The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-03-01
THE BATTLE OF CITATE,

The London Times gives the following par
tcuIars OF the battle of Citate, from a private
letter
On Friday, the 9th of January, the Turkish
troops, under the orders of lsmail Pacha and
Ahmed Pacl,a, marched to attack the Russia MS
who had fortified themselves in the village of
Citate, which is about five hours march from
kalefat. The force of lsnai Pacha was COM
posed OF Bashi Bezouks, with six guns. All.
med Pacha was stationed at some distance from
the village, with some reserve troops, consis-
ting of FIVE battaions, and also six guns.
The Russian force in the village consisted OF
three batlalions of infantry, commanded by
Colonel Bonnegrad, three squndrons of hussars,
and two squadrons of Cossacks, with six guns.
The Turkish troops were, as will be seen,
superior in number; but the positions of the
Russians, who were distributed in all the hou-
SEES OF the vllt ge, which is Of great extent, and
which is surrounded by a double ditch, rendered
the attack extremely perilous, as the enemy
well sheltered, were enabled to direct murder
Gus fire upon the Turks, without the latter being
able to reply TO it. In spite of this evident dis
advantage, lsmail Pacha gave orders for the
attack and threw himself into the village under
a shower of balls fred from all the windows
At first the Turks received very serious injury,
but although this circumstance somewhat dis
organized their attack, their impetuosity was
by no means checked. The greater portion of
the soldiers, who had never before been expos.
ed to musketry, nevertheless displayed indomit-
able courage,
After desperate struggle they attacked the
houses, and fought hand to hand with sword and
bayonet. The massacre was frightful. The
Russians in vain begged for quarter. In the
tel yer Of the fl ght the Turks listened to nothing,
and slaughtered without pity, all who fell under
their hands.-The musulmans OF the Ctimea,
Incorporated with the Russian army, in vain
appealed to their character of Mussulinans. No
quarter was iven to them Cutters of blood
ran down the streets from this wholesale human
slaughter. To add to the horrors of the scene,
il may be stated that number of pigs, which
had been let loose were seen eating the dead
bodies.
All who could escape the slau ghter took re-
fuge in redoubt at the head OF The village, and
thence recommended a murderous fire upon the
Turks, who returned it vigorously, but not
without receiving considerable injury from the
Russian guns.
At last the enemy, INCAPABLE Of any further
struggle, decided on abandoning the entrench-
menls. number of Russian troops had al
ready evacuated the place, when a colonel of
Turkish cavalry conceived the unfortunate idea
of endeavoring to oppose their passage.
The Russians finding themselves surrounded,
and having no outlet for escape, and no resource
but the terrible energy derived from despair, no
other alternative to conquer or to die, recon-
menced the fight with desperation, and in Wig
orous sOrtie, they succeeded in capturing two
guns 1t should be stated that the Turks, upon
the first success in the entertainments, commit
ed the incredible fault of not destroying the
enemy's guns
WhiIo he hattta ,p,s tn, .S;r~ 80 H.
village, twelve batallions of infantry of the
Russian army and squadron Of cavalry, with
sixteen pieces of cannon were brought 10 the
assistance of the beseged, and attempted to
place the Turks between two fires. Information
Of this was given to Ahmed Pacha, who, by a
skillful manouvre directed 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 ba'talions.
The advantage of the position was now on
the side of the Turks, who were On the ground
which sloped towards the Russians; but the
latter were in three tunes greater number than
the Turks In spite Of this inc equality, how
ever, the Russians were entirely beaten and
fled in the greatest disorder. They we've COM
pleely routed, fact constituting feat OF arms
on the part OF the Turks which does great honor
to them, and establishes another impor ian,
truth--that the Russians cannot cope with
Turkish troops in equal numbers in open field,
and they can only hope for success when they
have much more powerful force than their
enemy. Their losses in these two simultaneo
affairs amount to neatly 4,OOG men, among
whom are included 50 superior officers. The
Turks had about 300 killed and 800 wounded
who were sent to the hospital of Widin, and oil
whom, il is hoped, the greater par, may be
saved.
officers now at WidIn, this affair is mes,
glorious one tor the Turks, and, if not produc
tive Of any material result, will at least prove
of great moral advantage to them.