The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-26


pe.s-A Look Upon Pleyna-scobeIeff at
His Toilet After an Assault-A Realistic
Battle Scene.
IL is many years since | first saw NJ.
Verestchagin 1t was during the Russo
Turkish war on the battlefield Of Plevna,
and the memory Of my first glimpse Of him
is intimately connected with that Of tho
famous Scobeeff, the White general, and q
J. A. MacGahan, the greatest OF war cor
respondents. Nerestchagin WAS in an official
capacity as artistic historian OF the war, and
many OF the pictures TO be exhibited saw in
their first stages as rough sketches The first
time I saw him was during the memorable
retreat OF Scobeleff's forces in August, 1877
from his position on the extreme left OF the
Russian attacking forces, on the Green noun
tains, where he held two Of four redoubts
that he had captured on the first day OF the
fight for over forty-eight hours, though he
had lost over 5000 out Of the % 1000 under his
command was riding with MacGahan, In
fact. and accompanied the intrepid Ohioan
on the afternoon Of the previous day in his
search for Scobeleff's headquarters.
lueN were BItdl u AAsiN Wal ttt0'
three men. ScobeleR, MacGahan and Verest-
chagin MacGahan was free lance a. 10
were, among the Russians; and wherever he
went he was saluted by the soldiers as a
friend. remember one day he Shouted out
20 nc:
Come I know where the grapes grow
beautifully. Let Us 60 thither.'
And followed the genias invitation, and
we rode together along the pleasant BuIga
rian valleys, While We, tie two opposing ar
mics were quiet, and the day for tine Rus
SLAMS t. deliver the assault had not been de
cided upon. Finally We came 90 Che crest q
plateau, where the grapes grew IN delicious
flavor and the big maize stalks hid US Ell
t.lcly from view.
"I viii show YOU something You have
never seen % he said and with that he led me
10 a point Of the plateau from whence We
could look fairly down upon the little city
Of Plovna, only two miles away. What was
my surprise three days afterward, when ac-
companying the Russian headquarters staff,
to dnd that the very place had been selected
by Krudener from which to direct the con
fict. II was MscGahan who had told him
where the grapes were Of delicious quality
and where the best view of the city OF
Plevna and the whole battlefield could 10
had.
1t was a brilliant group Of officers who
formed a semi-circle round the commander
in-chief that dri2zly day and watched the
battle from ! o'clock in th9 morning till
well in the afternoon, ana then began 70 re
tire, followed 10y the vast army that had
been ropused all along the line, except on
the extreme left, where ScObeleif still held
his gtound. and continued 10 hold in spite Of
the commands sent TO him. In the group
collected in front Of Plevna that day Were
two brothers Of Nerestchagin the one "a cap
tain Il Cossacks, Alexander. the other, Ser
eius Vagilli. both brave as they were hand
some. Alexander accompanied Scobeeh 10
hls position. and while riding with him was
wounded. and had then 10 be sent back e.
Bach4rest Serglus met, unfortunately, "a
terrible end slain 10y the Turkish Circas
SLAMS. IL Is delight % read Alexander e2-
uericnces during that campaign, 10 follow
linn with Sc4be,ef and 70 read h's curlo.l-
stories
on the morning after Krudeners defeat
while Scobelef s,ll held two redoubts on The
Green mountain MacGahan was mp early
and ready 20 20 and look FOR the White gen
cral. Il was q long search for him, and d
was rot til nearly ia the afternoon thai
We got near him, and then be was too busy DOB
directing the retreat 10 bo approached W.
Lalte! our horses and watched the dccimated
regiments passing 20 the rear thousand
pfter Thousands. the hundreds Of wounded
borne on strctch.rs " assisted along boy THEN
compauions Near by, seated on "a BANS
was . handsome brown bearded nlaa sketch.
ius the scene.
rotscLag.a.
The visitor o. the exhibition viii see the
paint.ng for which the celebrated artist wa
thero making l.s sketches will SEQ the hand
some blonde geueral-ot whom Coroner Nc
senier reminds You somewhat 90 appearance
as hcappeared dasAiug hitner and thither
on his white Lcgsc, keeping h.. beaten forces
In order Then wo lC,t .'cCDelel again, ami
il took us an hour after darkness had spread
all rclnd before $50 discovered h4m again,
and tboa lis tent was pouted out 90 us,
plan.el .n q small ruyino, guarded by few
q mpau.es 4 tis Cosacls.
Tho scene jas .Ae NtFltltI-n ttlA MAH t
curlousiy interesting one Tho famous gen
eral greeted q, warmly in lueu, English, his
language lntcrsper-ed with goodly number
Of thoroughly Anglo. Saxon swear words
Tho dash, dash, dash, dash, dlsh ii they
had only done all round what my men have
done We would have been in Pleyna tonight.
Thiul. Of the poor fcilows lett beAiud-0. coo
Of them OF the least sacrificed o. lncompe
tency.1 And tic tears strcamed down has
checks.
II was strange scene. Not an hour be
fore and he had been directing the retreat OK
his army. and there be was ia his tent, stand
ING before a mirror completing his toilet Ho
had taken q bath, his valet had brought him
complete change Of linen, which nc had
donned. We watched him carefully brush
bis loNiug.teard, and then be picked up his
manicure ST and began polishing bis long,
beautiful nails OF which be was extremely
proud. -Four hours before be had been in the
last redoubt and had had BIS horse shot under
lim. and there he was. not three mile away
from the battlefield, as calmly attending 10
hispersonal appearance as II be were about
D. attend a banquet or pahllc bail
"And now, boys he said when ho had
finished. share pot luck w me, Noreat-
chagin viii be around shortly. and wo "ili
try and forget our disaster"
Butig erestcAagin cid not turn up, having
failed 70 fluid tho general tent and gone luI