The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-06-19
THE CRETAN WAR-BATTLE OF HER
ACLEUM,

THE CRETAN WAR-BATTLE OF HER
ACLEUM.
"A correspondent cf the London Tine
who dates his letter from the headquar.
tiers OF the Cretan insurgents near Hera
cleum, April 20. describes the battle O
the previous day between the Cretans and
Greek volunteers and the Turks on the
plains Of Heraceum, as follows:
During the earlier part Of the day re,
ports were brought to our chiefs that o
Turkish detachment had appeared in the
defle left open to tempt them. We ac-
cordlngly marched westward through
the defle behind Krusonas, to a central
position among the mountains. Here
we halted until breathess messenger
came running TO summon our aid. The
Turks had advanced In force. There
was sharp contest now going on be-
tween their vanguard and the corps of
koloneos, who had already joined the
villagers ir the delile. Not moment
should be lost, for, if quick enough, we
could take the enemy in flank. This was
what our chiefs had been manoeuvering
to do, and they resumed their march with
all the eagerness of men forty years
younger. The aged soldiers also gained
vigor with occasion. Petropoulaki cheer,
ed forward his well tried volunteers !;
Korakas urged on the hardy Cretans,
and we scrambled over almost impassa-
BILE paths with marvellous rapidity. We
dlved into one ravine and climbed out of
another, slipped over rocks, and tramp
led through prickly bushes, until the
troops had fairly distanced their com
manders. Now some little shepherd boy
high up above us cried in a shrill voice,
This way, patriotsr or Turn to the
right, patrio's' ? or some such practical
direction. Then it was refugee family
which cried out to us from the rocks
with all their might, saying, God bless
The Christian arms We could presents
y hear sharp tusllade, cracking and
echolng in the deilo Of Monsorus. Fast
er ran the men, with warlike murmur
rather than distinct cheer passing from
end to end of the column. Petropoula.
kis son, Leonidas, was, as usual, among
the very first. and with strong body of
volunteers, he had thrown himself upon
the enemy's flank just as our main force
reached the edge OF the valley. A few
stray bullets had come singing over the
rocks far in rear, but now, all at once,
we entered upon the scene Of action,
and our men took up the fire in loose
sklrmishing fashion. The head OF our
column had delivered a volley to let
friends and foes know that we had arr
rived. But thenceforward we had inde>
pendent firing.
what with rocks and bushes, with
the irregular formation Of even the So
called plain, and an atmosphere which
made objects at 5000 yards look as
though only at 500, we were often puz-
zled as TO where the Turks had gone or
whittier the Christians were following
them. Nevertheless, it was an exciting
spectacle, Up the opposite hillside there
moved column OF Turks with red ban
ners clearly to be distinguished at their
head. On the stony roadway Of the de-
file were other Turks pressing forward,
and we could hear their furious shouts
above the crash Of musketry. Some
skirmishers fred in our direction when
we first appeared, but very soon lost
heart as Petropoulakps men poured
steady fire upon them. The detachment.
under Leonidas Petropoulaki and. the
Cretans OF Korakas had meanwhile de.
scended to the bottom of the gorge, and
were climbing swiftly toward the ene-
my's position. Koroneos recovered tho
ground which he had lost, there was a