TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

In presenting this translation to the public, we feel that no apology is needed. Skobeleff as a soldier and Skobeleff as a man may not prove uninteresting either to the long-suffering general reader or to the student of contemporary military history.

M. Nemirovitch-Dantchenko was a friend of Skobeleff's, and writes from personal knowledge, a knowledge acquired in peace and war, in the camp and in the field; he has, therefore, had every opportunity of studying and appreciating the remarkable man he describes.

We have a word to say with regard to our own work. M. Nemirovitch-Dantchenko wrote in 1882, at a period of national excitement, when Skobeleff's death was still a thing as of yesterday. He may, therefore, be excused for devoting considerable space to subjects which can be but of little interest to the British public. Of this nature is his description of the funeral which occupies a whole chapter. A detailed account of the progress of the mortal remains of General Skobeleff from Moscow to his estates, a graphic representation of the public grief at the death of the popular hero would be tedious in translation,

and we have consequently omitted them. Some other trifling omissions have been made for the same

reason.

Skobeleff was one of the most remarkable personages of his time. In a country where favour and patronage are the surest roads to promotion, and where official society is permeated with corruption, the General stood alone. He had risen entirely by his own merits, in spite of his relations, his friends, and his numerous enemies, and the petty jealousies that surrounded him. Yet he had won his general's epaulettes at thirty, and held a higher rank in the army than his father whilst that father still lived.

Skobeleff was always erratic, and the conventionalities of society he held in utter contempt. Indeed, had he not possessed so strong an individuality and so unruly a spirit, he must inevitably have succumbed to the stifling atmosphere of Court life. Born in 1845, he had originally determined to devote himself to study; but during his university life his eccentricities were so expensive, and his debts so enormous, that his father refused to aid him any more. Young Skobeleff then turned to the military profession and entered the Guards; but here again his extravagances exceeded his father's good nature, and he was obliged to leave the capital. He joined a cavalry regiment stationed at Warsaw, where he saw some little active service in suppressing the Polish rebellion. As might be expected, he did not effect any great economy by this change, and his expenditure showed no signs of decreasing; so he was obliged to quit

Warsaw, and joined the Turkistan army. In 1868 he commanded a sotnia of Cossacks, and in 1871 he was already on the staff of the Grand Duke Michael. He joined the expedition to Khiva, and, distinguishing himself under General Kaufmann, was the last to leave Khiva with McGahan, the Daily News correspondent. In the short interval of peace which ensued, he went to Spain, and there studied the system of fighting at long ranges in which the Carlists indulged. But he was soon back again in Russia, and, joining the Khokand expedition, he so distinguished himself that he rapidly rose to the rank of General.

As yet, however, his talents were not recognised by Russian military authorities, and his victories over the "Dressing-gowns," as the Turkomans were contemptuously called, inspired but little respect. When the war with Turkey broke out in 1877, he was, therefore, not at first entrusted with a command, but attached to his father's staff. The arrangement, however, was not destined to last long: it was impossible for the most envious even to ignore his claims to consideration, and he soon became the favourite of the Commander-in-Chief, the Grand Duke Nicholas. During the passage of the Danube he shouldered a musket like a private, and he accomplished so many deeds of daring, that his name was soon in everybody's mouth. It was not till the battle of Plevna, however, that his talents as a military leader had full play. He inspired his men with a devotion hardly equalled by Napoleon's grenadiers. The

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His

enthusiasm with which his troops charged the enemy was unrivalled. They bore the onslaught of overwhelming masses bravely; and when forced to retreat, they did so cheerfully and in splendid order. methods were original. Generally, before an engagement, he would call the non-commissioned officers together and hold a sort of council of war. He would explain to them his plans, and frequently asked their advice, not disdaining to profit by the shrewd practical common sense of these simple-minded warriors, who freely gave him the benefit of their opinion.

He rode to battle clad in white, decked with orders, scented and curled, like a bridegroom to a wedding, his eyes gleaming with wild delight, his voice tremulous with joyous excitement.

The Turks called him Akh-Pasha, the White General, and stood in mortal fear of him. After one of the assaults on Plevna he is thus described by McGahan:-"He was in a fearful state of excitement and fury. His uniform was covered with mud and filth, his sword broken, his Cross of St. George twisted round his shoulder, his face black with powder and smoke, his eyes haggard and bloodshot, and his voice quite gone. He spoke in a hoarse whisper. I never before saw such a picture of battle as he presented. I saw him again in his tent at night; he was quite calm and collected."

Fear he seems never to have experienced, and, like our own Nelson, appeared unable to form a conception of it.