The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-25 00:00:00

DETAILS OF TILE BATTLE OF OLTENITZA

The special military correspondent of a London
paper, writing from Turtukai on the night of the
4th, gives the following details of the battle which
took place that day at Oltenitza, and will be read
with intense interest. They are very vivid in lan-
guage and descriptions of positions.
Yesterday, troops crossed hourly to the quaran-
tine station, with their entrenching tools. Boats
laden with gabions landed them close by. The
field of the telescope shows grey mites carrying
grist to the mill in the shape of gabions. At the

station, gabion after gabion may -be seen placed,
gradually extending the parapet from the station
to the left bank of the Argisch river. On the other
flank the entrenchment runs down to the Danube.

About one p.m. the Cossacks advanced on, the
chasseurs covering the working party. A few shots
were interchanged, and by two p.m. four squadrons
of cavalry and two guns debouched from the vil-
lage of Oltenitza, with about 500 or 600 Cossacks
in skirmishing order. They were making a -recon-
noissance, for as soon as they had received about
six or seven shots from the Turkish artillery in the
entrenchment, with a few from the right bank of
the Danube, they retired out of shot, and remained
on the same spot watching the Turks till nightfall.
A. second regiment of cavalry, with two guns, like.
wise made its appearance by a wood on the road
to Oltenitza, as well as a regiment of infantry with
the baggage. - - -

On the- part. the Turks, a field battery of artil-
lery, and a number of boat-loads of infantry, were
sent as a reinforcement.

This evening the usual cheer by the Turkish
troops at sunset was very marked and heaity, given
as it was from either bank, and by boat-loads of
the reinforcing troops. _ _ _

En passanCit may be mentioned that the Turk-
ish troops have every confidence in their present
efficiency, in comparison to what it was during the
last war with Russia; as well, indeed, as in the
talent of the general who commands them—a feel-
ing which gains ground daily. That distinguished
officer was heard to remark, what appears to be the
unmitigated truth, that " things are changed now.
Formerly the Turks drew the sword to make con-
quests, and in doing so doubtless committed great
barbarities ; but now it was drawn in defence of
liberty and civilization."

This day (Nov. 4), I hope, will be memorable, as
on it was fought as gallant an action as history can
record. During the morning not a soldier of the
Russian force was to be seen. The whole country
was scanned by eager eyes straining themselves
through every imaginable species of telescope,
binocle, jumelle, &c. They, however failed in de-
tecting aught but an empty village, and an open
plain. Later a cavalry picket was discovered;
which led.people to suppose that they were not
quite alone—a supposition most fully realised after-
wards ; for at about twelve, or half-past, the Rus:
sians:gradually- led out their forces on the plain.
Twelve. guns were placed as a battery of position,
at about 1200 or .1300 yards from the quarantine
station. Two bodies of infantry—it remains to be
known whether they were regiments or battalions
—placed theniselves under cover in a wood on the
right of the guns—their right. On their left rear
were two more bodies of infantry, and on their left

two more battalions. Supposhag them to be of