Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-12
GeneraI hkohelaG.
New York Tribune.

most fenOWueu OF the russian Uen
, erals Of this generation, Michael Dim
, itrievitch Skobeleff, to have face
! death recklessly on four score battle
fields in Turkey and Turkestan, an
to have escaped unnamed, to die b
a sudden stroke of disease in his ow,
land. He was the hero OF the war 0
Russia with Turkey. He was borl
at the country seat Of his father, ais
a Russian General of distinction, il
the District of Raizan, near Moscow
in 1913, When sixteen years old
young Skobeleff was sent to the mill
tary academy of St. Petersburg; bu
two years later he displayed so mucI
energy during a disturbance BY the
students, that he was dismissed from
the academy. After his dismissal he
was sent with regiment of the guards
to assist in suppressing the Polish in
surrection. lie was sent with Cap.
tain's commission to the Caucasus the
year before the Franco. Prussian war
broke out. he then became attached
70 the staff of the Grand Duke
Michael.
His career actually began in 1873
when he was transferred to Turkestan,
and took part in hefamous expedition
to khiva as Lieutenant Colonel of a
Cossack regiment. He was in command
of the advanced guard Of General Lo-
makin's column, which marched on to
Khiva from Kinderli Bay, on the
Caspian Sea. When Khiva was stormed
he led those who entered it. After
the occupation of the city he and the
late Mr.. MacGahan, correspondent of
the New York Herald, remained alone
in the palace Of the Khan, at the i'm
minent risk Of their lives, to furnish a
report to General Kaufman. He
displayed such daring and enterprise
that he was dispatched with two
companies to explore the desert region
through which the Krasnovodsk col
umn was to have advanced on the
rebber Khanate of the steppes. but
from which it had recoiled in dismAy,
after half its members had died from
lack of water. Skobeleff having dis
charged his difficult mission with bril-
liant success, was decorated, promoted
to a Colonelcy, and attached to Gen.
eral Kaufmann's staff. In order to
improve his knowledge of war, he went
to Spain and participated in the
Carlist war; and was present on the
staff Of Don Carlos himself at the en-
gagements OF Pena Muro and Abar
Zuza.
Then he returned to Turkestan to
take part in the battle of Makhran in
khokand, as commander OF the cav
airy. He gained a major generalship
by executing a brilliant movement
which resulted in the capture of fifty
eight cannon. Soon afterWard he was
appointed chief of staff of General
Trotsky and led the assault upon
Audijan, from which the Russians
after several days hard fighting, we're
compelled to retreat, their ammuni
ton becoming exhausted. During the
retreat the enemy harassed the Rus
slams. Skobeleff, as a diversion,
made night attack with $50 cavalry
men on the enemy, 5000 or 1000 men.
and routed them. The city OF Ma
mangan, having revolted, he took it
BY storm. He was then thirty two
years Of age, and the youngest gem
eral il the Russian army. In the
second war with Khokand. Skobeleff
was given the command of the expe. |
dltion. He attacked and defeated the
khokandians at Baliktchi, and after a
series OF engagements compelled the
Khan TO surrender at Audiian. On
February 6. 1876, Khokand was an
neXed to Russia under the name of
Fergnana, and Skobelef was appointed
its first Governor. At the same time
be was decorated with the Cross oil
st. George, third class. The war with
Turkey broke out and he commanded
one Of the Russian divisions. HeI
swan his horse across the Danube ITO
show the stuff be was made of. while
General Dragomirof was forcing the
passage at Simnitza. From that time
he was the most conspicuous man in
the army. In battle after battle be
showed his bravery and his skill as a
General. His division was the best
ted, best clothed and best armed in
the army.
His services before Plevna to the
Russian army we're Of remarkable
nature. In one Of the early engage
ments the safety Of the Russian retreat
was due to him. He led a series of
desperate attacks on Plevna. In one
OF these 5000 out of 1900 soldiers
engaged in the attack we're killed or
wounded. His attack on Pleyna on
September II and 1857, may be said
to have attracted the attention OF mill
tary students throughout the world In
consequence Of the adm irable descrip.
ton gwen oft By Archibald Forbes
in the London Daily News. Lieuten-
ant Green, describing Skobelef 8 ap-
peaTanee az this time, says: "His
personal bravery was not only Of the
most reckless character, but at times II
seemed 10 partake Of the merest brav.
ado, in which only extraordinary luck
prevented him from Teaping in death
the well earned reward Of bis foolish
ness. He always wore a white coat, q
white hat, and rode white horse 10
battle. simply because other generals
usually avoided these target marks
He was perpetually riding a break.
neck speed over some fence or ditch.
leaving halt his staff and orderlies
sprawling in it. he never lost an
opportunity Of Displaying courage
He went into battle 10 his cleanest
uniform and fresh undertaking, GOV
cred with perfume, and wearing a
diamond-bilte sword, in order, as he
said, that he might die With bis best
clothes on For long time be wore.
with evident afectation. coat In