Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-03

100 OO0 and even 100000 troops of all arms whereas
the Turks described mastering but half these
numbers The strength assigned to 0mer Pashas army
was about 10000 or 10000 and this appears to have
been correct estimate than that formed Of the
other side
1t under these circumstances that the Turks
menced offensive operations and the first intelligence
presented them preparing 10 the Danube at the
extreme points OF Widdin and Brailow. or the move
ments at Braow have heard little more but the pas
sage of the effected in force at Widdin
and subsequently at Rahoya, Ruschuk, and Turtukai
also We have no accurate information of these pro-
ceedngs but appears that at Turtukai the Otomans
crossed in greater strength than at Wddn while at the
other point their numbers were small. AT Kaafat
and Giurgeyo, opposite Widdn and Rustchuk
spectiyely there had been Russian garrisons.
That at halaiat, We presume, must have been with
drawn before the landing of the Turks for it does not
seem that their Judgment in this place attended by
any fighting, bat at Gurgevo there was apparently
struggle of severity This at least is the interpre
tation we should put upon the "rumor announced BY
the telegraph from Vienna, that Gurgevo taken by
storm Ii this should be verified, it will probably
that the Turks crossing Mt this point found Russian
garrison in the place. which they attacked and defeated
At Turuka there fort garrison the opposite
bank, and the Ottomans on landing at Oentza threw up
intrenchments for themselves.
1t thus appears that the Turks have crossed the
river at not fewer than four distinct points, and have
red into the Danuban Principaes between 80 600 and
40 900 men, The division which crossed Widdn, and
which occupies Lesser Waacha is said to be 900
strong and that at Otentza in direct road to the Rus
reported to be at Kalarache and 1000 in front Of
Giurgevo This latter expression signifies that they have
taken post upon island in the Danube with the nten
ton Of crossing that point but if the intelligence
speeding the storm of Giurgevo be correct the opera
ton thus projected must have been already performed
though with force, it would seem, of only 200 men.
Altogether the strength Of the Turks the left bank
scarcely exceed 10000; but, Omer Pasha had I'M
doubtedly half as many more under his command, it
might of course be increased every day
If consider the movements of the Russians, far
fhah nrn Kali E,Ia
sion for surprise. 1t at first reported and APP
parenty with plausbity, that their main body
advancing from Bucharest towards Kraova and Kalaat
with the view of encounerng what then seemed to be
the main body of the Turks 1t further added also
with much likelihood that decisive combat was i'm
pending.
This, however, the 28th ultmo, whereas
have received intelligence to the 4h Of this month
which brings tidngs of any such encounter but the
contrary appears leave the Turks in quiet possession
Of Lesser Waacha though their strength there is set
only 1000 At Oltenitza, it is true, the Turkish
division attacked it was SEEN" General
Perlo s said to have fallen upon them, and to have
gagged them, first with artillery and afterwards with the
bayonct severely that the conflict lasted twenycght
hours That ended the advantage of the Turks who
maintained their positions is fact in degree plain
ed by the circumstance that the Russians had but
against l., 600 But how such disparity Of force
to within short distance of the Russian head
quarers If the battle really lasted twenty hours,
there ample time for reinforcements to up We
read it is true, that Prince Gortschako had recently
moved from bucharest to Satna order to meet the
Turks advancing from Widdn; but in this how is
that is given Of his operations that quarter
If the Ottomans in Lesser Waachia had been crushed
by the main body of the Russian army could under
stand the of other divisions lower down the
and the smallness of the force at the command Of
General Perof but it is difficult with the present nfor
nation to discover where the Russian army is. The
Turks appear to have accomplished their objects with
1000 men at Kaafat, with 900 at Kalarache, with
1000 at Giurgeyo and with than 10 900 at Oh
tenza whereas the Russian army Of l50 600, by the
smallest accounts of 10000 men, makes show at all.
With the exception, indeed, Of General Perlof's de-
tachnent and Of body of cavalry numbering 500
near Kalafat-in all little more than 10000 men--we
have account ut oil of any of the Cars battaons.
It must be remembered too that far naccuracy Of
reports concerned the not likely to be fav
orabe the Turks, and that the numbers with which
they represented encountering the Russians
more probably exaggerated than otherwise For the eu
cidaton however of these well other points of
difficulty must wait more complete intelligence.
The same journal thus resumes the subject on
the following day:
We observed yesterday that furnished
of the strength the operations of the Russian main
body which at the first passage Of the Danube by the
Turks had marched to encounter them at Kalafa Ii is
now asserted that this force which under the COM
mand of General Dannenberg numbered between $4,000
and 900 men, and that it in position between
Krajoya and Slatina, to intercept the route from
Kalafat to Bucharest.
The Turks we were also told by the latest dispatches
occupying Lesser Waachia-that is to say, the
country about Kalafat-wth II 600 men but this
evidently the chief point at which the Danube to be
crossed it is probable that the force referred had
ceved augmentation from the other bank of the
stream Indeed, IL was expressly mentioned that Charge
bodies" of Turkish troops concentrated round Wild
din, the fort opposite Kalaat and all these could Of
be brought without much difficulty when the
passage Of the river bad been secured
Now, whether the Russians advanced to attack the
Turks the Turks in marching up the country
tered the Russians We fully informed but it is
between these two armies that the battle reported must
apparently have been fought. Nor can we have any
doubt that il proved disastrous the Russian troops
We are il is true merely told that fourteen superior
Russian officers were killed." and that the Russians
retreatng upon Bucharest but these intimatons
IL correct convey volumes Of intelligence IL fourteen
superior officers killed. how many inferior officers and
how many must have shared, in all probability, the
fate And how many Of all ranks have been
wounded? Those acquainted with the rules Of military
calculations would construct fearful list Of casualties
from the unit given in the despatch In the affair at Oh
tenitza, for instance though superior officer"
reported killed and only six wounded the total numbers
Of those placed hors da combat have exceeded
en- hundred Nevertheless, this battle must have been
fought and won il accept the present
strictly by 600 Turks against 80 600 10000
Russians No doubt the u 900 Turks ut Kalafat had
been reinforced and perhaps largely, from the troops
concentrated at Widdn but it hardly probable,
any supposition that they could have been raised TO
= strength equallng that Of the Russians Omar Pasha
had Go 900 TO- 900 in Bulgaria OF these he
had already carried according to reports $4,000
the river, viz. $4,000 at Oentza 1000 at Kalarsohe,
and 9, 900 Mt Giurgero. lie also menncing other
points OF the stream and II 600 Of his best troops had
been established at Kalafat.
This accounts for 40 600 Of his army that
more than ZOO thereabouts would reman to be
brought over But supposing that as many as
80 tIoao Nolo 20 49,