3-053-537 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Russian Expedition to Khiva: General Kaufmann's division crossing the Oxus, 1873. 'We are indebted again to Mr. M'Gachan, the special correspondent of the New York Herald, who accompanied the Russian military expedition in Central Asia six months ago, for placing at our disposal two sketches, by M. Formstecher and M. Gibert, representing scenes of particular interest. The first sketch is a view of the passage of General Kaufmann's troops across the river Amoo Darya, or Oxus, where that river is a mile wide. This division, led by the commander-in-chief in person, consisted of six companies of infantry and six sotnias or squadrons of Cossacks, accompanied by 5000 camels laden with stores and baggage; but it was joined, on May 12, by another division from Kasalinsk, making up a force of about 5000 soldiers, besides drivers and camp-followers. The route was from the north-east, starting from the Russian forts in Khokan, and passing along the northern confines of Bokhara; while a third column advanced from Tchikislar, on the shore of the Caspian Sea, to enter Khiva from the opposite direction. The passage of the Oxus...was not opposed by the enemy; and the city of Khiva was soon yielded without much attempt at resistance'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.