Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1915-02-18
The Cavalry OF The steppes.

Ofall the mounted soldiers Of the world,
the CoSsacks OF Russia are the most ia
nous. As cavalry they have no superior,
if any equal. The origin OF the CoSsacks
is uncertain. Some authorities contend
that they are the descendants OF the Tatars
who, during the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries, swept over Russia and the
greater part of Central Europe. In face
and figure, however, they bear little or no
resemblance 10 the Tatars. for their fea-
tureS are regular and their bodies tall and
slender rather than short and stocky in
deed, they are probably OF as pure Slavic
blood as any people in Russia. One the
ory is that they are the descendants OF
the Scythians, who were more than a
match for the armies OF Darius and other
great kings OF antiquity. Another is that
they are descended from runaway serts
who escaped into the wilderness from
Poland and Great Russia centuries ago.
The CoSSackS are a nation OF horSeTen
and hereditary warriors, and not body
OF men recruited by ordinary military
methods. The CoSSack and his horse
are as inSeparable as the Bedouin and his
steed, and the characteristics OF the two
peoples are IN many respects remarkably
similar. The structure OF their society is
essentially military, and the lands on
which they live are held by them on con-
dition of military service; in place OF or
binary taxation, their able bodied men
and their horses are always at the diSpoS-
al OF the government.
Originally, their government was OF
the half-democratic, half-autocratic type
to be found among tribes OF the desert
and the prairies the world over, and their
present organization is based on COM
munal ownership of the land. The unit
OF their society is the SlanitSa, or village.
The village is governed by an assembly
that the houSeholders elect, which assess
es local taxes, maintains schools, has
charge OF the grain stores and the various
undertakings OF The community. Horse
breeding is a common occupation, but the
villages cultivate enough land TO supply
the needs Of the population. Many Cos
sacks of the Don also engage in fishing.
II is said that the CoSsack system OF
popular education is at a higher level than
that OF even the more advanced provinces
OF Russia proper.
Virtually every male Cossack who has
attained the age OF eighteen years and is
physically fit must serve the Car in
military capacity for period OF twenty
years. OF that term Of service, three
years are spent in drill, twelve in active
service wherever required, and five IN the
army reserve. The government furnishes
arms, but the Cossacks furnish their own
horses. The CoSSack horse is small,
wiry animal, mere pony beside the usual
cavalry charger, yet man and horse can
cover greater distances on smaller railons
without breaking down than any cavalry
in the world.
There are ten tribes OF voiskos, spread
along the frontiers from the river Don
through the Caucasus, the steppes OF the
Volga and the Ural rivers, Turkestan, and
Siberia 10 the Pacific Ocean. The mag
niiicent domain OF Siberia itself, which is
much larger than the United States. was
the present OF the Cossac..s TO Russia /;
for the greater part OF ii was explored
and much OF il actually conquered in the
10th century by band Of these daring
warriors under the outlaw Yermak. who
restored himself TO favor at Moscow by
turning over his conquests TO the Car.