New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-06
TchernayeG.
A correspondent writes to us:


from Russian and other sources, may not
be unacceptable.
Michael Grigorievitsch Tchernayetf, born
in 1928, is the son of small landed pro
prietOr in the semi-POlieh province OF
M0hlieff. Having received some instruc-
ton in his ia hers house. he, at the age of
twelve years, was transferred to cadet
corps known as the Nobility Regiment. In
lS47 he was appointed to lieutenantcy in
the aristOcratic regiment of Pavlovski Foot
Guards, in which capacity he two years
later was prompted to attend the lectures
of the Staff Academy. After finishing his
course his proficiency in military science
successfully made him a member of the
Grenadier staff of Guards, of the Central
Cavalry Staff and of various bodies con-
nected with the direction of the artillery
department. His theoretical training fin
ished, the Crimean war gave him an oppOr-
tunity for distinction in the field. In
Turkey and at S-bastOpOl the young officer
reaped his first laurels. He was present at
the affair of Karakali under Colonel Kar-
amsins, took part in the grand sOrtie from
SebastOpOl on the sixth of November, 1854,
and was one of the gallant defenders of the
place up to the final assault in 1855.
AFTER the war NJ. Schernayeff. who had
meanwhile been promoted to the rank of
lieutenant colonel, was attached to the
Orenburg corps, and in 1858 became ad-
jutant to the Syr Darya line. He was one
of the military officers accompanying Ad-
miral Butokef in his exploration of Lake
Aral and the mouth OF the Anu Darya.
The result of this exploration being the GER
taintv that Khiva could not be attacked
from the water side, the young officer caused
himself to be removed to the Caucasus
where measures were being taken for the
final subjugation of the mountaineers. He
arrived in the Cauc asus in 1859, and as a
colonel of the staff participated in the
operations of the left wing in the Terek
district. The batteries of Veden, Hashar-
kuk and Ben, the march to Argun, and
other decisive operations were witnessed
and partly directed by the gallant colonel,
now generally recognized as a rising man
and an officer of uncommon promise. The
experience of the guerrilla war lie gathered
during this period of his career will stand
him in good stead in his present campaign
ipkServia.
The conclusion of the Caucasus war
brought him to st. Petersburg, where, as
an eminent member of the central staff he
was commissioned to assist in the discus
sion OF sundry important questions relative
to the rganzatiOn OF and administration of
the army. His reputation as an intelligent
and energetic officer at this time, it is
stated, caused him to be employed at Bel
grade-a mission Of which no trust worthy
accounts seems to have TRANSFERRED. In
1861, when Central Asia was about to be
taken in hand, he returned to his old haunts
On the Syr Darya line. The Emperor
Alexander, it is well known, in those days
determined to connect the Syr Darya from
tier with the Siberian territory, and as this
could only be effected by the annexation Of
Northern khohand, war with the Khanate
became the order of the day. Two columns
were formed-the one under Colonel Yer
eykine to operate on the Syr, the other
under Colonel Tchernayetf 10 proceed
from the district OF Alatan in the
direction of Turkestan, and effect
junction with Colonel Verevkine on the
enemy's territory. Marching with
couple of thousand from Vernope, Colonel
Tchernayetf took the khokand fortress of
Aulie At, the Il traversed the arid steppe tor
distance OF go miles, and succeeded in
reaching a detachment under Captains
Lerche and Meyer, dispatched to meet him
by Colonel Verevkine. On the third of
July he led his diminutive force to the at
tack of a fortified position on the road to
lchemkent, occupied by $1,000 Khoksnders.
The defeat of the Khokanders gave him an
OF accommodating the country
to Tie west, on which occasion he perceived
the expectancy of extending his operations
as far south as Tchemkent, which had not
originally been intended in st. Petersburg.
The experience he had of the utter defense
lessness OF the khokaud hordes, whose
arms and tactics dated from the earlier
times of the middle ages, proved the enter.
prise to be far more easy than it could |
have been considered before the conflict.
In dispatch sent off to st. Petersburg on |
the twenty-fourth of September, 1864, he |
asked for permission to extend |
operations; but. finding himself suddenly |
promoted to the chief command of the |
Iurkestan troops, did not wait for a reply, |
Dut, on his own responsibility, attacked the |
coveted prize. On the second of September |
his 5000 men, having dislodged a garrison |
OF l0OOO, stationed part of them in cita.
del on the top OF hill, conquered the CITY |
OF Ichemkent, and thereby gained foot |
ing in the heart of Turkestan. While the
country was still resounding with the ter |
rible news, Tchernayelf, leaving a small |
garrison at Tchemkent. with 1850 men and |
u guns, actually attempted Tashkent. His /
suaded him that city Of 100000 could not |
be taken, or, if taken, could not be gar
risoned by his small force. He, therefore,
returned to Tchemkent for the winter, which |
ne employed in studying the geography and |
resources of the country. The lnfOrma.
tlon he gathered showed him an easy
means OF compelling the surrender Of the
great ana ancient city close at hand. He
loun9 tnat the small fort of Niasbek COM
handed the water supply of Tashkent.
There could now be no doubts as to the
plan to be adopted. He took Niasbek early
n May, 1865; next possessed himself of an.
'ther small fort, Tchinas, and on the
'wenty seventh Of June stormed the citadel
If Tashkent. The garrison defended itself
'ravely; but, as the inhabitants conld
1eltner endure permanent thirst nor
lays bombardment from European can.
ION, the fate OF the place was soon decided
reat booty was taken, and the name of
tussia flew like wildfre through the land
Vow that the residence of SO many Tartar
lhans, and still the principal emporium of
he country. had bowed its head, what