Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-02-24
MICHAEL SKOBELEFF.

The Great Fighting General Of the Russian
Army--A brief Account of His many Deeds
ofDaring.
From the New York Times.
The brilliant victory Of Geek Tepe places
the name of Michael Dimitrlyevitch Skoke-
left nearly, if not quite, at the head of the
list of fighting generals Of these warlike
times. He is scarcely over thirty five years
of age, and yet he has played distinguish
tweny six years he was captain in the staff,
and even then considered clever officer.
The Khiva campaign of 1873 was his first
war, and when the city was stormed he led
those who entered it. Two years later he
won his appointment as general in the war
which ended by the annexation of Kholand
to Russia. One incident of this campaign
is fairly characteristic of his reckless dar-
ing. Twelve hundred Russians were retreat
ing before a superior force, when a night
attack was determined on rather as diver
sion than as a serious assault upon the en-
envy. Gen. Skobelef was charged with the
execution of the desperate task. He took
$50 picked Cossacks, whom he di-
vided into three parties, and at their
head he dashed noisily into the camp
of 5000 men. They deemed it an at
tack in force, and fed panic stricken, de-
serting even their arms and baggage. But
what is most remarkable that not one of the
attacking force was either killed or wound
ed. In the next year Q876) he was appoint
ed Military Governor and Commander in
chief of the Russian Province embracing
| in 1877 he was ordered to join the staff of
the Grand Duke Nicholas. In the Rus
So Turkish war which followed, his BRILL
ant deeds repeatedly commanded attention
| He was the first to cross the Danube at
Simnitza, In one of the early engagements
before Pleyna the safety of the Russian re-
treat was due to him. His capture of Lo-
vatz was the first Russian victory after a
long series of reverses, and again, before
Plevna, he led forlorn hopes as gayly and
as confidently as though defeat was impos
sible. Of one Of those deeds of daring the
Times correspondent said at that time:
Three fourths of his battalion were swept
from before his eyes. In one single day
5000 out of $4,000 soldiers fell
proportion almost without prece-
dent in the annals of military history.
He charged the Turkish batteries
at the head of the 4th Brigade of Chas-
seurs, $500 strong, and in less than an
hour 1000 soldiers were hors de combat.
Once he brought up forty eight pieces to
within 600 yards of the enemys position to
cover his infantry; in thirty minutes six
| teen cannon were dismounted, and when at
last he withdrew, three guns remained as
grimly, fighting to the last" In that en-
gagement he was sacrificed to red tape, fol
there was in sight and available troops
enough to have enabled him to hold the
redoubts he had captured, and thus not
only to have turned that defeat into victory
but to have changed the whole current of
that war. But there was no one there to
give the necessary order, and with
out the order the troops would
not and did not stir. @Skobelef himself
led the assault on horseback right up to the
glacis of the reboubt. His horse, the
seventh killed under him in that campaign
was blown to pieces by shell which burs
right under his belly, but he himself escaped
unhurt, and led the way into the redoubt OF
foot, sword in hand That is the sort O.
leader whom soldiers will die in following
and it was his services on that day that wer
for him the rank of Lieutenant General
Skobelef is tall in stature, and powerful,
built, with small waist. and large shoulders.
He wears-or did in 1877-his hair cropped
as closely as prize fighter, and has lone
pendent yellow whiskers, and formabll
mustache. He would be called handsom,
were it not for an unhandsome nose. Hi
eyes are gray and small, but bright with in
telligence and determination, and his short
thin upper lip closes over teeth brilliant al
ivory. In battle he likes to wear whit,
coat and ride white horse, and is thus a,
inviting mark as can be well imagined
The reason is said to be that he is supersti
tious, as men Of action often are, and be-
! ieves himself invulnerable until his mission
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