The New York herald., 1877-10-12


Indian corn and pieces OF melon. Empty cartridge
shells and spent bullets were thickiy scattered
more than dozen OF the empty shells OF the kranca
rifle cartridge lying ioretber, and showing whero
some determined Russian soldier had stood his
ground aud red steadily from MS cover upon tho ad-
vancng enemy. Behina somc Of tho trees the brass
cases lay little dark wet pool. The man who
had stood there paid the penaly OF his rash bravery
He had been quick TO fall back before the rush OF
the Turks when they carried tho wood. Tho stencil
in The wood something dreadtni. An indescrib-
ably sickcning odor pervaded tho whole air
gai to out IRON unGer the TO the edge OF tho
heights again.
RoBBi.G THE DEAD.
As was curious To ascertain tho real stoepness OF
the heights which from distance looked almost like
over. The heichts nrc nowhere perpcndicuiar, but
slope abruptly into the plain broken along their whole
ton OF water. Near the bottom Of TWO Of these
ravines lay dead Russian soldiers, hcadlong down
the slope, stripped stark naked Both OF the bodes
lay iaco downward, with one arm beneath The facc
aud the other stretched forward with extended fingers
along the ground These unfortunate men had evi.
ucntiy attempted 10 escape by running down the
ravLes but were seen by the pursuing Turks IRON tho
edge and killed pictured to myself, as Hooked down
upon the ghasty, PROSTATE forms, how these two
men, having made brave stand IRON irce to tree,
found their retreat by the village of by the swift
advance OF the onclny,s sk,rmishcrs. 4 Imagined
them after few wild gances right and left Jumping
over the edge OF tho cin and punglrg down the
row gullies They have almost reached the bottom
when the FIRST limo OF skirashers emerges from the
wood and rusnes 10 the edge OF the heights there
shout and in an instant twenty rifles have covered
woru," say Tho soldiers, chucklina, us they nip out
tho discharged shells from thor Martini aenrys. |
noticed thai one OF the bodies was riddcd with holes
thu ough the small OF tho back-whethcr bullet holes
or STAB wounds could not tcll--aud that botn had
with very fair skins ana light hair. several Of
the wohkc dogs which nest every Turkish town
and village sneaking about tho bodies but not touch
Ing thcm
rHy TURKISH BATTERIES
which had advanced through the wood villages
almost quickly as the skirn shers themselves were
ia position at the edge OF the heights in the works
which the Russians had constructed during their
cupation OF tho place. Tnc Muscovite general had
evidently expected front attack from tho valley side
hnd had tnrown up parapet on the heights hankcd
by shelter trenches aad rife pits Probably ne iit,e
imagined that Tor whole fortnight Mehemet ALI had
been preparing surprise tor him, and thai portion
OF the Rssgrad army would shortly descend upon hun
ike ihunderbot IRON tho hills above his position.
The artillery teams were picketcd in the wood be-
hind tho guns, and tne gunners we're ready at n
were standing on the parapct Of round battery winch
crowned the highest point Of the bluffs, scanning the
valley ana the opposite hills with their glasses
! joined the group, ana, looking out in the
direction, plainly perceived the tents oil n Russian
camp behind the village OF Polomartcha, which
about i've and halt miles distant from Karahassan
straight across the valley
AN ALARM.
On the hillside, close to the tents, several Russian
battalions wore Inassed and were apparently going
through the evolutions OF parade. But suddenly a
cloud OF dust was SEQ the snoulder Of tne h
along donsc cloud, which could only have been raised
0y u large number OF mon. The dust intenily
watched Tor a few moments by all OF US; no
alarm was Immediately sounaed along whole line.
The arilterymcn ran To iheir guns ana up
places ready to open IRE Mt the word OF the
teams were harnessot TO the llmDers ammuni-
ton boxes opened, the sound OF tho huge rang
through the wood and the infantry battalious which
lay concealed in Il foil IN by companies; Tor low
moments the heights aud the forest resounded with
tho clash OF arms aud the tramp OF thousands OF
and hcrses; then all was still tho attack awaited
IN silence IL proved To be IA ialso alarm the dust
cloud travelled of to The right, up tho valley.
one OF tho officers told mo that tho
Il
guerre ~ deceive the Turks Just now they are par
ticuiariy anxious TO make believer thai they have
large forces opposite Karahassan, at Popkcu Polo.
martcna, thinking that the Turks viii thereby be 70.
strained from following up their victory by another
attack. The officer assured that of their lodges
is TO huge bundles OF brushwood bougns ot trees
on cach side oi horse IN such manner that they
trail along the ground. Four or i've horses thus
riggcd, und led at walk one behind tho other, will
rase dust enough TO represent regiment OF infantry.
force on tho heights stand to arms with much
tial clattcr and hustle Was produced by tew sorry
nsgs or halt dozen donkcys!
TIE srolLs or WAR.
Alter the excitement had calmed down was invited
to take coffee with one OF the artillery officers ose
bivouac WAS III the wood On our way there private
soldier came up and show cd me a little medal
lion embossed with religious subJcct-thc transGg-
uration, | think-whIch he had taken from the neck
OF dead Giaour. perhaps one OF Inose lay stir
and stark III tbs ravines He had not the slightest
conception OF tho meaning OF the trnket but nothing
would inuuce him 10 part with IT, The artillery Cfl.
GERS bvouac consisted merely OF mattress and
blanket spread under tree. with Russian overcoat
stcn, anu ON tho red shoulder straps yell
low tho number 80. Largo quantities of coats thus
bearing the number l4O Probably therefore, the Rus
sian force IN the village comprised tho Fifteenth DIVISION
OF tho army, OF winch the l40th regiment formed a
part never tasted better coffee than that which my
host the captain oil artillery offered IL mado
IN the usual Turkish fashion, boiled three times in
uttio long handled brass pot over iirc which was
hghtod III an oDlong hole in the ground, and then
served in tiny cups, which nttcd into metal stands
like egg cups. We talked OF the battle and OF the
ut sh IN
lantry. My most seemed TO have very low opinion
oil MS enemies, and said that tue Turks had swept
them out OF tho woods ana villages like chan; he
thought their guns were admirable and we'll served
but tnat the Russians iimDercd up ana drew their
artillery out ot action long Doioro there any
necessity Tor doing So aud ieIt the Infantry 10
stand tho Drunt OF the fight Can II be possible
and commands OF tho Emperor Nicholas never under
anv possible circumstances to lose gunS II will bc
remembered how a close obedience to this absurd
order caused the gunncrs In the great battery the
heights OF the Alma to carry of their pieces when
waverlDg aud dsjontcd ne OF skirmisnars appear ed
slope and abandon their strong position to
mere mob OF red-coatcd soldors IL seems impossible
that tho Russians, brought up with such traditions
should ever employ their artcry AS M offensive
when they make such poor use or IL Tor dccnc,. Tho
Turks, on the contrary thoroughly undcrtand me
Of Held artillery ana know now 70 advance their batteries
with an active front. During tno Dstc OF karahassn
the Turkish guns ~erc spIeudidy served ana
vrcd, moving quickly about anu hiring briskly from
ever changing positions. Whom the Russians
treated they wore followed up by tho turkish artillery,
aud In very suort tno after the village burst
into flames the artillery had pressed through tho
wood, seized the heights and opened destructive ire
upon the flank Of the reur!ng columns | bcIcve tho
credit OF iniusing this active spirit into the Turkish
arnllerymcn belongs to Baker Pacha, who seems 10
have been the soul Of the whole affair, and who richly
deserved tho decoration which was bestowed upon
hin Immediately alter the battle.
BLAzlSG VILLAGE
Alter bidding adieu 10 my hospilable entertainer /
rods on TO The village. All that haa previously
faded INTO nothing before the terrible spectacle which
lay before mo as entered the main street OF Kara
hnssan. Moro than half the village tire, and
the llames wcro roaring and cracking all sides.
Houses, barns stables, fcnces, all were involved in
common destruction. The road was Uttered with
dcbrIs and ashes, and extraordinary quantity OF
printed sheets, tore from Bul.aran Bibies
about In every direction. Tho place was swarming
with b"shbazouks, who were pilaging ransackiug
the houses which the flames had not yet reached
Down the road leading across tue river 10 Opaka and
Gagovo, which was tho limo OF retreat, the bod
OF Russian soldiers thicky scattered. Tho
Turkish guns when they gained the edge OF the
heights, had poured an cntadiDg fire into tho dying
masses, and the slaughter had been great. The
burial parties we're at work, either digging shallow
graves hcapiug up earth over tho corpsos they
lay horrible stcncn Gca The air, Tor IN the heat Of
tho August sun the unbured bodies OF men ana horses
had already begun TO deconiposc AS IL was imposs-
bic to spend the night al Karahassan went on about