The New York herald., 1877-12-27

curvng line through Susurla II Is said the attack
was made with 10000 mon, but doubt this, as
thcre was really not room for SO many to de-
p.oy unless they had descended from tho heights
OF opanes and taken tho Roumanian positions
and l have not heard that they did this Nor Did
they attack the Russian positions south oil tho
road, they would probably have done had they at
tackled in such force. Al any rate the attack was
MOI brilliant ana daring one. The Turks advanced
as far as they could under cover OF their wagons,
while the Russians poured In terrible hre on them
from their Berdan breccl-loaders. scarcely less DC
srucvc than The Peabody and opened on tho advanc-
ing line with shcII and shrapne Tho TURKS tnen did
a splendid decd Of bravery, only equaed by Skobe-
lens capture Of the two famous redoubta Probably
nnding their cover beginning 10 fail them, owing 10
the cattle being killed or getting frightened ana
running away, they dashed forward with shout
upon tho linc OF trenches held by the Sbrersky Or
Siberian regiment, swept over them Ike tornado,
poured into the battery bayonetcd the articrymen,
officers and mcn who with desperate heroism stood TO
their pieces to nearly man, and seized the whole
battery TIE sibrersky regiment had been overthrown
and nearly annihilated. The Turks had broken tho
rst circle that held them In. Had they gone on they
would have iound two more; but they did not have
time to 90 on. The Russians rallied almost imme-
diatery.
TO HAND,
General strukoff, OF the Emperor's stan, brought
up tho FIRST brigade OF grenadicrs who, led by their
general forget his name, but the Russians will re-
member it-Gung themselves upon the Turks with
fury A hand-to-hand fight ensued. man to man,
bayopet to bayono which is said TO have lasted seve
raj minutes the Turks cung TO the captured guns
with dogged obstinacy They seem TO have forgotten
in fury OF battle that they had come out TO escape
from PIevna, and not TO take ana hold battery,
and they held on to the guns with almost
the same desperation with which the Russian
dead around them had showu n few minutes
before Nearly all tho Turks tn the battle were killed
Those the Hsnking trenches open to the Russian fire
nad Of course very little shelter, and were soon over
powered and began retreat which, under the mur-
derous Are sent after them, instantly became night
Some took shelter behind the broken wagons and re-
turned the fire for time but the majority madc tor
the deep bangs OF the yid, where they found ample
shelter from tho Russian shells and bullets. They
formed here behind the banks, and instantly began TO
return the Russian fire.
THE FIGHT.
1t was now about hapast eight, and the Turkish
sortie was virtually repulsed but the battle ragged for
four hours longer The losses inflicted from this time
forward not great on either side, for both armies
were under cover. The Turks were evidently appre.
hcnsivo that the Russians would charge and drive them
back ia mass into the gorge The Russians were re-
solved to prevent another sore and SO both sides kept
II up Indeed, there seemed at first every probability
that the Turks would try again, though u was EVIL
dsnt to any one who knew the strength Of the Russian
lnes ard had this affair, that escape was hope
less from tho Arst evon though Osman Pacha had had
twice the number Of men. For four hours the storm
OF lead swept on, one hundred guns sent forth
Aame and smoke aud iron. During all this Tune We
were in momentary expectation OF seeing one side
or other rush TO tho charge We could hardly yet
realize that this TO be the last fight We should
ever see around Plevna, and that when the guns
ceased firing IL the last time we should
hear them here. II was strangely impress
svo spectacle. Behind US the plain, stretching
away to the honzon, dark aud sombre under the duh
lead -colored clouds OF the black November day Be-
fore the gorge leading up to PlevIn daEked on
either side by Steep high cliffs, and between us and
them the smoke and roar and fire Of battle filling tho
air with Its mighty thunder, battle on which hung
the fate, oil Plevnaior tho longbsleaguered town
was already In the hands Of the Russians-bus OF
0smau Facha ana his army.
sILEYcE THAT WILL REMAIN UNBRoKES
About twelve O'Clock the firing began to diminish
on both sides. as II by mutual agreement. Then lt
stopped entirely. The rolling crash OF the infantry
and the deep-tonod believing Of the artillery were
heard more. Tho smoke lifted. and there was
silenco-a silence that will not bc broken hero for
many long year, perhaps never again, by the
sounds OF battle The firing had not ceased
moro than half hour when white flag
was seen waving from the road leading
around the cliffs beyond the bridge Plcvna had
fallen, and Osman Pacha was going to surrender. The
whito nag being hoistcd some Of the Turks on tho
bridge walked forward. and came to US, with
guns hung over their shoulders others with guns In
their hands they walked about us and examined US
oft ham, ha ac al
more than fifty yards distant, looking down with
composurc all with arms In their hands. One we'll.
volley would thin our Russian cadros this
side OF the vid very apprecably Tor by this time there
must have been u hun1red officers gathered here,
und captuation was by no means arranged as
yet On tho heights to our right we SEQ the Russians
moving up the redoubt one side, while the Turks
were leaving IL on the other. Presently General
Ganetsky arrives and then the way Is blocked with
wagons, dead horses and oxen. Tho men have all
been carried OF, but beside the wagon, near tho
bridge, l see young fellow lying badly wounded.
He has lain himself carefully down thero with his
cloak wrapped around him and his rifle ana knapsack
under his head He evidently takes pride in his gun
Peabody for 1t is very bright and clean, and he has
put IL carefully under him that not be taken
away He did not think to part with It SO soon. He
is scarcely and the doctor who has dressed
his wound says ho will not live I'll nigh.
BRIDGE.
We thread our way cautiously over the bridge
through broken carriages and dead bodies oil horses
and CATTLE and find ourselves among the Turks Thcro
several dead lying the ditch beside the road.
Some wounded are hmping along with US. going
heaven knows whittier, ana there are two sentincs
standing in trench overlooking the river, keeping
their watch though they looking for attack
at any moment As We advance the crowd gets
thicker Tho Turkish soldiers, with guns and
bayonets In their hands, men at whom We
have been shooting, and who were shooting at
two hours ago. some with savage expression, gaze
nt with scow, but there pleasant, Intelligent
faces also. who look al us with steady clear inquisi
tive eyes. General Skobelcn sr. recalled an episode
OF the Hung insurrection resembling this, where
there was an armistice, and great number OF Aus
tran officers crossed tho bridge TO the Hupgarians
as we did here, when tho Hungarian commanding oni
Ger opened his ranks and fred his cannon, charged
10 the muzz,c with mitraiIlc on tho Austrians Let
us hone The two ncidon,s will not resemble each other