Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-30
gatsst Sntelliaente.

BY last nights mails we received much import
ant intelligence from California, which the crowd.
ed state of our columns prevents us from giving
in detail. The principal item of interest is the
successful departure Of the Sonora expedition
The vessel which carried away the expeditionists
was well provided il was supposed, with all the
necessary arms and ammunition 10 forward the de
signs Of those who composed the party. Inte
gence had also arrived at San Francisco that Mex
lean troops were on their march TO Sonora, nc
doubt for the purpose of receiving the libusteros
in proper manner.
Interesting intelligence has also been received
from the Sandwich Islands, Tahiti, all the countries
bordering on the South Pacific, New Granada, the
Arctic regions, Oregon and Washington Terrific
ries, &c. Besides the details relative TO the pro-
gress of the annexation feeling the information
from Hawaii contains some melancholy particu-
lars concerning disasters 10 some of the vessels
composing the whaling fleet in the North Pacific
The following additional particulars from the
east we cut from the New York Herald of yes
terday
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 Giurgevo. In contrast to these trifing
checks we have the details of the following bril-
liant victory:
The Battle of Oltenitza.
We have now detailed accounts Of this first
encounter between the Moslem and Russians.
proves to have been an affair of much more
Importance than al first stated After a con
timed fire from midnight of November LIST, to-day
k.r, 10 ~f
exhausted, and with the wild cries Of Moslem war
fare the entire Turkish force charged the enemy
with bayonet and sabre, and scattered them at al
points. The Russians left twelve hundred on the
field in killed and wounded and were driven back
upon Bucharest, where heavy fire from the artil
ery of the place, brought up the pursuing Turks
who then returned to OlteHitza 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
ted in 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
of village whence General Dannenberg was
directing the attack. A telegraphic dispatch
sent to the French government and Immediately
Ton the 18th instantly communicated TO the Turk
ish minister at Paris, says that the Russians
twice drove the Turks, from their position,
but that on the third day tby this dispatch
called November A. the Turks dispersed the Rus
slams with the loss above stated. The Russian
loss in officers was particularly severe, the enc
mys marksmen having apparently endeavored to
pick off as many as they could. II is particularly
noticed that the disabled officers are almost with
out exception wounded by the conical balls Of the
chasseur regiments organized on the model of the
celebrated French chassenrs Of Vincennes. The
Turkish artillery was beautifully served. The Rus.
SLAMS too stood manfuy to their arms and the affair
had all the features of pitched battle Omar Pacha
did not command in person. The position ofOltenizs
is very strong; the left wing ofthe Turks being pro-
tected by the river Ards, Ardrisch) The right by
a swamp impossible 10 horse, and the rear by the
fortress OF Silistra aud the fort OF Turtukai The
gunners in Turtukai fired with such precision
during the battle that the shots, passing the
heads OF the Turks did great execution among the
Russians. report says the Russians lost eight
guns.