Washington sentinel., 1854-03-30
Report of the Battle of Tchetane,
JANUARY 6, 1854.

1 January 20
Translation Of tho despateh addressed By Ahmed
Pasha, chiet-ot,staf Of the corps darmee cf hala-
fat, to his eaceLency Omer Pasha, commandments
tfefotthe imperial army Of Rounelie, eontaming
detailed information ,in regard TO the last battle
| fought tn front Of Kalatat
Intelligence was received that the Russians
had recently occupied the villages of Tchetape,
Dobro, Jedo, Kaltchimar, Metchajova, Moncis,
Baylish, and their environs; each by two battal-
| lions OF infantry with a proportion of cavalry
and artillery, with the intention of cutting off
| all communication of the imperial forces of
Kalafat with the surrounding villages, render
ing difficult the supply of subsistence for our
troops, to corrupt the affection and devotion
Of the poor inhabitants which have ever been
evinced towards the government ofhis majesty
the sultan, to throw obstacles in the way of
the passage Of wagons, and the furnishing of
forage, and to check and press in every way the
| imperial force of Kalafat. Precise information
! obtained from the villagers having confirmed
these reports, Lieut.. Hussein Bey, an officer of
ofthe general staff was selectedto make an ex-
animation to verify these facts. 1t was ascer-
tanned that the Russians, according to their Gus
tom, had concealed their troops in such way
as to display but small portion OF their force,
but that they were in positions according to
numbers first reported. With the intention OF
marching upon the villages before mentioned,
and to drive from them the Russian troops, we
formed in three columns, composed OF artillery,
cavalry, and infantry, under the command OF
Ismail Pasha, chief ofstaff, Monstafa Ievhk
Pasha, general of division, and Osman Pasha,
colonel Of infantry.
In order not to be misled by any ratse de
g,terTe of the Russians, and also to lind our
selves under any circumstances in sufficient
L potb ,n1o fba n n
Ismail Pasha FIVE battalions of infantry, two
companies of carbineers, eleven pieces of artil-
lery, and regiment of cavalry; under Mons
| tafa Tevfk Pasha an equal number, five bat
talions of infantry, three companies OF carbi-
neers, eleven pieces of ofartillery and regiment
i of cavalry; and under Osman Pasha three bat
talions of infantry, three hundred hussars, SIX
pieces of light artillery, and regiment OF cav
airy. The first column was intended to attack
the villages of Dobro and Jedo; the second,
Moncis; and the third, Tchetane. The impe-
rial troops were to unite at the village of Mogh-
lawn, and from thence the aforesaid divisions
were to march. With this intention, we left
/ Kalafat on the 5th of the present month after
sunset, and marched to Moghlavin. There we
ascertained that the Russians occupied the vii
lagos before and in considerable numbers. To
avoid any chance Of disaster, we abandoned our
all our effective force upon Tchetane, situated
on our left and, having left in the villages of
Moghlavin and Ovnia two pieces of artillery,
battalion of infantry, a company of cavalry, and
a number of hussars, on the following morp-
! ing we marched with the remainder of the i'm
perial troops and arrived before Tchetane at 3
o'clock. As your excellency will perceive by
the accompanying sketch, Tchetane is o con-
siderable village, situated upon the summit OF
a hill, near the Danube, is an important mill
tary position, and would answer as point
dappuif for the right wing the Russian troops
in their advance upon Kalafat.
With the view of assaulting the enemy at
three points, 1smail Pasha was placed in COM
mand of six battalions of infantry, seven COM
panies of carbineers, twelve pieces of artillery,
two regiments of cavalry, and three hundred
hussars, and moved to the front, whilst | my
self, and Monstafa Tevfk Pasha, with five bat
talions of infantry, two pieces of artillery and a
regiment of cavalry, formed a heavy reserve
outside of the village, in position well adapted
to resist the advance of troops coming from
Metchaiova, Belish, and other villages, to the
succor Of the Russians
! The Russians had in the village of Tchetane,
four battalions of infantry, one company car
bineers, two companies ofhussars, andfou COM
panies Of Cossack cavalry. They had, besides, six
pieces of artillery commanding the roads lead
ing into the village, with part of their intan-
try stationed near the several routes.
When the Russians opened their fire upon
the imperial troops, the latter, having estab-
lished their guns upon commanding positions,
and arranged thier columns of assault, threw
forward their light infantry, who attacked
the Russians with vigor. The latter fell back,
| fighting, upon their reserve, stationed in the
4 - Al e. ha,, l,
that Ismail Pasha had received wound in the
arm from ball. Monstafa Tevfik Pasha was
despatched to command the troops in advance.
At length the Russians, not being able longer
to sustain themselves in their position, endea-
vored to retire from the village, by their rear,
with their guns but there, also, not being able
to resist the charges of the imperial cavalry,
they were forced to retreat to the entrench-
ments which they had previously constructed;
and, having there collected their men and guns,
reopened their fire. Perceiving that an assault
upon these Notifications would result but in a
useless loss we contented ourselves with bat
tering them with our artillery. These opera
tons, from the driving Of the Russians from the
village to batering their Notifications in breach,
occupied six hours.
The Russian troops who were at Metchajova,
.Dobro, Jedo, and the surrounding villages,
commanded by General Belgart and Colonel
Zgmond, Of the chasseurs, composed Of nine
battalions Of infantry, one battalion of carbi-
neers, two regiments Of cavalry, and sixteen
pieces of artillery, sdvanced with impetuosty
to attack the reserve under my command;
whereupon the imperial troops, consisting of
five battalions of infantry, ten pieces of artil-
lery, and regiment of cavalry met them in
order of battle, and after asanguinary combat
of an hour and half, the Russians, being un-
able to make further resistance, were totally
routed, and took to fight. The pursuit was
continued by the imperial troops for quarter
of an hour; but not wishing to separate our
selves from our troops in the village, and hear
ing from the prisoners that reinforcements
were advancing TO the Russians from the vii
lagos on the high road to Tchernidje, and, be-
sides, the enemy having been, under Divine
favor completely defeated, we deemed that pur-
suit sufficient, and, consequently, reformed our