w.
ing everywhere. Pools OF blood, human limbs.
earth recently moved sinking beneath the
tread, and exposing human feet and arms,
broken weapons, bloody and torn garments
houses i'll ruins. made up picture OF misery
and desolatiOn. The works of defence were
lmmonse; what was lacking in art was made
up i'll mass. To judge by the bodies lying all
about, and the fact that the Circassians rarely
abandon their dead, they must have suffered
very severely The system of defence Of the
place was so bad that no portion OF il was
tenable after this redoubt, Andi, had been ia
ken. Several batt,lions were occupied for
three days in raZing the fortress and estroy
ing the town, and a fortress was built which is
10 ba the headq quarters of the infantry regi-
ment of kourinsk. All Chachnia taken
with Erdcno; thousands of its inhabitants
have given in their adhesion to the Russian
Government, and they are still coming in
The religious superstition which was Scham-
yts' chief strength wi til the people, appears TO
have been broken by the capture OF his strong
hold, which was, indeed, the Mecca of the pro-
phet chicftsin. His power IL broken with his
people. Hencefurward he and his son Murlds
must lurk in the mountains.