Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19
The Siege Of PIevna.
HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED BY osMAN
ANDHIS ARMY-THE TOWN OFCIIpI-

Inc Ncge Of FkevDas
HOW IT WAS DISCOVERED BY oSMAN
AND HIS ARMY-THE TOWN OoCUPI-
ED AND STRONGLY FORTIFIED, ETC.
The New York Times, in an interest
ing article ON the siege and fall of Plev-
ma. states that before the day when Os-
man Pasha's advance guard accidental
~ entered that city the place was never
heard Of outside its own immediate
neighborhood. The town, up to July
Is, was entirely without artificial de-
lenses. 1t is about twenty-seyen miles
south-southwest Of Nikopolls and five
miles east Of the Vid, one Of the largest
tributaries which decend from the north
ern slopes Of the Balkans to the Dan
ube. At the outbreak of the war Plev-
ma had poplation Of about II, 600. AL
most simultaneously with the passage
Of the Balkans occurred the successful
assault on Nlkopolis. This place was
taken July Is by the Russian ninth
corps. commanded by Gen. Krudener.
Nikopolis was bravely defended and gal
lantly won. Osman Pasha had heavy
reintorcements within one days march
OF Nikopolis when it fell. He had am
pie time to send them to that strong
hold, but with characteristic Turkish IN
dolence he delayed his march until 1t was
too late to aid the garrison, Not know
ing what else to do, Osman and his
troops wandering off toward the south
and arrived near Plevna just III time to
win a battle.
Immediately after the battle of Niko-
polls Gen. Krudener's troops were Or
dered to occupy Plevna, and Maj. Gen.
Schilduer>Schuldner was sent with a
brigade of infantry, with cavalry and
artillery, to take possession ofthe town,
which had been occupied bya consider
able force Of the enemy. The cavalry
marched through the place entirely I'M
molested, and the main body followed
in column without throwing out skimish-
ers, or even taking any of the usual pre-
cautions observed in an enemy's coun-
tryand suddenly stumbled uponOsman'
army. Three fourths Of the Russian
brigade fell in the sharp engagement
which followed, and the first turkish
success OF the campaign was recorded,
and Osinan Pasha, on the 18th of July,
occupied Pleyna with his main army,
$4,000 men.
The Turks, as soon as they occupied
the town, erected Notifications, and
threw up strong earthworks and strong
er redoubts. The first place thus forth
fed was the Covenant Of st. Nester, a
building with massive stone walls, situa-
tea about half way between Plevna and
Grivitza, and in which the headquarters
Of Osman were in the first instance es-
tablished. On the Goth of July the
Russian commandment chief ordered
krudener to attack Plevna. which he
did, and was disastrously defeated, the
Russians being swept away by thou
sands by the Turkish fire. Osman then
gave orders for the Immediate fortitiing
of the whole of the heights surrounding
the town, and especially the Grivitza
hill, upon which the Russian batteries
had come into action during the attack
just alluded to. BY the 30th Of July,
when the second attack was made BY
Gen. Schildner-Schuldne upon Osman,
many of the works thus designed were
completed, and among them notably
the celebrated Grivitza redoubt. after
wards taken and held BY the Rouma-
mans.
In the latter part of August the main
body Of the Reumanian army crossed
the Danube-and went to the assistance
OF the Russians. On the night ofthe 9th
Of September the allied armies of Rus
STA and Rumania moved up their ar
tlllcry and supporting infantry within
cannon shot of the Turkish redoubts at
Plevna, and on the morning of the 9TH
the cannonade commenced. On the 18th
of September Gen. Gozof was sent to
make the attack with $500 bayonets,
when at least 100, 900 was required. 1t
was forlorn hope only, and it was only
unexpected valor of the Roumanlans. The
bravery Of the Russians, and the dab
and generalship Of Shobeleff that ever
made the results doubtful for moment.
1t was during this great battle that the
Grivitza rcdoubt was captured by the
Roumanians. On the Goth of Septem-
Der the Turks matea desperate attempt
to recapture it, but were driven back
with great slaughter.
Gen. Todleben, the great Russian en-
gineer, arrived in front Of Plevna carly
in September and assumed control OF
the siege operations. On the 22d Of
September large convoy Of provisions
and 1000 fresh Turkish troops arrived
at Plevna, under the command ofChaft-
ter Pasha, which enabled Osman to re-
sist the beshsing forces many addition
al weeks. On the 2lst of October after
a desperate engagement Of ten hours,
Gen. Gourko, who commanded the Rus
sian Imperial Guard, captured strong
position southwest Of Plevna, and at
once stationed himself on the Sophia
road. This engagement resulted in the
capture of Pasha, his chief Of staff,
many other Turkish officers. about 5000
infantry, an entire regiment of cavalry.
four guns, and large quantity of rifles
and ammunition. This was the begin
mug af preconcerted plan to shut Os-
man up IN Plevna. By the end Of Oc-
tybtr the investment Of the place was
completed. The town was surrounded
by series of works as those the Ger
mans placed around Paris. A field tel
egraph was established, and on this thin
wire was suspended the whole strategic
plan of the Russian commander.
Early in November efforts had been
begun by Mehemct Ali to do something
for the relief of Osnian and his army.
At one time it looked as if this force,
advancing from Sophia, would succeed
in breaking the lines of investment, but
nothing of the sort occurred. By the
middle of November large numbers of
deserters from Plevna began to arrive
inside the Russian lines, and related
gloomy stories oFthe position of affairs
inside the beleaguered city. They stated
that Osman's soldiers were only getting
three-quarters of a pound of bread daily
anda bit of meat twice week. Mean
while Mehemet Ali continued to COM