The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-18
RUSSIAN WARRIOR DEAD
GEN. NJ. G. TCHERNAIEFF, THE CON-
QUEROR OF TAsHKEND.
Fought Scores of Battles, and Was
Repeatedly HOnOred by the "Little
Father"-Not Successful Editor.

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 17.-General
Tchernaieff, the conQueror of Tashkend,
died suddenly to-day.
Gen. Michael Gregorovitch Tchernaieff be-
longed to an old Russian family, and was
born Oct. a. 1928. AT twenty years of age,
when he had finished his special studies in
the regiment of the imperial court, he was
appointed adjutant in the Paul" regiment
of guards. In 1851 he completed his mill
tary studies by specially studying the sci
ence of artillery. He began his actual ca
reer as a soldier in 1853, when he was ap-
pointed staff major of the Fourth Corps
which was then operating along the DAN
ube. From 1853 to 1866 he was constantly
fighting, taking part in the twenty-three
battles on the Danube and twenty-four in
the Caucasus. In Central Asia, where he
was chief, he fought twenty
times. In the Crimea he fought nearly
twenty more. His services seem always to
have been well rewarded. At the age of
twentysix he was chief of staff, at thirty
four he was Quartermaster general of a
large Russian army corps. at thirty-five he
was chief of staff to the army of Orenburg
at thirty-six he was found directing the mil
itary operations in central Asia, returning
to Russia bearing the, title of brigadier gen.
eral, and since then he served as governor
IN several OF the Turkestan provinces
which he helped to conquer. This rapid and
P Prlnlahtly successful military career soon
self with a perfect arsenal of swords of
honor and his breast was literally aglow
with the shining crosses and medals of
without offset.
In 1885, in Turkestan, the general on sew
eral occasions disregarded his orders. Being
called to account for his disobedence he
resigned his commission and for some time
pursued the practice of the legal profession
IN MOSCOW. He then accepted the editor
ship OF an opposition journal in ST. Peters
burg which became noted for the hatred
displayed in its leading articles toward the
Germans, and which was on several oca-
sions warned and seized by the authorities
Yet he was told by the government that he
might wear the uniform of his class as long
as ne lived, and was given a pension He
was married and devoted a good deal Of his
time to the education of his children He
was again called upon to bear arms, but
after while retired. as he said. definitely
in June, 1875. Returning thus to private Nfe
he devoted himself assiduously to literature,
becoming proprietor and editor-in-chief of
the Russian World lie Rouski RIir.) His
career as a journalist was much less bril-
writer he was verv weak and his ter e sS d
patriots esteemed him infinitely more for mis-
| services with the sword than with the pen.
In 1876 he offered his services to SerNia
in the interest OF the Panslavic party, and
was made ccn2mander-in-chief. Tcherna eff
did not greatly add to his military reputa-
=,
he won decisive battles but he aided
doubtless, in keeping the Servian troops
well in hand and the inherent weakness of
the Turks proved their own destruction
After the two months arnistice proposed
by the Porte in the fall OF 1876 and accepted
by Servia- which, was the beginning of the
end Of that momentous struggle-Gereral
Tchernaief was informed that Gear for
bade his return to Russia and that Cen
eral NilSitin had been appointed to succeed
him in command of the Servian army. But
this little unpleastness'' with the little
assuaged-and in May. 1877. the favorite of
fortune was readmitted into the Russian
service and appointed to the command of a
Caucasian corps.
Tchernaieff was a man of middle stature
and hard, stolid features He had a fair
knowledge of French; which language.
however, he spoke with less f1uencv than
do the majority of his compatrots He was
almost the counterpart of Skobeleff in dar-
viceroy by the natives of Turkestan. who
were so struck by his valor that they con-
tinue to pray for his soul on every annver-
sary of the capture OF Tashkend. war
correspondent who wrote If him during the
Servian campaign said 'he eats with his
knife and guzzles his SCUM with noise re-
se1nbline that made by horse when drink
ing. J should call him a Caimuck with a
varnish of gentleman
of he Criroean var ennra Tue
was first appointed chief of the staff of
division in Poland, and in 1858 he was sent
TO OrenbUrg in the capacity of aid de chef
de Ia ligne du Svr Darlar. in 1889 he COM
manded an expedition on Lake Aral TO SUD-
port the Khirgiss tribes. at war with the
Khivans. After a period of service as quar-
termaster general of the left flank of the
line held by the armv of the Caucasus.
Tchernaieff for some time acted as chief of
the staff Of the corps at Orenburg Next he
was placed in command Of an evolutionary
force consisting of one thousand men. with
instruction to march from Orenburg,
through the passes of the mountains bound
ing Siberia the south. and across the
steppes of Turkestan- and to effect a juno
ion xrrif dot (N~I
Verevkin, which had set out from Semi
palatnsk. in Siberia. The junction occurred
in the vicinity of the town of Tchemkend.
then occupied by the Khokanians. This
town Tcherraieff took by assault ard i'm
mediatelv afterwards Re unsuccessfully at
tackled October. 1881 the important city Of
Tashkend some eighty miles south Of
Tehemkend and also in nossession Of the
Khokanians. Having wintered at Tchem-
on Tashkend dune N 1867 1t is said that
he had received specific instructions to con-
tent himself with the position of Tchem-
kend, and to refrain from any further eff
forts to extend the Russian domination
further southwark Tchernaieff disobeyed
his orders. took Tashkend. was afterwards
received most enthusiastically at ST Pet
ersburg. and received a saber of honor from
the Frnercr in RECOGNITION of his military
enterprise but from that date was not act
lively employed in the Russian service.
When. in 1879. the insurrection in Herze-
gOvina broke out. he ODened subscription
in it's behalf. and afterwa rds. in the. sum-
the command in chief of the Servian army.
The campaign WAS most disastrous 10 the
Servians. although their army was largely
reinforced bv Russian volunteers. Tcher-
naieff's proclamation of Prince Milan as
King of Servia was much censured at the
time as a rash and foolish act Mr. Archi-
bald Forbes claims for General Tchernaiaff
that, after the battle OF the 1st of Seutem-
ber he single and unaided. by his force of
character effected the prolongation of the
unequal struggle for two months. General
Tchernaieff left ST Petersburg Sept. ~ 1882.
for Tashkend to take up the reins of gov
eminent there
Roosevelt MAY RESIGN