Washington telegraph., 1854-03-15
Tgse CaMada's. News.
THE BATTLE OF GlTAEE,
SLAUGHTER OF THE RUSSIANS.


The London Times, received by the Can
ada, gives the following particulars of the
battle of Citale, between the Turks and the
Russians
On Friday, the 9th of January, the Turk
ish troops under the orders OF Ismail Pacha
and Ahmed Pacha, marched to attack the
Russians, who had fortified themselves in
the village of Citale. which is about five
hours march from Kalafat. The force Of
Ismail Pacha was composed of three regi-
ments of regular cavalry and one regiment
of Bashi Bozouks, with six guns Ahmed
Pacha was stationed at some distance from
the village, with some reserve troops, con-
sisting of five battalions and also six guns
The Russian force consisted Of three bat
talions of infantry. commanded by Colonel
Bonnegrade, three squadrons of Hussars,
and two squadrons- Of Cossacks, with six
gu1s.
The Turkish troops were, as will be seen,
superior in number but the position of the
Russians, who were distributed in all the
houses of the village, which is of great ex-
tent, and which is surrounded by double
ditch, rendered the attack extremely peril
Gus, as the enemy, well sheltered, were en-
able to direct murderous fire upon the
Turks, without the latter being able to reply
to it.
In spite of this evident disadvantage T.
mail Pacha gave orders for the attack, and
threw himself into the village under show
er of balls fired from all the windows. At
first the Turks received very serious injury;
but, although this circumstance somewhat
disorganized their attack their impetuositv
was by no means checked The greater
portion of the soldiers, who had never be-
fore been exposed to musketry neverthe-
less displayed indomitable courage. After
desperate struggle they attacked the houses,
and fought hand to hand with sword and
bayonet. Tie massacre was frightful.-
The Russians in vain begged for quarter
In the fever of the fight the Turks listened
to nothing, and slaughtered without pity
all who fell under their hands. The Mus
sulmans of the Crmea, incorporated with
the Russian army, in vain appealed to their
character of Mussulmans. No quarter was
given to them. Cutters of blood ran down
the streets from this wholesale human sIaueh
ter To add to the horrors of the scene. It
may be stated that number of pigs which
had been let loose were seen eating the dead
bodies.
All who could escape the slaughter took
refuge in a redoubt at the head of the vii
lage, and thence recommended a murderous
lire upon the Turks, who returned it vigor-
ously, but not without receiving considera-
bic injury from the Russian guns.
AT last the enemy. incapable of any fur
ther struggle, decided on abandoning the
entrenchments. A number of Russian
troops had already evacuated the place, when
colonel of Turkish cavalry conceived the
unfortunate idea of endeavoring to oppose
their passage.
The Russians. finding themselves sur
rounded, and having no outlet for escape
and no resource but the terrible energy de-
rived from despair. no other alternative but
to conquer or die, RECOMMENDED the fight
with desperation, and in vigorous sortie
they succeeded in capturing two guns. 1T
should be stated that the Turks, upon the
first success in the entrenchments, commit
ted the incredible fault of not destroying the
enemy's guns.
While the battle was thus going on in the
village, twelve battalIons of infantry of the
Russan army and a squadron of cavalry,
with sixteen pieces of cannon were brought
to the assistance of the besieged, and at