Pavel Ivanovich Mishchenko | |
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Born |
Temir-Khan-Shura, Dagestan, Russia |
January 22, 1853
Died | 1918 Temir-Khan-Shura, Dagestan, Russia |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch | Imperial Russian Army |
Years of service | 1871-1917 |
Rank | General |
Battles/wars |
Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) Boxer Rebellion Russo Japanese War World War I |
Pavel Ivanovich Mishchenko (Ukrainian: Павло Іванович Міщенко, Russian: Павел Иванович Мищенко , 22 January 1853 - 1918 ) was a career military officer and statesman in the Russian Empire.
Mishchenko was born in 1853 in the Russian fortress settlement of Temir-Khan-Shura in Dagestan. He graduated in 1871 from Pavlovsk Military School as an officer in the artillery, and was assigned to the 38th Artillery Brigade. He participated in the Russian conquest of Khiva in 1873.
He subsequently participated in the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878) and the conquest of Turkmenistan under General Mikhail Skobelev. From 1899, Mischchenko was assigned to Russian-occupied Manchuria as assistant chief of security for the East Chinese Railway. He fought during the Boxer Rebellion, and afterwards was promoted to major general and decorated with the Order of St. George (4th degree).
From 1903, Mischchenko was commander of the Trans-Baikal Cossack Brigade. During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 he commanded a separate East-Baikal Cossack Brigade, which was active in many of the battles of that war. Initially, his forces were in Korea, with instructions to obstruct the landing of the Japanese First Army and its march towards Manchuria. However, after several minor skirmishes, Mischchenko retreated across the Yalu River. He played a minor role on the flanks of the Battle of the Yalu, and was also part of the Russian defenses at the Battle of Hsimucheng, and Battle of Te-li-Ssu. At the Battle of Liaoyang and at the Battle of Shaho, he commanded the Russian cavalry formations covering the rear guard of the Russian retreat. He was promoted to lieutenant general in October 1904, and appointed commander of the new Cavalier Corps in December 1904 and led a major raid south on 6 January 1905 with 6000 horsemen on a mission to destroy Japanese supplies stockpiled at Niuchang. The mission was a disaster, and the force returned twelve days later with massive casualties. He was wounded in the leg during the Battle of Sandepu and although reinstated as commander of the Cavalier Corps in March 1905, was not in the Battle of Mukden.