New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-11

TIE OPERATIONS Alta AROUND PLEYSA-DErAIS
OF THE FIRST GREAT BATTLE HE RELATIVE
POSITION or THE C0uGArANTs.
Early in the war, PlcyGa assumed strategetlc
inheritance. Wueu tie commander OF the 9th Corps
proceeded against Nikouos be made the omission Of
protecting his flank, Dy not sending cavalry to occupy
pleyua. then ouy weakly held Aftcrwlrl an easy
chance dit 10. ODE. The Turkish column from WiddD,
marching too lato to succor Nkopois, turned
aside and occupied Pinvnl. With intent TO
repair the bGuder Gen. Krhdener sent July
1W three regiments OF infantry against PeYna
aud without previous reconnaissance These, after
hard fighting. actually occupied tho town. They
had lad aside their cOdls aud packs In the streets
and had quilted the lighting column formation
believing all was over AMI singing as they stlag
gei along 40 patrols had been pu3leI INTO the
rcce ses OF the town. No cavalry mad been sent
forward beyond. The whole business was sloyely TO
a degree The penalty was paid. Suddenly, from %
hundred windows ami balconies, vehement fire was
poured into the troops struggling along the streets
Tley were besct on all sides, and had 10 retreat One
regiment left its packs they had been taken of IN
The street. Daring retreat, more or less precpitaie
about > 900 men lost one regiment lost nearly
1000 men, The retreatns troops witnessed the Dutch-
or, of their wounded.
q man Pasha lost no time in certifying the positions
around the town. The land north and south OF Peyna il
,erccd by small streams tributary to the Nd. These
divide the surface into waves ridges parallel 10 each
other and at right angles 10 the wa On these ruGeS
the Turks constructed their defences when FORMED three
or our concentrc rings OF earthworks round the town.
The advanced villages occupied and batteries were
constructed sweep the Nads. Iheso ueiehooS were
manned BIS at least 10000 men,
D,t.ruincd to REGAIN Pevna at any cost the Russians
concentrated an army OF about $4,000, with 1--WE reg
mens OF cavalry and 100 guns, IN oht oI Tue lufhsh
lines On the day OF battle, July SD Prince Schackoskoy
had his headquarters at Palisna see Eap) Ills objective
heinz idshoyo, (sce mapJ and the deences between
tnat village aud Plevna Gen. Kihdencr, VINO
nod came from Nikopois on the Danube, had
bs be,dquarters near Trstenik (se map. his object
bog tne couture of Gryitza. Cen Sk0Delch, with two
regiments Of Cossack guarded the approaches from Lo-
vatz The Turkish positions. when might be compared
in shane to a horseshoe includ ii the villages OF Fsya
Griyitz, Radshoyo Tuchcuiiza and slatna-all indi-
,ed ON the map The Russian troops entered upon the
bottle with the highest spirits. cheering visor-
,,.lg ~ they passed their General. The action
,r,s op.ned on the right at hafpast nine
o'clock by the artillery but the return IRE was so
heavy that the assaants made no way. Inc IurA-
sb earthworks were well constructed, ana IL coud De
o.r th.t they had entrenched position behind en-
treucbcd position. on the left Gen SchacAOskOys
~ were nlaying with fine effect and under their cover
the infantry carried the village OF the Eadshoyo without
difficulty The first formidable Turkish position opposite
tbe Russian left was oarthwork IN mont OF Yil-
lace constructed on little knoll, and supported by
four batteries, being web placed Tor searching WIN us
fire the valleys by which IL could BIO approached. ~
b,ltpast | IL became pressing question Tor Gen
ackoskoy whether the infantry should he ordered to
advance The day was going, and until that hour tie
ouerations had been confined TO the artillery hrh
d.per Of the right flank, had made scarcely any pro-
rress and his cooperation IN combined and smuan-
CONS attack ON both TANKS was indispensable to success
In ts situation sohackoskoy took fatal determination
lie resolved to act Independently. He at all events was
within striking distance OF the enemy aud II kruedener
could not deliver blow he would mus npauehce leu
IN rashnes for II the whole Russon force was too weak
,r H.. task what could half do Long and anxious
the nspecton which te General made he and his stan
rode along the ridges where the Russian batteries we're mr.
mg but at hapaet his resolution was formed for he
beeyed his men could strike with effect THIS conclusion
arrived at the face OF the TACT that lac had apder