The New York herald., 1876-09-03
Experience of a Herald Correspondent
with the Servian Army.
JOURNEY TO SAITSCHAR.
Beautiful Villages Burned and Horrible
Butcheries by Turks.
FALL OF KNIAZERATZ.
How the Ottoman Barbarians Secured
the Tmok Valley.

BELGRADE, August 10, 1870
My letter OF yesterday treated of journey TO tho
outskirts Of Kniazeratz Entering the village We DIS
mounted and halted in front of eight pieces Of ar
ery, which ranged as TO cover the road from
the south leading the ronter-that is to say,
the contn uation OF the road to the valley OF the
Timok, which branches off at Nisch, passing by the
deaes of Granada. painful silence reigncd every
where Beyond the lower hills and spreading out on
the mountain sides were long lines OF white curling
smoke, which evidenced the presence OF the Turks
Even from here xe could see that their advance Is
marked by ncendiarsm The eight pieces stood there
pointed and charged ready blaze forth the instant
the enemy appeared Nothing appeared, however,
save few telegraph poles, which, at the distance and
by the evening twilight, we at first
MIsrooK BELLiGERrNrs
After examining our papers tho officer in command
expressed great surprise that we journalists should
have the idea OF going TO Saschar by that route He
then explained TO US the condition OF affairs There
had been fighting in tho mountains the whole day.
The Turks had advanced their right and left wings and
burned the villages OF Trgovise and Ragoste At their
extreme right they then burning Glogova,z and
the isolated cottages around 1t. The centre had not
advanced, owing to tho heavy battery held in 'front.'
Tho Servians in the wood, just be-
hind the first low hills Looking around
we observed that this village had no tort
or earthworks to defend it, nor any works capable
of holding the approaches Unhappy, charming little
village OF Kniazeratzl What natural gem thrown
into a furnace stirred by the furcs can never
forget Its lovely little white AMI red houses, scattered
along the loot Of the HILL and its rustic cottages which
reflected the placid waters of the Timok. But
to-day 1t is est The imbeclo Turks have reduced
1t to ashes after having stripped it of everything which
i,hf havo hoop inf put
seems only natural, perhaps, that after assassinang
all prisoners, all those wounded battle all the
women and children, they should subsequently burn
their houses. Thus have they ruined unfortunate
Servia clecually that years will not be sufficient
enable her to recover.
DESERTED VILLAGE.
We took stroll through the village. Everything
cad and silent Every house closed and abandoned
BY order Of the military authorities be-
camc known that the Turks had entered Servia the
Inhabitants fed, carrying with them just few articles
that easily handled and transported. without
living SOUL except the military patrols, this place gave
rise to the most painful iorebodings II seemed a
though sudden epidemic lad swept away the hardy.
honest villagers apd elt their homcsteads the only
evidence that they SSer existed. War had made
of this lovely spot, which to be
sterile by the torch Passing in front a
church Of vast proportions, surmountcd by pretty
Byzantine clock tower, we observed the great
from the altar and number Of od religious pictures
standing against the main door, which tho bishop had
not had time to remove.
Going down the principal street looked in at the
telegraph Office whore met General Horvatovitch
who, owing the smaness OF his command, had
been unable to hold the Dervcnt and Granada passes
though he made desperate resistance. Hc was
scnding the result of his Efforts headquarters and
awaiting instructions. were told nrht nrocecd
further II chose, and the meantime we ell.
deayorcd ascertain IL he had orders TO de-
fend or evacuae this little placc-facts We did not
learn til three days afterward, when knew that
had fought behind barricades the Streets only
gave up at the last moment when pressed by over
wheming odds, then
RErREATIyG UPON ALExSArz,
and is defending the dchle of Topla, description
Of which | gave your readers yesterday. A little
further on We met number of old men and young
boys, who had been unable 10 make up their minds
follow the other nhabtants tho mountains These
were being armed with od musSets and to watch
all tue approaches to the place. While horses
being fed VIC continued tramp among tho de-
serted houses There the remnants Of TWO
wooden bridges which had spanncd tho Tmok They
had been destroyed GU the nrst approach OF the
Turks. Near them stood the Chief OF Police,
a sturdy looking old gentleman, who seemed
deeply affected by the turn things had taken lie
pointed his finger to the lines OF smoke beyond the
hills much as to say, "My friends, thatl The
Turks viii soon serve Kniazeratz the same way.n
We distributed some ammunition and took drink
from a well near by We now also parted with
young womanour little dmtutdaeiere coionfaire-who
was taken 10 the temporary military hospital, where
number OF wounded had arrived. II would be dicult
determine what has become OF this charming,
courageous little SOU, for the made IN
great haste. AS soon 1t bee ane mounted
ana galloped along the right bank OF tho TmOk. On
leaving ~ the only remaining bridge the old patrol
men pushed their oayoncis up IN front OF our horses
Our guide, not wishing TO stop, showed them his cor,
II documon, sisn'iying the approach OF the Iosa,
brave Old defenders took notice OF this, however
and spraEg AT the brides ol horscs
THEN TIM PosrA BECAME FURIOUS
that hc had TO TO the trouble showing that he
''rca, not bogus, " which he did by whistling
the national AIR according to the rule OF the hospital
service. Finally, thanks 10 tho TACT thi, General
Horvatovitch had just vscd safe conducts, wc
were permitted to proceed 10 the frontiers our jour
ney thai night was truly fantastic Looking back
upon IL IL looks like dream Even The posta who
Thoroughly acquainted with the road and WAC
knew there were no troops on the side
clling, had positive fear that hc woald bc
sbot by band OF Tcherkcss or other bandits.
soon sitcr midnight We reached Novihan, where
took frugal supper and slept icw hours ON leaving
this place We took up the route TO Nraarnitz before
the denie OF which place came upon the Servian
camp placed there 10 prevent the Turks from entering
by mat road and also to prevent going
over 10 0smin Pacna, whose corps camped before
Saitschar. In the little village OF vraiarntza we
iouni several battalons scrvan troops resting
their arms, rs " expecting immesi attack Here
learned that the troops coIning from sxtschar were
gong forward TO knazeratz 10
kENfORCK HoRvATovIrcH.
who bad received orders stout resistance to
the Turks Sentnels were thckly posted the
heights commanding the village, VINO were constantly
moving 10 and iro, exchanging signals, &C, Tor they
could see everything clear the frontier. Tue
mountain scenery grand in the exire me- and the
little iimok seemed always TO 20 meandering Ike
silver curves through lovely green carpet Soldiers
were seen everywhere. In every nllc spot where
there was any cover or any possibility OF strategy"
the Seryians were gathered looking tired and
Passing ON through wide valley soon reached the
village o Grehan, pretty little place only iew thou
sand yards from saitschar, by which II at ali the
enemy will secure possession OF The road argued
The Turks In fact attack the latter place from
the 'front.' out went round by