The Sun. — 1847-02-22 (London, England)

THE WAR IN THE CAUCASUS  TEEBISOND, JAN. 12.—The storms of the month OfDecember had interrupted our relations with the Circassian coait. Yesterday the arrival of several vessels from Kertch and Suckum-Kaleh brought us positive news of great importance relative to events of which Circassia has been the theatre. The following details, which are derived from the best source, are as well known at the Russian Consulate as at the Palace of Halil Pacha. :After two years of the most perfect tranquillity, which permitted the Russians to direct their entire efforts against Schamyl, the famous chief of the Tschetschenses and Lesgians, war has again commenced on the banks of the Black Sea and of the Kouban with the greatest ferocity. On the 7th of December the Governor of the Fort Golowin, situate 30 leagues to the north of SuckumKaleh, was warned by his spies that the warlike tribe of the Übbikhs was planning a night attack against the fort, and that at the same time the Tschigetes, commanded by Hadj-Terike-Okow, one of the bravest chiefs amongst the Circassians, were collecting in the mountains, in order to surprise the fortress of Gagra. On the same day the Russian steam-boat, coming from Redut-Kaleh and proceeding to Kertch touched at Fort Golowin. The Governor of that fort immediately dispatched it to Gagra, to apprize the garrison of the danger which threatened it. This circumstance saved the Russians, for during the same night 4,000 mountaineers attacked the retrenchments of the Gagra with the greatest fury. The fortress, which is surrounded on all sides by lofty rocks, would have been certainly captured by the Circassians, if the garrison, accustomed to peace during two years, should have been taken unawares. But, notwithstanding the brave resistance of the garrison, 800 men strong, protected by artillery, the loss of the Russians was considerable. The mountaineers, not being able to scale the walls, well defended by the Russian infantry, possessed themselves of a great rock to the north of Gagra, upon which the Russians had established a post. Thence they directed a murderous fire against the interior of the fort, and their balls reached even the sleeping apartments of the officers. This position was held during two days, notwithstanding several sorties made by the garrison, which were repulsed. The want of ammunition at length compelled the Tschigetes (the lost Circassian tribe to the south of the great chain) to retire to the mountains. The attack upon Fort Golowin took place two days afterwards. More than 5,000 mountaineers of the Übbikh territory had surrounded the fortress. Although all their attauks were repulsed, the Russians themselves admit that the enemy showed more courage, boldness, and fury than on any previous occasion, and that but for the information given by their spies, the fort would have incurred a great risk of being captured. With respect to the movement on the Rouban we have no accurate information. We are assured, however, that 4,000 Schapsoukhes, commanded by Chora Beg, had passed the river near Ladoschskaja. The cause of all this commotion, after an uninterrupted tranquillity of two )•ears, is owing to the following circumstances :—The Circassians are in want of corn and salt, which they are compelled to purchase from the Russians. In order to accustom them to pacific relations, Prince Woronzow had accorded them considerable advantages, and he carried his complaisance towards the Circassian chiefs so far as to permit them to trade with Turkey, and to send their female Circassian slaves for sale. But by degrees the Russian generals became more exacting. They demanded of the Circassian chiefs to surrender the Russian and Polish deserters, of whom several hundreds are dispersed through the mountains. They demanded hostages for their fidelity, and they required that the Circassians should deliver up Schamyl's emissaries. When the Circassian chiefs refused to consent to these conditions, the Russians refused to supply the Übbikhs and other tribes with corn or salt. The Übbikhs were ever remarkable for their antipathy to the Russians, and when at length the latter captured a Turkish vessel near Pitzounda, laden with 60 female Circassians, the mountaineers lost all patience and revolted on three different points, aided by the majority of the Works, the nobility of the country.