The New York herald., 1877-07-26

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ground along their whole line.
THE RUSSIAN FoacE.
'srhe direct attacking force of the Rus
SLAMS consisted of four battalions Of rife
men and two sotnias of Cossack infantry
While the main attack was being delivered
the Russian hussars and Dragons charged
the Turkish flank, making fierce hand to
hand fighting.
SABRE AGAINST sAYoNEr.
I'm this part Of the battle the struggle
was OF the most savage and bloody descrip-
ton. 1t was actually sabre against bayonet,
maintained man to man. Through every
break in the Turkish line the Russian horse
men strove to cut their way; but the Turk
ish infantry stubbornly closed their ranks
and died in lines under the sabres of their
enemies, but not before inficting terrible
loss on the Russinns
VICTORY DECLARES FOR RUSSIA
cat last the Turks began to retreat, fight
ing desperately for every pace OF ground.
At one place they left 400 dead, heaped to-
gether, as dreadful evidence of their own
courage and OF the fierceness of the Russian
attack The cavalry Of the latter were too
much exhausted to pursue the Turks; but
the retreat was nevertheless precipitate
one, stimulated by an effective FIRE from the
Russian rifle battalions
FORCED MARCH ON KAsANLIK.
"On the 18th General Gourkha approached
Kasanlik by fearfully severe forced march,
owing to the intense heat. The exhausted
Russian infantry were compelled to wade
into the small streams along their route
to cool themselves. Notwithstanding the
danger attending this mode of refreshing
themselves the men have suffered in sur
prisingy small degree from sickness.
K,sANIIK TAKEN.
"Desultory skir1nishing continued during
the whole day OF the Russian march on
Kasanlik, but the village was occupied
during the evening without serious opposi-
ton. Its position on the main road leading
southeastward from the Schipka pass made
its occupation highly important, and
Gourkha's rihemen got in possession Just in
time having anticipated Turkish detach-
ment sent from the Schipka pass for the
purpose Of occupying the heights covering
the village.
THE ORIGINAL RUSSIAN PLAN.
"The original Russian plan Of operations
on the Schipka pass contemp plated ON at
tack by General Gourkha on the 18th from
the rear, while Prince Mirski, with the
Ninth division, attacked the defile in front
The hard fighting which delayed Gourkha's
advance prevented him from cooperating
with Prince Mirski at the appointed time.
MIRsKI WOULD NOT WAIT.
Nevertheless Prince Mirski determined
to make the attack according to the original
plan, and sent Orloffs regiment divided into
three columns into the rocky jaws of the
pass. With nothing to impede their move
ments but their arms, ammunition and a
ration Of bread and water, the troops fled
up the steep and gloomy slopes and soon
found themselves face to face with the de-
tenders.
THE TURKISH DEFENcEs
''The Schipka pass was strongly fortified.
Six tiers of intrenchments, supported by
batteries defended by picked men, chiefly
Circassians and Egyptians, closed the road
to the Russians. Every available cover was
occupied by sharpshooters, who were almost
invisible to the advancing Russians against
the dark background of woods and rocks.
Indeed, more formidable position could
scarcely be conceived as that held by the
Turks.
sToRMING THE STRONGHOLD
CATER six hours desperate fighting and
severe loss the Russian right column sue
ceeded in effecting lodgment within the
outer or first line of Turkish entrench-
ments. The combat was maintained for
most of the time between the sharpshooters
on both sides. But finally the Russians
concentrated and dashed over the entrench-
ment, carrying it at tho point of the bayo-
net.
THE RUSSIAN LEFT COLUMN
''rho Russian left column, consisting of
two companies missed the way and encoun-
tered, unsupported, twelve companies of
Turks. The Russians fought gallantly for