THE BATTLE OF PLEVNA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 805, 21 September 1877, Page 3

THE BATTLE OF PLEVNA.

On July 31st 'the,' Russian right wing, 41',000 strong, attacked Osman Pasha at Plevna. The Turkish'force was estimated at 50,000. . They occupied a series of positions which, naturally strong, were' also artificially fortified in every available spot,, forming a horsushoe in front of Plevna, with both Banks resting on the river Via. The Russian force consists of the ninth army corps under General Krudiner, of the thirteenth division, and the thirteenth brigade., of the second division under Prince Sohakosky with three brigades of cavalry and 160 guns. It was arranged that General Krudiner should attack' tho Turkish centre at Grivaca, and: the northern flunk of 'entrenched position, over Rotova, while Schakosky attacked Radagevo, ami "General Skabalcff held in check a strong force at Laeoa, which was the, extremity of . the Turkish lines. -General Krudiner-began the battieabout halt-past nine o'clock. A ftei* a long bombardment he, •succeeded in' silencing tho Turkish capnon at waca, but could not infjinfiry 1 from the earthworks. * Pe,,spent the wnole afternoon in an, unavailing endeavor to force the northern 1 flank of the Turkish position, desisting a f ter dark without having gained any thing material, having himself suffered considerable loss. Prince Schakosky about noon carried Radizeri, planting four (Continued on fourth page.)

batteries on the ridge beyond, and bombarded the nearest Turkish position, which was an earthwork armed with canon in front of an entrenched ■village. After some hours’ cannonade ■he silenced the Turkish guns. His infantry, after a long and bloody contest, ■ carried tire -earthwork and tillage. The second Turkish consisting of redoubt and aeries of entrenched vineyards,'strongly held, was then attacked, and ultimately carried, but with 'terrible elfort end very severe loss, owing “to the heavy Turkish artillery fire. The Russians, moreover, were unable {to utilise the captured position. About four o'clock the Reserve Brigade was brought up, and an attack made on the position im mediately covering Plevna. The attack Was continued until nearly sunset. The Turkish infantry was in -great force in a continuous hue, under shelter of trenches, and, despite most stubborn ■efforts, no impression could be made upon that line. Two companies of Russian infantry did work round to the right of the Turkish trenches, and entered the town of Plevna, but it was impossible to hold it. Russian batteries pushed boldly forward into the position first taken, to attempt to keep down the Turkish cannonade, which was crashing into the infantry in the open fatally, but were soon compelled to evacuate the hazardous spot. At sundown the Turks made a continuous forward movement, and reoccupied their second position. The Russian infantry made a succession of desperate stands, and died like heroes. The ■Turks gradually retook everything ■ they • had lost. The fighting lasted ■long after nightfall. With darkness 'the Bashi -Bazouks took possession of the 'battle-field, and slew all the wounded. The Russians held the • heights about 'Badogio, but the Bashi Bazouks worked around to their rear, and fell-on the wounded collected in the villages of Radigivana. A retreat was compelled in the direction of Bulvariu. A correspondent telegraphs that Prince Schakosky’s division was ■utterly routed. He had not a man left to cover his retreat, and the Turks struck without stint. They had the upper hand, and were determined to show how they could make the most of it They advanced in swarms at dusk, in their original first position, ■and captured the Russian cannon before the batteries could be withdrawn. Turkish shells began once more to whistle over the ridge above Eadishona and fall into the village behind, now cammed with wounded who had wended their painful way over the ridge. The badly wounded mostly lay ■where they fell. Later, in the dark- ■ ness, a baleful sort of “ krankentrahger” stormed over the battle field in the shape of Bashi Bazouks, who spared nothing. Lingering on the ridge till morn rose, the staff could hear 1 from below on the still night air the cries of pain and entreaties for mercy made to the blood-thirsty fanatics. It was indeed an hour to wring the sternest hearts. We stayed there to learn if it might be what troops were coming up this valley of the shadow of death below—whether there ■ were indeed any at all to come. The Turks had our range before dark, and we could watch the flashes of flame ■ over against us, and then listen to the scream of the shells as they tore by us. The sound of rifle bullets wasincessant, and the escort and retreating wounded were struck. A detachment on the height began to come straggling up. It will give some idea of disorganisation to say that when a company was told off to cover some of the wounded in Radischood, it had been made up of men of several regiments. About nine o’clock the staff quitted the ridge, leaving it littered with groaning men. Moving gently lest we should tread on tne prostrate wounded, we lost our army. We could find no rest for the soles of our feet, by reason of the alarms of Bashi Bazouks swarming in among the scattered and retreating Russians. At length, at one o’clock in the morning, having been in the saddle since one o’clock on the previous morning, we turned into a stubble field, and, making beds of reaped grain, correspondent and Cossacks alike rested under the stars. But we were not even then allowed rest before an alarm came that the Bashi Bazouks were upon us, and had to rouse and tramp away. What in the morning was a fine array was now a handful of weary Cossacks. General Krudiner eeut word in the morning that he had lost severely and could make no headway, and had resolved to fall back on the line of the river Osina. Fighting was renewed on the following day with further losses to the Russians. The defeat had a most demoralising effect. The panic extended through the Rus sian army as far as Sistova, where a few Cossacks arriving said the Turks wore closely following them. The people of Sistova thereupon rushed en masse across to Sirminitza, followed by the Cossacks, who fled beyond. On the road (they came upon a convoy of Russian'transport waggons and spread the panic among the .drivers, who, leaving their charge, ran in all directions. Next morning order was re stored by the arrival of a large mun 1 bor of prisoners at Sistova said to have been captured in an engagement by the army of Cezarwitch. The Russian, killed and wounded was estimated at 24,000 The defeat completely disarranged the 1111881*11 plan of operations. Reinforcements were pressed ■f rrward. Osman Pasha did not follow up the victory, awaiting reinforcements. —Exchange.