Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-01
rhs Battle Of citate.

i Ghe BANJO OF Cttatcs s..
| A private lettes to the London Times, gives tn
ri following account of The desperate battle be.wee
the Turks and Russians at Ctae:
g On Friday, the 6,h>of January. the Turks
troops, under the orders of Ishmail Pacha and All
r med PacIa, marched to attack the Russians, VIII
had fortified themselves at the village of Citate
, which is about five hours march from kalallt.-
The force of IshmaiI Pa cha was composed of tire
, regiments of regular cavalry and one regiment q
, Bashi-Bozouks, with six guns. Ahmed Pacha wa
stationed at some distance from the village, wit
some reserve troops, consisting of five batfalions
and also six guns. The Russian force in the sI
age consisted Of three battalions of infantry, com
manded by Colonel Bonnegarde, three squadron!
oil hussars, and two squadrohs Of CossacKs, WIN
six guns. ~ = F.l@ bliss
The Turkish troops We're, as it will be SEEM su-
tperiori in number; but the position of the RUSSIANS
who were distributed in all the houses OF Inc WI
lage, which is OF great extent, and when is sur
rounded by double ditch, rendered the attack
extremely perilous, as the enemy, well sheitered
were enabled to direct a pnrderous ire upon tue
Turks. without the latter being able to reply 10 It,
In spite of this evident disadvantage, lShmall
Ps1ha gave orders for the attack, and threw him
5elf into the village under shower of balls fired
~
very serious injury; but, although this circum-
stance somewhat dsorganized their attack, their
impeiuosity was by no means checked, The great
| err portion OF the soldiers, who had never before
been exposed 10 musketry, nevertheless displayed
indomiiable courage.
| After desperate struggle they attacked the
house, and fought hand to hand with sword and
bayonet. The massacre was frightful. The Rus
SLAMS in vain begged for quarter. In the fever of
the fight the Turks listened TO nothing. and saugh
tered, without pity all who fell under their hands.
The Mussulmans of the Crmea, Incorporated
with the Russian army, in vain appealed to their
charactero of Mussulmans. No quarter was given
to them. Cutters OF blood ran down the streets
from the wholesale human slaughter. To add to
the horrors of the scene, it may be stated that a
number Of pigs which had been let loose were seen
ealing the dead bodies.
Ali who could escape the slaughter took refuge
in redonbt at the head Of the village, and thence
recommended murderous fire upon the Turks,
who returned it vigorously, but not without re-
ceiving considerable injury from the Russian guns.
At last the enemy, incapable Of any further
struggle, decided abandoning the entertainments.
number Of Russian troops had already evacua
ted the place, when colonel of Turkish cavalry
conceived the unfortunate idea of endeavorlng 10
oppose their passage The Russians, finding
Themselves surrounded, and having no outlet for
escape, and no resource but the terrible energy de-
rived from despair, no other alternative but 10 con-
ouer Of die, recommended the fight with despera-
ton, and in vigorous sorlie they succeeded IN
capturing two gums. II should be stated that the
Turks upon the first success in the entertainments,
committed the incredible fault Of not destroying
the enemy's guns. II.
While the battle was thus going ON in the vii
lage Twelve baltalions of infantry of the Russian
army and squadron of cavalry, with sixteen
p eces of cannon, were brought to the assistance of
the b3sieged, and attempted to place the Turks
between two fires. Information of this was given
to Ahmed Pacha, who, by skilful maneuvre. d.
rccted his soldiers to the point IN order to prevent
the junction with the besieged troops. For this
movement, he made use Of three of his reserved
battalGns.
The advantage of the position was now on the
side of the Turks, who were on ground which
sloped towards the Russians; but the latter were
in three times greater number than The TURKS
In spite of this inequality, however, the Russians
were entirely beaten, and fled In the greatest DIS
order They were completely routed-a TACT con-
stitrftng feat Of arms on the part OF the nrRs
which does great lronnr to them, and establishes
another important truth-that the Russians cannot
cope with Turkish troops in equal numbers to
themselves in open field, and that they can only
hope for any success when they have much more
powerful fierce than their enemy. Their losses IN
these two Simultaneous affairs nount to nearly a.
600 men, among whom are included 90 superior
officers. The Turks had about 300 killed and $50
wounded. who were sent to the hospitals at Wild
din, and of whom, it is hoped, the greater part
may be saved.
According to the opinion of snme European offl-
GERS now at Widdin, this affair is most glorious
one for the Turks. and, if not productive Of any
material result, will ut least prove of great moral
advantage to them.