The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-04-02
COSsack Maneuvers.

After the review Yesterday. the Princess
drove off TO the Michael Maneae. where
the Emperor's CircRssian and Cossack
body-guar1l went through their feats.
These wild horsemen gave us some scenes
OF their predatory warfare, exhibiting a
skill and activity perfectly marvellous. One
alter another, they galloped by the Prime
ess. shouting fierce war-whsOps and firing
Their long pistols and flint-locks ut imavi-
nary foes. They seemed to discharge
tlelr weapons IN every position but from
ihe saddle. Hanging on one side of the
morse until the head almost grace: the
ground, and taking leiSurely aim under
the animals belly, seemed the faVorite at
ntude. One cavalier went by at speed
standing on his head in his saddle: others
leaped on and off their horses with the
ease of circus-riders. The manoqe soon so
filled with smoke that it might well, for
all we could see, have been some T. curtain
detile, and the body-guard band of rObber
knights swOOping down on some village
or caravan, or on the party of peaceable
travellers represented by the Grand Duke
Nicholas, the Prince Of Wales, the Duke Of
Edinburgh, and Prince Arthur. The
Czarena and Princess of Wales were there
also, and altogether the wild riders would
have made good days work if they had
been brigands of the Steppe instead of the
faithful bOdy-guard of the Emperor. Adj
miral POpOif told me it was fine sight TO
see 300 of these horsemen playing their
warlike pranks for miles and miles about
the Imperial cavalcade when the Grand
Duke Constantine was travelling In the
Caucasus. They always turn out In hon
or OF a member Of the Imperial family, 90
4 % hi,
along the road. Once or twice Yesterday
they divided and fought a battle among
themselves. Half of them made their
horses lie down, and crouched behind the
animals, the long barrels of the ilint-gums
pointing In the direction of the enemy.
Presently the assallants came riding out of
the curtain Of smoke with fierce cries.
opening gloriOts fire fin all directions.
which rather reminded one of some of the
melees OF our Autumn Maneuvers. Every
one must have been killed, spectators in
cluded, before the band diSentangled them
selves from each other and retired again to
opposite ends of the mdHege to take breath
and measure powder for another onslaught.
1t was a picturesque and inspiring sight,
as utterly opposed TO the precision and sci
eilce OF modern warfare as anything well
could be. The costumes, the arms, the
men, and the horses who carried them
all were wild and strange. telling us of a
nation Of warriors who knew not of bar
and schools or musketry, but
who knew right well how to fight in their
own wild way. In real fighting these fine
fellows, one may suppose, are not quite so |
gameSome rs In the Michael Mqnete. Prob |
lbly, for instance, the trooper who rode |
With his head IN his saddle and his feet in
he air, would reserve that attitude till the |
lay was over, and till he might safely in
lulge in the transports of victory. One of |
he Circas>ians, a burly man upon a white
lorse, was son of the great Schamyl. He
vas presented to the Prince of Wales at
he conclusion of the spectacle. More
han one of the Russian officers present
wore decorations earned in frontier war
are with such cavalry as those before us.
So. Petersburg Letter to the London Times.