The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-09

L
at once the whole truth as to this singu-
lar and grotesque kind of cavalry. The
Cossacks re,divlded into several corps
the Cossacks of the Don, the Cossacks of
the Ukraine, the Cossacks of the eau
casus, etc. Each of these divisions has
a chief, who is called an Ataman, and
holds the rank of General, and all the
| Cossacks of the Empire are united under
single chief, who has the title of the
"Ataman General" This latter title al
ways devolves upon the hereditary Grand
| Duke. The Cossack clothes and equips
| himself, and his uniform and his horse
belong to himself. He wears large,
round, low cap made of skin from Astra-
kan, wide pantaloons stuffed into his
boots and reaching just below his knees,
the whole covered by kind of overcoat
buttoning ON the back and having three
long flaps reaching to the feet and fast
ened on the full length. On his breast
to the left and right in vertical cases he
carries six cartridges at each side. In
his belt he carries a poniard. A baldrick
hangs from his right shoulder and passes
to the left side, where it supports long
saber in leather scabbard On his
back, hanging from bandoleer and
wrapped in case made of goats skin,
he carries his rifle The Cossack
always carries in his hand whip, with
short lash, which he calls kinjdl. His
horse is small and rather ugly, and though
he is made of good stuff his form is some
what angular. To form an idea of the
Cossack saddle, imagine an ordinary sad
| IL oh would ho factapnd( NV d
strap square leather cushion about four
inches high. This is the reason that at
first sight one is so much surprised to see
this curious-looking cavalier perched up
so high on the saddle. He sticks on his
horses back by sticking his knees into
the animals sides with all his strength,
which gives the legs the appearance of
pair of pincers. The stirrup is an equally
curious thing. The bottom is round and
thick enough, but from that up it re-
sembles very much one of those tin boxes
in which preserves are sold. 1t has been
already said that the CossaCk's horse is
his personal property, and it may be
added that he turns it to business ac-
count by hiring it out. Since the arrival
of the troops at Kischeneff they have
been the delight of the collegians, who,
for a rouble an hour, have been enabled
to make promenades on horseback in
bands on these valiant little animals.
At the time of my arrival whole
squadron of Cossacks were engaged in a
furious race which they call the Dgizut-
touka. The squadron was massed in a
heap in a corner. One of them started
at "a gallop and threw his cap into the
middle of the square. Immediately all
the others preCipitated themselves for
ward at headlong gallop and endeav-
ored to pick up the cap either with the
hand or the whip, or by jumping to the
ground. 1t was a scene of general con-
fusion, during which the eye could
scarcely distinguish horses from men.
All this is accompanied by cries which
do not cease till some horseman by an
adroit maneuver has managed to obtain
possession of the trophy. Then they all
start off again, lashing their horses with
all their might, for it is curious fact
that during the whole time that the Cos
sack is mounted he beats his horse with
out moments cessation. The reader
must not suppose that it is necessary that
the Cossack must form one of the band
in order that he may give play to his
fantasies. Sometimes when he is alone
he lets himself run into certain eccen-
tricities, of which will give an example.
l was breakfasting at restaurant
when all of sudden the door opened
with loud noise and Cossack rushed
in like hurricane. After promenading
noisily around the tables he pulled up
his horse before one of the guests and
placed the animals nose on plate of
green salad which had just been brought
out and which the horse ate with great
celebrity. Then man and horse departed
just as they came, without any person,
not even the proprietor of the establish
ment, saying single word. Perhaps it
was because the Cossack held in his hand
the kfmjaI, whose strokes would cost him
nothing. Later on | spoke of this Incl
dent to the aide-de-camp of an AtdmGR,
who simply laughed and said; "What
surprises me is that the Cossack did not
make his horse get up on table" See
ing that | was astonished he called a
Cossack who was waiting in the yard.
The soldier came in on horseback without
hesitating. The officer spoke but sin
gle word and in less time than it takes
me to write it the Cossack made his horse
mount the billiard table. insisted on
no more, for this experience was enough
to edify me. AS much will be said of
Cossacks in this war it may be well to
give an account of this peculiar cavalry
However astonishing may be the acts at
tributed to them the reader lnay accept
the statement with confidence for the
truth of the stories can be established by
good evidence. Already they have made
hitherto unheard-of marches, and they
will be the real heroes of the events
about to commence.
The reader has observed, no doubt
that in every war attention is concen-
trated on some one fact. In the
Crimean war the Zouaves were the
startling novelty. In 1859, in Italy, it
was ritled cannon. In 1870, the Uhlans
In the Bulgarian instruction of last year
the Bashi Bazouks were the feature of
great interest. This year the Cossacks
will play the leading part. They will
encounter the famous Bashi-Ba zouks,
whom the Turks will not fail to put in
the advance guard We shall then see