Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-12-09
FOREIGN NEWS.

army, anu lDe most lively eillnuSlaS[n pTeNdtieO
among the Turkish troops.
The Emperor of France appears anxious that a
war should take place between Turkey and Russia,
The French people are much excited in favor Of
war.
1t was reported that the Turks were compelled
to evacuate the island in front of the strong Rus
sian position of Giurgero.
Prince Paskiewitch was expected to take COM
mand of the Russian army.
The Gar win soon approach the seat of war.
In Asia the Turks continue to be very success
full
A disahection had taken place among the Poles
in the Russian army, and number OF them had
been shot
The Russian commander had countermanded the
order for the embarkation of the troops at Odessa
fearing that they would fall into the hands of the
Turkish fleet The distinguished Hungarian, Gen
Klapka, had received command in the Turkish
army.
Prince GOrtschakoff had issued proclamation
ordering tse subjects Of Turkey to quit the Princi-
palities He also invites the people of the Terri
tories to enroll themselves against the Turks. This
latter movement had created much alarm
The reserve of the Turkish army is under the
command of Rifaat Pacha, who has established his
headquarters at Sophia. The reserve number l2O,-
600, 1t is intended to operate with Omar Pasha, or
sustain him in case of defeat
The Turkish Var.
A decisive battle was hourly looked for Report
says the battle has already been fought at or
Bucharest and victory is yariously assigned to
either side.
The only authentic statement of any repulse the
Turks have met with is that on the morning of the
| 9th their force OF 1000 men was~compelled to
evacuate the island in front Of the strong Russian
position of Guirgero
| The Battle of Otenitzd.
| We have now detailed accounts of this first en-
counter between the Mosem and Russians. 1t
proves to have been an affair of much more impor-
lance than at fir stated. After continued fire
| from midnight of November lst to daybreak of the
| 3d. the Turkish ammunition became exhausted, and
! with the wild cries of Mosem warfare the entire
! Turkish force charged the enemy with bayonet
| and sabre, and scattered them at all points. The
Russians left twelve hundred on the field in killed
and wounded, and were driven back upon Buchar-
| est, brought up the pursuing Turks, who then
turned to Oltenitza and encamped upon the field,
their first care being to fortify the position.
The battle was fought within a triangle of land
formed by the waters of the Argis and Danube
| Only nine thousand Turks were engaged but they
had occupied strong quarantine building and an
old redoubt situated on the plain near the Danube.
| as well as the village From this position they
threw shot and shell with great effect, up to the
very entrance ola village whence Gen. Dandenberg
was directing the attack. A Geographic despatch
/ sent 10 the fF6nCn government, ana Dntneulately
! ION the 10th inst, communicated to the Turkish
minister at Paris says the Russians twice drove the
Turks from their position, but that the third day,
! (by this despatch called Nov. A. the Turks disper-
sed the Russians with the loss above stated The
Russian loss in officers particularly severe the
enemies marksmen having apparently endeavored
to pick off as many they could 1t is particular
" noticed that the disabled officers are almost with
out exception wounded by the conca balls of the
chassaur regiments, organized on the model of the
celebrated French chasseurs OF Nincennes. The
| Turkish artillery was beautifully served The Rus
slams, too stood manfully to their arms and the af-
fair had all the features of pitched battle. Omar
Pasha did not command in person. The position
of Oltenitza is very strong; the left wing Of the
Turks being protected by the river Ards (Ardrich)
the right by swamp impossible to horse, and the
rear by the fortress Of Slstra and the fort of Tur
taka. The gunncrs 10 the Turtakia fired with such
precision during the battle that the shots passing
over the heads of the Turks, did great execution
among the Russians A report says the Russians
lost eight guns.
Referring to this engagement Vienna letter of
the 10th says:
1t is not likely that the following startling news
will find its way into papers; but you may rely i'm
plicty its truth. The victory ofthe Turks which
was owing to trcachery, more complete than
| is generally supposed. The outpost nearest the
Turks to cross without giving notice of their ap-
proach, but actually assisted them in the work of
/ death. The cannonade lasted with slight intermis-
sOn twenty-eight hours. The date mistake.
The affair began in the night, between the lst and
/ 3D. and lasted to the third.
4 Decisire Battle Looked for, and ere this Probably
Fought
! On learning of the defeat Of Dannenburg, at o.
! tenitz, Prince Gortschakof without delay took
measures to attack the Turks ere they had time to
recover from the casualties Of the former action.
With this view he left Bucharest on the 6th at the
head Of q, 900 fresh troops and, accompanied by
! his entire staff advanced upon Ottenltza. The
Turks at that position only 5000 strong, less
the horS de combat Of the previous battle, probably
1000 in dead and wounded. This left but 6, 900 to
oppose the Russian general but the Turks being in
! force higher the river would no doubt come up
! in time to take part in the fray.
At the date when correspondent prepared his
! dispatch TUESDAY evening the l5th) rumors were
| already flying thick that the battle had been
! fought
One account stated circumstantally that the
| Turks had been dsastrously defeated, and driven
across the river. Another asserted, more positive
! ly that the Russians had met with terrible re-
pulse. The locality of this battle is vaguely called
! the neighborhood of the Bucharest. Another re-
port says between Widen and Bucharest; and
third despatch, promu gated by certain Spectators
said under the walls of Bucharest, and that the
Russians attribute to themselves the victory. And
yet another account states that the fight took place
| at Kraova which is the most likely to be cor
rect as we learn that on the Sd inst. the Turkish
! force at Kalafat awaiting reinforcement to
march upon Krajova.
That battle has been fought appears highly pro-
bable From Vienna we learn that fighting was
going on near Bucharest on the morning of the
llth.
The Position Of the Hostile Armies
Out of the confused and contradictory state
ments that are circulated our correspondent en-
deavors to eucidate the respective positions of the
hostile armies
The Austrians have &C, 900 men spread along their
frontier
The French and British have feet in the sea of
Marmora.
The Russians hava fleet of about thirty heavy
ships on the Black Sea-
The Turks have a fleet of about equal strength
and under the command of an Englishman, (Ad-
miral Hade) part before Constantinope, and part 10
the Black Sea.
The Turks have 200 gun boats on the Danube,
the Russians about half the number.
The Turks, in alliance with the Circassians, and
having as auxiliaries many tried soldiers of Hun
gary, have force in Asia that gives the Russians
enough to do to hold their own.
The Russians have now in the Prncipalities s.
10 nd ~, h.. eel