The New York herald., 1873-11-29
The Passage of the Oxus and the
Capture of Khiya.
TERRITORIES OF THE KHAN.
Manners and Customs OF
the KhiyanS.
HOW RUSSIA MAKES WAR.
An Attack, q Skirmish and
a Retreat.
OCCUPATION OF THE CITY.

KHrvA Sept. 15 1875.
Inow started down the river towards the Rus
SLAMS, and after crossing innumerable canals and
ditches which cut up the valley in every directoh,
succeeded In reaching them. As approacned
young ofncer came towards me- and, as soon as
was within hearing distance, cried out IN kussan'
s.Kto zee 9n (swho are you TD with very strong
emphasis on the you. "AmericanetZ," repheu.
When got within talking distance-"fou are the
man who crossed the KysiEKoom alone, are you!
To which / answered In the affirmative. "All
right, come along and will present you to the
General we heard you were on the way to loln
us only few days ago.r dismounted, and he
led me to General Golovachon, whom / found sit
ting on a cannon, smoking a pdpvross. Near
him was another piece, dismounted, and not
lar on the bodies OF two horses that had jast
been killed. AS soon learned, this was the only
loss they had sustained, and although the ground
was ploughed up in every direction by the enemy's
cannon balls and several officers had very mar
row escape, not single man had been touched
IL the Khivans had had shells instead Of solid shot
the Russian loss must certainly have been heavy.
/ General Golovachon, large, broad-shoudered
man. with long beard and frank, open expression
OF countenance that was very pleasing, shook
hands with me cordially, told me had done very
daring thing, and then invited me to breakfast,
which, he assured me, would be ready In lew
minutes. I suppose / looked as though NEEDED
a breakfast and something more. Hollow-eyed, hol-
low-cheeked, dirty, dust-covered, uncombed, un-
kempt and ragged-my rine which had carried for
month, slung over my shoulder IN 0dndoutere,
had worn my coat into holes--I presented but
sorry spectacle among the Russian officers, who
were all spruce in their white coats and caps with
gold and silver buttons as clean and starchy as
though they were on grand parade on Isaac's
square. st. Petersburg. The breakfast consisted
OF cold boiled beef cold chicken, with box OF sar
dimes and and little rodkd, and the cloth was
spread out on the grass, which was here rich and
luxuriant. They were all very friendly and mani
tested good deal of curiosity about my expert
ence in the kysll-Koom, and surprise that should
haze undertaken such foolhardy journey alone
They said there were hundred chances to one
against me- and gave me such lively account OF
the dangers had escaped that really began TO be
frightened and experienced something OF the feel
Ing of the man who having killed, as he supposed,
fine large wolf, tainted with terror upon being
tod he had slain the largest and most magnificent
iioness that had ever been seen in that country.
They very jubant over the AFFAIR of the morn
ing, and found that could not have arrived at a
more favorable time. Everybody was in good
aumor The great difficulties OF the campaign we're
over and the interesting part OF 1t had just COM
menced. They acknowledged, however, that
II the Khiyans had had shells instead OF
solid shot they would not all have been
breakiasting there SO gayy. While at break
fast Golovachon was informed that some OF
the enemy had returned aud were setting fire to
arge boat that lying under the fort. The
sharpshooters were already at work, trying TO
drive them away. which they at last succeeded
In doing before the fire had got fairly started One
OF Kaufmanns small iron boats was Immediately
despatched to the other side with 20 soldiers and
an oficer OF the typographical corps to capture
the burning boat and make a hasty map OF the
river and surrounding country. In couple OF
hours he returned with the boat which had been
set on fire and which was but slightly damaged,
and gave an interesting account OF the condition
OF the place. The fort was OF no use defence,
II being very small and the walls very thin and OF
simple sun-dried earth, insufficient 10 stop even
four-pound shell. The Russian smells had appar-
emily done good deal OF damage, as they found
the soft earth saturated with blood in several
places. and pieces OF legs and arms scattered
about.
CROSSING THE oxUs.
II was now well on in the afternoon, but instead
or occupying the abandoned fort, General Colo
vachor gave orders TO march back to camp, some
nve or six miles, where lay the main body OF the
army with General Kaufman. For, as / soon
learned, it was not their intention to cross the
river at that point but at Shoorahana, three or
four miles further down, and that the affair OF the
morning had been brought about in order to allow
the boats to Itss which were captured at oocn
Ooohak and had not yet arrived. The evening
before General Kaufman was riding up the
river bank very uneasy at their non-arriva. As
he passed this place the enemy opened on him in
very unexpected manner, for ne had not until
then suspected the existence OF fort here. The
firing was very correct, the cannon balls falling
nj
their aim was, as the Grand Duke Nicholas laugh
ingly told me, remarkable disagreeaDle.u
AS the boats would arrive in the afternoon and as
the enemy were no longer there to offer any
resistance, we would return to camp and CON-
mencc the passage next morning at a point lower
down. When reached the camp accepted the
hospitality OF the ofcer who had first accosted me
and who proved TO be an old friend OF Mr.. Schuy-
ler's, changed clothes, made bout de toilette ana
then presented myself to General Kaufman,
THE GENERAL COMMANDING.
{ found him sitting in an open tent. wrapped nm
In Bokharan khdlat or robe de chambre, taking tea
and smoking cigarette. A man between As and
50, bald and rather small OF stature for n Russian
blue eyes. mustache without beard, and a ple asant
kindly expression Of countenance. lie shook
hands with me. asked me TO sit down. and then re
marked that appeard 10 be something OF a
motodvetz IA brave fellow. and asked me II /
knew enough Russian to understand that told
him did, and thanked him Tor the compliment
After few questions about my own adventures he
gave me an account OF the campaign up 10 that
time. From Alti Koodook their march had been
very dilcut and trying. The last day before reach
Ing the river they had been surrounded all the time
BY the Turcoman light horse, who kept galloping
around them the whole distance bowling like de-
mons, but without doing any harm, as the sharp
shooters kept them at a safe distance II was here
ihad seen so many dead horses. The discipline OF
the troops was SO good that, although many OF
item were mad with thirst upon arriving at the
little lake OF which have already spoken not
man broke ranks to get to the water, along the
edge OF which they were marching but waited
without murmur until they had pitched their
camp and received permissicq. Kaufman spoke