The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF GIURGEVO.

The following are the particulars of this spirited affair :
—After the siege of Silistria was raised, and the Russians
commenced retiring, Omar Pasha proposed crossing the
Danube at Rustchuk and Silistria, and sent 25,000 men
to each of these towns. During the night of the oth
the Russians withdrew all their guns, and so few men
were to be seen on the left bank that Hussein Pasha, the
commander of the forces in Rustchuk, determined at
once to effect a lodgment. At half-past nine, a.m., four com-
panies of infantry, under the command of Bekir Pasha,
accompanied by Behram Pasha (General Cannon) and
Captain Bent, Royal Engineers, landed a little below the
Russian battery, without opposition beyond a musketry
fire. General Cannon advanced with some skirmishers
along with Captain Bent, who was the first Englishman to
land ; they dro:e the enemy across the creek with consider-
able loss; but the Russians, who in reality were 800 strong,
here made a stand, and the Turks had to retire on the river
bank. After some sharp fighting and a little manceuver-
ing on the part of the Turks, a body of 500 men, com-
manded by Colonel Balfour Ogilvie, aid-de-camp to Gen.
Cannon, accompanied by Col. C. Hinde, aide-de-camp,
Captain Arnold, 3d Madras Native Infantry, and Lieut.
Meynell, Her Majesty's 75th Regiment, proceeded in the
steamer for a mile and a half up the river, and landed
on the left hank. Seeing during the passage that Bekir
Pasha was likely to be hard pressed, Colonel Ogilvie de-
termined to effect a junction with him. He threw out
fifty skirmishers in front, under Captain Arnold, Col.
Hinde commanding the advance, and Lieutenant Meynell
the rear guard. The enemy opened a severe fire of grape
from two guns they brought up, and their infantry
annoyed his left flank by an incessant musketry fire.
After descending ,the river for a mile, the Turks took a
Russian battery close to the bank. Colonel Ogilvie ordered
them to wait till Captain Arnold should fall back. After
half an hour, however, Colonel Ogilvie, who could not see
anything that was going on, and being anxious to join
Bekir Pasha, pushed on down the river, leaving Lieut.
Meynell with 50 men to keep the position till Captain
Arnold returned. By this time the steamer had made
another trip, and 200 more men came down the bank and
joined Lieutenant Meynell. After a march of a mile and
a half, over ground occupied by the enemy, and com-
manded by their guns, at grape and canister range, the
gallant party under Colonel Ogilvie effected a junction
with Bekir Pacha, and this timely reinforcement raised
the spirits of the Turks. Captain Arnold's detention was
explained. He had actually advanced with his fifty men
on a Russian battery more than three hundred yards in-
land, in which there were two guns, driven them out of
it (the enemy retiring their pieces), and held possession
till overwhelming numbers forced him back on Lieut.
Meynell. Here they retained their ground for about
two hours, without any reinforcement being sent from
the town, until three fresh Russian battalions came down
the heights, one of which joined in the attack. At this
point the Turks, now far outnumbered, were driven out
of the battery to the river bank. Captain Arnold and
Lieutenant Meynell were both killed ; their bodies were
found in the battery, which renders it evident that the
gallant fellows had fought where they stood till the last.
Notwithstanding the disparity of numbers, so greatly in
favour of the Russians, the Turks maintained their
position, and in the morning it was found that the Rus-
sian infantry had disappeared ; their cavalry, who were
drawn up on the rising ground, drew off slowly an hour
I after daybreak, and the Turks commenced the melancholy
I task of burying the dead of both sides which were strewn
over the battle field. In this hard fought action, which
lasted nine hours, the soldiers on both sides displayed
great courage. The Turks, who made good their lodg-
ment and slept on the field, may with justice claim the
victory. There were 200 Turks killed of those who landed
highest up the river; in the battery opposite the town
there were 30 killed ; and on the extreme right 70. The
wounded amount to about 603; total, 900. Of the Rus-
sians about 950 were killed and wounded.
GALLIPOLL—The mail steam-packet Egyptus has ar-
rived at Marseilles with letters from Constantinople of
the 15th; Gallipoli, 16th; Symrna, 17; Athens, 18th;
and Malta, 21st ult. General Ney, Duke of Elchingen,
died of cholera at Gallipoli, where the disease is making
sad ravages. He commanded a brigade of heavy cavalry,
and was greatly beloved by his troops. The differences
existing between the Porte and the Baron de Bruck, re-
specting the appointments of Hoapodars to the Danubian
provinces, had been satisfactorily arranged by the nomina-
tion of Stirbey and Ghika.

How. HENRY A. WISE was recently married. To any
bachelor friend still " halting between two opinions," we
say, " Go and do like Wise."