Education
Stackelberg was from a Baltic German noble family and graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy in 1862.
Stackelberg was from a Baltic German noble family and graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy in 1862.
As a commander in the 1st Semirechye Cossacks from 1874–1876, Stackelberg distinguished himself during the Russian conquest of the Khanate of Khiva and the Kokand expedition of 1875 under General Konstantin von Kaufman. He was wounded in combat, and although nominated for numerous awards, he refused to accept any. From August 18, 1886 to December 5, 1890 Stackelberg commanded the 25th Dragoon Regiment at Kazan.
He was then assigned to command the Transport-Caspian Cossacks until December 3, 1897, followed by the 15th Cavalry Division to May 31, 1899.
Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 10th Cavalry Division during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion in China and Russian occupation of Manchuria. Afterwards, he was assigned command of the 2nd Siberian Army Corps from April 25, 1901 to February 11, 1902.
He was then commander of the 1st Cavalry Corps from February 11, 1902 to February 3, 1904. From April 5, 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, Stackelberg was commander of the Russian 1st Siberian Army Corps, which played a major role in the Battle of Te-li-Ssu.
Hampered by orders from Russian commander-in-chief General Aleksei Kuropatkin not to commit his entire reserves, and to fight a defensive battle rather than push forward in an offense, his forces were decisively defeated by the Second Japanese Army under General Oku Yasukata.
In the subsequent Battle of Sandepu, Stackelberg chose to ignore Kuropatkin’s orders and made gains against entrenched Japanese positions, albeit with heavy casualties, but was forced to withdraw when reinforcements were denied.