Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-09-29
FIGHTING In SHIPKA PASS.


At the entrance Of the pass the road
was wide enough, but as we advanced it |
narrowed, and soon the defle reared its
rocky sides in perpendicular masses high
above our heads and close up to the mar
row causeway on both sides. On turn
ing one of the curves Of the road a loud
report was heard in front, followed by
another, and the order was given to close
up and quicken the pace, the reverbera'
ton Of the guns rolling like thunder,
growing louder rs we advanced. We
hurried forward, passed another curve,
descended declivity, assembled another,
passed around a turn to the right, and
the pass suddenly opened out into
valley, presenting startling scene
About three miles in our front, on an
eminehce that commanded the continue
tion Of the pass, was perched a strong
carthwork battery whose guns were now
blazing away, and from the flagstaff Of
which, with the aid of my eye glass,
could plainly distinguish the Russian flag
Of st. Andrew. Along its front on the
slopes Of the hills, and covered by thick
! hrushwOOd, could be seen the constant
fecking Of smoke, which indicated a rifle
fusilade. About q quarter OF mile on
this side could also be seen, by the
ascending columus of smoke, accompanied
with Continual Fishes the artillery OF
Sulciman making vain effort to silence
the fire of the tort while slanting up the
hill could be seen the puff Of the rifle
discharged as its MOsem owner (distin,
guished by his red iez) worked slowly
upward and onward, to gain a position
dominating the fort.
When we got well up to the front and
the solid shot from the tort began play
ing baseball, with none Of u,williug to act
as catcher, Turkish officer, followed by
single orderly, rode rapidly up, and,
casting a quick, scrutinizing glance at
our force as it moved past, halted our
regiment and one battery of artillery.
He was an ordinary-looking Turk, about
forty years of age, sinewy, but with an
unusually sharp, bright expression OF
countenance. Beckoning Selim Bey
toward him, who approached very re-
spectiully, he appeared to give him some
hurried orders, as | could see him ges-
ticulating toward the guns and pointing
UP the slope, now dotted along nearly to
the summit with fringe of smoke.
Selim saluted and turned away as the
| horseman did the same, gallOpiDg back
to the front and soon the subject Of the
conversation was developed. The regi.
ment was ordered to follow the sklr-
mishers up to the mountain side, get the
guns up with them in the best way they
could, and to lose no opportunity to
open fire on the fort. This was no joke
of an order | assure you, to get battery
of six guns and all its belongings UP the
slope OF a mountain for about six hun
dred feet, with no road, over rocks and
fallen trees, etc. However, with the
Turks there is no demur everything is
please God" or Inshallah," ," and soon
half the regiment was engaged in straight
ing out a sort Of path, while the other
laid itself out to assist the horses and
artillerymen in pushing the pieces up
the hill. By ten O'Clock that night We
had them in position and decent little
earthwork scraped up in front while all
we waited for was sufficient daylight to
open fire.
While the men were Strengthening
matters asked the colonel who was that
officer who gave directions to him about
the guns. Selim answered that he was
Sueiman Pasha, was surprised, for
expected to seen the general surrounded
by brilliant staff; however | had seen
Suleiman, and that was enough for me.
Wrapping my rubber blanket about
me, | "turned in on a lee side of a
rock, and soon fell asleep, regardless of
scorpions or centipeds and while thus
engaged sson fancied myself on Washing
ton street, somewhere in the vicinity of
Old South. A crash and roar, as if the
steeple of the venerable Westinghouse
had fallen upon me, brought me 10 my
ieet with bound and broke the charm.
| was not in Boston quite the contrary,
was on the Balkans, and not more than
twelve yards from me was a twelve
pound battery Llazing away like fury,
the men stripped off and working away
like devils. Along, down in front and
beyond the thicket was a perfect blaze of
fire, as the Turkish rihemen kept ad-
vancing and firing, under cover, while in
the valley and on the opposite slope the
Turks were moving and firing in the
same way. 1t was now broad daylight |.
| e a. m. and the Russian fort could he
plainly seen, as it bleached forth shot and
shell upon the assailants, and their in
fantry replied vigorously all along their
position, doing dreadful work among the
advancing Turks; and they would have
had it all their own way were it not for
the foresight of Suleiman, who directed
our battery to be placed in its command
ing position. Our fire being so plung-
ing and direct, necessarily drove the
Russian gunners from that side of the
fort opposite to the side that engaged us,
and the nearest side being unable to
sufficiently elevate, had to endure our
cannonade, but revenged themselves as
we'll as they could upon those showing
themselves in the valley.
This "sort Of thing" went on in the
same manner for three days and nights,
Suleiman continually working his bat.
| ltIl6S upNdlu VII bUlu cluCoy NVNNiiIS an
new movements from the old positions,
till he conceived everything to be COM
plete, when, on the morning of the fourth
day, the valley sounded with the shouts
of " Allah as the Turks rushed to the
assault. Madly they dashed tarward,
but as heroically were they dashed back.
Again and again they sprang forward,
only to meet the same fate, our artillery
in the meantime, from its commanding
position, spreading death everywhere in
the Russian batteries and ranks. Finally,
Suleiman reluctantly gave the order to
deslst he found that the position was
inassaiable by storm, and therefore must
be taken or turned in some other way
For this purpose he withdrew the in
iantry from the main valley to more
sheltered quarters in the ravines, and
pushed his troops on the heights ;'rwsa;
so as to pass by and overreach or ou faux
the Russian position.-Boston Irareller
Letter.