Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-05-05
RUSSIAN AND TURKISH WARS BE-
FORE NAPOLEON.

RUSSIAN AND TURKISH WARS BE
FORE NAPOLEON.
Our own papers on the Eastern
question are confined to the transac-
tions after the days of Napoleon /; to
complete the subject we cut from
the New York Herald, very good
paper On the wars between Russia
and Turkey prior to that period:
From the first moment that the
idea of establishing marine for the
Russian Empire occurred to Peter
the Great his attention was directed
to the EuXine, or Black Sea, and it
was then that the magnificent
scheme of stretching the MuscOvite
dOminions to an extent unparalleled
in the history of nations became a
fixed policy to be unfalteringly pur-
sued. Toward the close of the sew
enteenth century Turkey was a
Power ofgreat strength and inspired
fear all over Europe. Peter, taking
advantage of the moment when the
Venetians and the Emperor appear
ed to be making a strong impression
on the Sultan's territories, declared
war on the Ottoman Porte. His
real motive was to secure an eXten-
sion of his frontier toward the south.
AZOf, then belonging to the Turks,
was an important fortress standing
on the point of land where the
waters of the Don fall into the Black
Sea. Peter, in subordinate station,
Joined the army that laid siege to
Azof. Twelve armed vessels that
he caused to be built on the river
Veronica were brought down to the
sea. The Turkish feet was beaten
in their own harbOr.a and AzOf capt.
ulated in July, 1886. The first use
the Gar made of this valuable ac-
QUESTION was to establish dOckyards
under the shelter of the fortress and
to commence the augmentation of
his fleet with a view to Danish the
Turks from their coasts. This was
the foundation of Russian power in
that quarter, and which nearly every
good Russian dreams will finally
end in planting the flag of the En-
pire over st. Sophia, in Constantine
pie.
AFTER FGLTOWA.
After the memorable battle of Pull
iowa the Swedish monarch was a
fugitive in Turkey. Charles XII.
employed all his interest in Constan-
tin0ple to prevail upon the Sultan
to undertake a war against Russia,
which the Sultan was easily induced
to embrace in consequence of the
ravages committed by the MuscOvite
troops on the frontiers of Turkey
and the rapidly extending power of
the Gar on the shores of the Black
Sea. The Khan of the Crimean
Tartars naturally regarded with ap-
prehensiOn the Russian establish
ment at Azof, which the Turks had
been forced to surrendera few years
before; and he therefore readily
supported the arguments urged by
Charles XII. to the Divan to pur-
suade them into a declaration of
hostilities against the common enc
my. PQntatOWski, q friend Of tha
Swedish King, Joined his voice for
war against Peter. The Turks de-
termined upon hostilities. In order
to render the feelings of the Sultan
more decided the Cars Ambassador
at Constantinople was arrested in the
streets and committed to the Castle
of the Seven Towers. This almost
unheard of indignity filed Peters
cup of anger to overlooking, though
within a Shortspace oftime his Plen-
ipotentiary in SaXOny was broken
on the wheel, and his Ambassador
in London, contrary to all interna-
tiOnal usageS, was imprisoned for
debt, and for which outrage ample
apologies were subsequently given.
War being determined upon against
Turkey, Peter made the necessary
arrangements. A division of troops
was sent into Moldavia, another to
LivOnia, and fleets to the AZof, the
BALTIC and the Black Sea, The
Gar, for active operations, had 1T
his disposal 130, 900 men but, being
distributed in different quarters and
failing to join him on the Pruth, as
he expected, he was obliged to pro-
ceed with an army that fell short of
forty thousand men.
THE BATTLE OF THE PRUTH.
Catharine, who had been espoused
by the Gar, insisted upon remain
ing with him, which circumstance
eventually proved to be the saliva
ton of the Empire. Arriving at
Jassy Peter was disappointed in not
being joined with contingent prom
ised by the Prince of Wallachia,
who had been depOsed by the Sui
tan. In this extremity the Russian
ruler found himself at the head of
an inadequate force in the heart of
a wild and rugged country. Intel
igence was now received that the
Turkish army had crossed the Dan
ube and was marching along the
Pruth. Peter determined to adj
vance and meet theenemy, nOtwith-
standing objections made by some
Of his ablest officers. On the 18th
of June che troops arrived at the
Pruth. Here they were joined by a
few Wallachians, and they cOntin-
ued their march until the 9th, when
they discovered the enemy, to the
number of 100000 men, already
crossing the river. There was no
alternative left but to form the lines
of battle, and Peter, perceiYing that
the Turks were endeavoring to surz
round him with cavalry, extended
his lines a considerable way along
the right bank. The hostile Tartars
of the Crimea confronted the Rus
slams on one side and the great body
of the Turks on the other. Escape
seemed impossible, but the Cars
presence of mind and indOmitable
courage never deserted him. He
formed his army, which consisted Of
IS, 900 men, into a hollow square,
placing the women in the centre, and
prepared to receive the disordly but
furious onslaught Of the Turks.
The superior discipline of the Rus
slams was shown in the steadiness
with which they met the charge.
The fight continued for three days,
and there remained nothing for the
Russians but to surrender, or, max
ing a desperate attempt, to cut their
way through the enemy. Through
the personal mediation of the En-
press Catharine asuspension of arms
was agreed upon. It would appear
strange that the Vizier should have
agreed to an armistice under such
circumstances, when the Russians
were completely at his mercy. But
he was aware that Russian troops In
| -Foldayia had advanced TO the Dan