The New York herald., 1877-12-27
Graphic Pen Picture OF the
Attempted Sortie.
AMID FOG AND FIRE.
Skobeleff Occupies Osman's Fortificatons,
Rendering Retreat Impossible.
THE SILENCE AFTER BATTLE.
From tho London Daily Ncws.l |


made every preparation TO receive him. Tho trenches
were kept fui OF troops day and night. division ana
vegmental commanders were advised to De on the
Alert and all the posts doubled and trebled.
These measures were taken Friday night, but Sat-
urday passed without any movement being discorni-
ole among the Turks Osmar Pacha had, however,
resolved upon final effort break the coils that were
brushing him Sunday passed in the same way.
The Russians were anxiousy on the watch
with tho usual amount OF artillery hre, TO
which the Turks have not replied for long
time. For the last threo or four days the weather
had been damp and cold, with heavy broken clouds
threatening rain, and about noon ON Sunday the
slouds thckened and the dark masses discharged
themselves in the FIRST snow of the season. BY
lvc O'Clock the ground was quite white, and The ap-
Dearance of the country had completely changed.
rode around between the hours Of three and
i've from Grivca through Radsovo, 10 Brestovcc, on
the Loftcna road. The sky dark and lowering.
but the atmosphere, white with thicky falling
snow, through which could DO caught glimpses
of Plevna, with many little columns OF
blue smoke rising over 10, telling OF COOK
Ing dinners, and giving IL warm. cosoy look,
much unlike that OF belcaguOred city. The nuts
Of the Russian soldiers white. the soldiers
themselves going about joyously some cooking their
dinners. others gathered in groups, singing at the
top OF their voices welcome apparently 10 tho first
snowfall Perhaps It reminded them OF their far
away homes There the snow Is long since many
fcct deep. Now and then the boom ofa gun. muiicd
and indistinc like low growl, broke tho stiffness as
It came through the snow-laden air.
CONCENTRATING THE vID
crossed tho ravine the foot Of the Green Hill,
xhere SkobeeG has built excellent plank bridge,
onnccng his lines with ZotoH's and Radisovo, and
proceeded up the little lateral ravine along which
paod arfill las i
found myself the Lotcha road near Brestovec, In
the midst Of q violent gust Of snow and wind II was
now quite dark. Tho lights Of Brestovec were barely
discernble through the gloom and had considerable
difficulty in finding my way through tho storm and
the obscurity TO Ozudol, SkobcleH's headquarters.
Here found everybody keenly on the alert. spy
had just como with the news that Osman had is
sued days. raons to the troops. 15o cartridges,
\ new pair OF sandals TO each man, and that to
All appearances the concentration would begin at once
detail which he cited was that each soldier
received small portion OF oil tor Keeping his gun in
order. At ten O'Clock another spy cauie IN who re-
ported that Osman concentrating near tho bridge
the I'D. The spy had come direct from Pievna,
and having given this Information he disappeared
again IN the darkness. few minutes later there was
! telegram stating that from tho other side great
muny lights moving about In Plevna, an
unusual thing Evidently there was some movement
IN foot, and tho spies were right
sKoBgLEFP's ADVANCE
The night wore slowly away The snowstorm
ceased and was followed by dark clouds scudding
sw,Itly the sky, with now and then
blast OF sleeI At three O'Clock another spy brought
news thar the men OF Skobclcn's command had posi-
on on the side OF tho Green Hill, aud that the Kr-
shina redoubts were being abandoned. He was very
Burc, he saId that all the positions along side
would shortly be abandoned. Would he go along and
lead tho way the Krishna redoubts et the risk
OF being bayoneted II his words should not
provo trueY Yes, he would, and orders were
given by skobeleT for the troops to begin TO move
cautiously forward and feel their way with care
This done and tho positions werc taken. Az last
certain that the Turks were moving, and
that tho final decisive m0sncnt had come. SkobeeT
ordered tho captured positions to be instantly placed
In Of deience in the Turks, repulsed and
not yet ready surrender should attempt recap.
ture them. The gray light OF morning came 1t
was cloudy, and threatened snow. Sud-
denly there was the booming OF thirty
lorty guns speaking almost together, followed
instantly by that steady, crashing roll we have
learned to know o we'll Tho battle had begun. The
giant, after defending himself four months, hurng
.hundcrbolt thunderbolt upon his enemies was
struggling through the he had allowed TO
be thrown around him, and in his turn attacking
enemies SO well TO defend We mounted our
horses and rode toward the battle 1t was in the d.
rcction of tho bridge the yid the Sofia road
half hours ride brought in sight OF tho con-
uict
CLOUDS AND FIRE.
terrible and sublime spectacle presented itself to
our view. Tho country behind Plevna is wide, open
plain into gorge leading up to Plevna opens
lixo tunnel. The plain Is bounded the Plevna
SIDE by steep, rocky bluffs cliffs, along whose foot
flows the vid From these cliGs for distance OF two
miles, burst here and there in quick irregular
ccss.on angry spurts OF aamc that flashed dlsap-
peared and flashed out again. IL was the artil.
iery ars OF tho Turks and Russians, which
from point Of view appeared intcrmingled
Tho smoke, running round in circle to-
ward tho vid, against tho heavy clouds
that hung right up the horizon, whiio low on the
ground burst forth balls OF fame that mt
tho bacKncss Of the clouds like flashes OF lightning.
Through the covering Of the smoke could bo
angry spts OF fro thick arcnies tropical night
Now and then through irregular curving stream
Of nrc VIC had indislinct glimpses OF bodies Of
burryng to and fro, horses, cattle, carriages running
the plain, and above all the internal crashing
roll of infantry lro and tho deep booming
than hundred guns
COVERED ny TIE TRAIN.
This is what had happcncd:-
osnran Pacha had during the night abandoned all
his positions from Grivca to the Green Hill and
concentrated the creator part Of his army across
the vid over which no passed two bridges, tho
old and tho other tho lately constructed. He
took part OF his artillery, thrcc batteries ana
train OF about Ave hundred or six hundred carriages
drawn by builocks. Ho succeeded getting his
army, the artillery and part OF the BY day
break. Tho Russians say that TO havc started with
SO largo tram is proof that no was do
ceivcd with regard 10 the number OF the Russian
forcos, and that he believed tho Russian line,
owing to the absence Of General Gourko, was very
weak on the Sofa road, and thought another road
along tho vid was virtually open. 1t does seem
possible that he could have been badly informed
and inclined to think that tho train was taken to
serve special purpose In the fight Indeed, the nrst
thing the Russians perceived when daylight broke
. limo Of wagons drawn by bullocks advancing upon
them in close ordor ACROSS the plain. The smooth