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

THE WAR IN THE CAUCASUS. TIMBISOND, JAN. 12.—The storms of the month of The` cember had interrupted our relations with the Circa.ssiart coast. Yesterday the arrival of several vessels from Kertche and Suckur-Ealeh brought us positive sews of great importance relative to events of which Circaesia has been thee 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 Lergians, war has again commenced on the banks of the Black Sea and of the liouban with the greatest ferocity. On the 7th of December the Governor o. 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, corning from RectutKedah anzl proceede ing to Kertch touched at Fort Golowin. The GOVOIIDOT of ee the that fort immediately dispatched it to Gagra, to apps. garrison of the danger which threatened it. This circOlu' stance saved the Russians, for during the same night 4,`f mountaineers attacked the retrenchments of the Gagra wits the greatest fury. The fortress, which is surrounded on all sides by lofty rocks, would have been certhinly captured by' the Circassians, if the garrison, accustomed to peace during two years, should have been taken unawares. But, notwithe stem ling the brave resistance of the garrison, 800 men strong, protected by artillery, the loss of the Russians was consider• able. The mountaineers, not being able to scale the walls, well defended by the Russian infantry, possessed themselves of a great rock to the north tef 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, netwithstanding several sorties made by the garrison, which :were repulsed. The want of ammunition at length compelled Tschigetes (the lost Circassian tribe to the south of the grot chain) to retire to the mountains. The attack upon Fore. Golowin took place two days afterwards. More than 5,000' mountaineers of the Übbikh territory had surrounded the, fortress. Although all their attacks were repulsed, the Russians themselves admit that the enemy showed more courager 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 in-° formation. 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 years, is owing to' the following circumstances :—The Circassians are la 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 compfelsance towards the Circassian chiefs so far as to permit then* to trade with Turkey, and to send their female Circassiatu 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 who'll several hundreds are dispersed through the mountains. They demanded hostages for their fidelity, and they required tbeZ the Circassians should deliver up Schamyl's emissariesWhen the Circassian chiefs refused to consent to these conditions, the Russians refused to supply the Übbikhs sod' 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 Pitzounds, 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.