Frank Millet: War Artist and Writer I

Cossacks raiding a Turkish village. The illustration shows Cossacks using their lances to search for Turks hidden in their dwellings.

These illustrations are from Millet's illustrated article entitled: Campaigning with the Cossacks: I. A Summer Campaign, that was published in Harper's Monthly Magazine for January 1887. Millet begins his narrative with:

"A close acquaintance with the Cossacks lasting for nearly a year, the friendship of many of their officers which a lapse of nearly tn years has scarcely weakened, an intimate knowledge of their peculiarities of temperament, character, and modes of life, all had their origin in a little incident at the beginning of the Turkish War. . . .

"During one of the frequent duels of artillery and infantry between the hostile entrenchments on opposite sides of the lower Danube in the month of June, 1877, curiosity and a mild love of adventure tempted me into an isolated, detached post, where my only companions for the whole day were a major of Cossacks and two of his men. . . ." And the extraordinary tale goes on. For more about Cossacks, click on this link, which contains their music as well.

An enlarged view of Millet's great draftsmanship. I doubt if he had a camera along with him in 1877. The figures are stiff enough to suggest a photographic source but my guess would be that he drew the horsemen individually and then worked the sketches into the finished drawing.

Click on image to enlarge. Millet: "One fat Turkish officer on a pony much too feeble to carry the weight on his back made frantic endeavors to escape, and one of the major's orderlies started in sharp pursuit. . . but instead of drawing his carbine he swung his lariat around his head in true Mexican style, lassoed the Turk, and dismounted him. The pony was left for me to catch. . . ."

You may read the entire article by linking to this site:
Cornell Library.

Next: More campaigning with the Cossacks.

Comments

[Laura Foster]

How wonderful to find this. Millet apparently gave Frederic Remington the original "Cossacks Attacking a Turkish Village." We have it in our collection, inscribed by the artist to Remington.

Laura Foster
Frederic Remington Art Museum

[CPSven]

Very nice article & pictures, keep up the good work! /Sven