Although there may, doubtless, exist several species or castes of Cossacks, and to whom Russia, in order to impose on Europe, is pleased to give as many different names, yet there never have been, nor will there ever be, properly speaking, more than two principal tribes of the Cossack nation, namely, the Cossacks of the Don, or Don-Cossacks, and the Cossacks of the Black Sea, known in ancient times as the -/ Polish Cossacks, or Zaporowscy Kozacy. And notwithstanding that the Cossacks may have had one common origin from the very commencement of their existence as a people, it needs to be repeated again that a variety of causes, as, for instance, the lapse of time, the mutation of events, the disparity of their individual modes of life, the changing influence of unforeseen circumstances, the modifications of slightly varying climate, or of the soil they inhabit, and more especially their fusion or intermixture with other nations, (the sure and powerful source of change, both social and physical), would seem to have established a perceptible difference between the two principal branches of this singular race of men.
¥ The Cossacks of the Don long inhabited both shores of that river. They are the most numerous: as military adjuncts, they are excellent for foraging parties, for surprising an enemy, cutting off his communications, and pursuing him when defeated. They make excellent pioneers; nor are their services less useful in pillaging a country, or in guarding its frontiers. They utter most singular cries when in pursuit of a retreating foe: their horses, small in make but extremely vigorous, and proof to all kinds of fatigue, clear all difficulties of the ground, carry their riders everywhere with facility, and are, like their masters, content with the most meagre fare: indeed, there can no be doubt, but that the Cossacks in question have rendered signal service to Russia, which, ever since the year 1549, has taken them under her protection, without, however, the existence of any official act, treaty, or stipulation, confirming their submission to that power. But sooth to say, these pretended heroes are, in point of fact, altogether wortliless as regular soldiers: the mere aspect of a musket or a pistol suffices to disperse them: they never dare charge in line, nor can they sustain a charge made upon them; so that with a single regiment of regular cavalry, one may always successfully attack ten regiments of Cossacks. In addition to a crooked sabre, a very long lance without pennant, and pistols, some few amongst them are armed with a long carabine, which carries to an almost incredible distance, and the ball of which is exceedingly small: this is perhaps their most dangerous weapon, and in the use of which they are very expert, turning it, mostly, to very good account. Occasionally, they feign a sudden retreat; and when they perceive that their pursuers are comparatively small in number, they rapidly face about, and become the assailants; this, however, can only happen with an inexperiencedbody of troops, totally detached, and who are unacquainted with their adversaries' wily mode of warfare. The Don-Cossacks especially have always stood in extreme dread of the Polish Lancers; a few squadrons of whom put to flight, during the wars of Napoleon, many of their entire regiments. The Cossack troops but rarely form into squadrons; they even appear to entertain a strong aversion to every species of order and discipline; they never decide an action; but divide in their attack, falling indifferently on the van, the flanks, and the rear of an army on its march; hovering around them like a vapoury cloud, which from one instant to another alternately augments, fades away, or dissipates entirely, again to form into shape and to revive with increased density. They but seldom make a direct charge in line with their cavalry; but keep constantly pirouetting and prancing about, wheeling round, and skirmishing about in every possible direction, with astonishing swiftness and activity. From the moment of their having taken the field for a campaign, they observe no regular intvals of repose, nor stated times for repast; they set at nought the inclemency of the weather; and rarely does anything escape the vigilance of their piercing sight, or the well-trained alertness of their acute sense of hearing: pillage is their peculiar /brey and they are dangerous only to a flying enemy. Once dismounted, they lose all their previous activity and courage, become altogether useless, and may be easily vanquished.