Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-07

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In connection with General Skobe
letf the Pail Mall Gazette reproduce
some interesting "reminiscences Of hi
career. The story Of his exploits ii
the Bulgarian campaign includes al
thai was most exciting in the wa
which brought the Russian army with.
in sight Of the minarets of Stamboul
From the day when, ITO show the stuf
he was made Of he swan his horse
across the Danube while Genera
Dragominoff was forcing the passage
at Simnitza to the same time when 6e
could with difficulty be restrained
from marching into Oonstantinople
as soon as the British feet entered
the sea Of Marmora, he was the most
prominent actor in the drama. He
became the legendary hero of the cam
paign, and in the minds ofthe common
people he almost monopolized its
glories. He was always in the fore
front Of the hottest battle; four horses
were shot under him in ten days, but
he was only wounded once, and
after being in constant expecta-
ton Of death for months he re-
turned home safe. and sound. His
white uniform was to his soldiers as
the white plume Of Henri Quatre at
the battle Of Ivry. II have heard the
soldiers speak Of him" says Lieuteu
ant Green, 'as a General under whom
they would rather fight and die than
fight and live under another. They
had often to die-sometimes fifty per
cent of his command persisted; but he
spared noexertion to minister to their
wants and to supply their needs. His
division was the best fed and best
clothed and best armed in the army.
He was always with them in the most
exposed positions in the fight, sleeping
with them in the trenches and looking
after their necessities in the camp. In
short" says Lieutenant Green, she
succeeded SO thoroughly in making
himselfone with his d Vision that his
men responded to his thoughts as
readily al the muscles obey the will.
| doubt if a more thoroughly ideal re-
lation between a General and his men
has existed since the days Of Crom.
we'll"
PERSONAL BRAVERY.
His custom of wearing white, as if
to court the bullets of his enemies,
his reckless personal bravery and the
strange custom Of his always going
into battle in his cleanest uniform and
fresh underclothing, covered with
perfume and wearing a diamond hilted
sword, in order that, as he said, he
might die with his best clothes on"
gained him the reputation of a wild
dare devil, which somewhat obscured
his real capacity as a General. In
reality they only showed how thor
oughly he had OWNED that secret
power which lies in fascinating the
imagination as we'll as of appealing to
the reason of men. When he was
sent TO take Geek Tepe and subdue
the Tekkes many shook their heads
and predicted that his impetuosity
would be his ruin. So far from that
being the case he displayed the utmost
caution, acted with the greatest DELHI
Grafton, refused to move from
July to December, until be had
made all his preparations, and
after he had carried on camels to the
trenches no fewer than 1,575000
rounds of ammunition. to say nothing
OF several thousands of heavy shot and
shell, he laid siege to Geek Tepe and
captured hat hitherto improbable
stronghold. He had 10000 troops
against 10000 Asiatics, and he achiev.
ed the conquest of the Akhal Tekke
country with a loss of937 men. Only
once in that campaign did Skobelef
display his usual recklessness. After
the fortress had fallen he was riding
through the country with his escort
when he met several Tekkes. He
asked who they were. They answered:
Friendly Tekkes." "How can | be-.
lieye your word?" he asked again.
"Tekkes never lie" was their conf
dent response. We'll" replied Sko-
belief, IF that is the Ease | will send
my escort home and will return accom-
panied by you" He was as good as
his word and his trust in the words of
the nomads was not misplaced.