Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-21

Gen. skobeleIf was born in 1913. and
inherited his military qualities from his
grandfather and father, " no we're botf,
generals and CDevaiiers OF ST. George.
Inc former had four fingers cut of and
his elbow shattered in the war of 1881,
he had risen from the ranks and was p
Muscoyite. From his mother Skobe.aff
the third derives his disposition and ia
tallectu u tastes. she WAS murdered in
Bulgaria by an officer of her sons staff.
The Skobeied family was poor and had
no ancestral line. But ITS social pres
t,9e, which WAS entirely due 10 the force
OF character and accomplishments Of
the late Madame Skobe,sti. became SO
great tina; the nobiest families in Russia
sought TO be allied to it. The eldest
daughter Is Princess Pelo elsky, the Sec
ond Nina. Tchernaie.f, and tine third is
married to Count Haauharnais, son of
the late Grand Duchess Marie, and first
cousin of the Gar. She is not given
imperial rank at court. but il treated a.
y cousin by Alexander and the Czsrina.
Gen. Skobelafs, since his fourth YEAR,
has had for tn;or and friend II. Gs-
rand. in whose wisdom ns always placed
uDbouuded confidence. Gen. Sxobalef
entered the Russian army at an early
age, and rose rapidly, though gaining
10 special distinction until the cariseicn
against klivc. when as Col. Saobeisfs he
received the Cross of st. George for n
darino expedition. With three friendly
TurkomaIs ho volunteered to rs ,ertain
whether the beleaguered column OF Gen.
Markesof could reach Khiva. tie 40.
complished his purpose. though be WIS
given up for lost. Later on. as Gen.
he was in:yussei the couc-
naand of the force sent against kbokand
bytien. kaufman, and WIS afterwards
made Governor of the Territory, which
he conquered and annexed 10 RI ssi /.
with population of 2.HO.CsU inhai,i
tants. One of the most brilliant o: Gen.
Skobaieff's many dashing exploits was q
night attack on camp of 1000 Knchsu-
deans with bu. $50 Cossacss. At mid.
night he took his 80 CossickS. divided
them into three parties, and cautiously
tbs enemy's camp. The
party led by Skobsieff himself managed
to pass the snemyS outp1s.s. who were
sound asleep. Then he gave the signal
Tor the attack by firing ais pistol. and
followed by his I'D Cossacis, be rode
headlon9 iutatae eileiny's camp OF 5000
or 900 men. shouting and yelling Ike
tends, cutting down everything in their
passage. Tie e.fe3t was tremendous.
For q quarter OF an hour. the plain re-.
sounded with sarieks aud yeils, shots.
the trampling of nurses. shouts and
groans and all tho Cproaf of battle.
Then all waa silence. Skobeieff assem-
bled his Cossacks. and when morning
came he found that the whole army ~
the energy had disappeared, leaving on
the field about 40 dead. ~ standards.
200 turbans. $500 or 1909 muskets aud
stbers, all their camp material aud bag
gage. Bot what was his astonishment,
o calling tie roll. that he had not To- ia
man, either killed or wounded. This
ard other like exploits gave Skobeleff a
reput.tioD, even among the Russians, of
heing kind of mailman, VINO would
fling away his own life and those of his
troops without the slightest regard to
consequences.
At the beginning 1T tls Russo-rur-
kish war, Young Skobeieff ioiuel the
Army of the Danube as Chief of staff to
hia father. He was afterwards given
command Of n division. Soon after the
defeat of the Russians ut Pievua, Sko-
belief sought pc emission to do something
creditabie, but WAS allowed only to
make a reconnaissance against Loftcha.
Contrary to orders, tho TROOPS drew
upon themselves the Turkish fire. 1t be-
came evident from this fire that the
Turks were threa times rs numerous IA
the kussians, and in the skirmish that
resulted Skobeleff. riding white horse
and wearing white coat, a splendid
mark for the enemy, had two horses
shot under him. At the second battle of
Pleyna Skobeleff captured n double re-
doubt, but WIS subsequently repulsed.
Three times the Turks attacked him.
Mr. McGason. his warm friend. says:
:" The thres fights with Sko5eleif We're
short, quick and sharp, neither lasting
more than tive or ten minutes. This was
owing to Skobaleffs manner of defense.
lie ordered his troops tn reserve their
fire until the Turks came within one
huuired yards, then to open upon them
sudden and terrible fusi!aie. against
which no troops could stand. This drove
them back almost immediately. Three
times they came to the charge, and
three times we're they repulsed III the
sarre sudden and furiors manner. The
radoubt Skobelef WIS attacking was a
double redoubt In the bend of the Loft
cha road down near Pleyna. He had
advanced his troops down the slope of
the mountain To within easy range. As
the Turks Immediately opened fire upon
him from the redouht he returned the
ire with stesdiiiess and precision, put
ting his men under cover 10 much As
possible. his cannon pouring steady
stream OF shell and canister into the re-
doubt ~ we'll. In fact. he worked his
cannon 80 much that several pieces have
been SPOILED. He had evidently deter
mined to risk everything to capture this
redoubt, and IL Pievna were no. taken it
would not be his fault. For three hours
ils kept up this FIRE. and ju.t aftr kri-
lofts second repulse, the Turkish fire
having somewhat relaxed, dominated by
the Russian. he thought the moment had
come for making the assault.
Il WA Just after this that met General
Skohelsff the first tirae that day. He
MA ia a fearful state Of excitement and
fury. lis uniform Was covered with
mud and filth; his sword broken; his
cross of Sc. George twisted round on his
shoulders; his face black with powder
and smoke; his eyes haegard and blood
shot, and his voice quite gone. He spoke
in a hoarss whisper. never before saw
such picture OF battle as he presented.
saw him again in his tens at night. He
wxs quite calm aud collected. He said;
II have done my best; conid do no
more. My detachment ia half destroy
ed. my regiments do not exist: have nc
officers left: they sent me no reinforce.
nonts, and have loft three guns" They
were three Of the four guns which be
had placed in the rcdeubt upon taking
il. only one of which his rstrsasine for
Gee had been able tn carry OF. why
did they REFUSE ron reinforccsnerts! |
asked; .who MAS to bia,ney Il blame
nobody" he rep,ied, IL is the will Of