The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-09-15
Iae saR IN the East.

= 81 Is
I I'D II 0fficlssl statement has been issued
81 The Russian loss on the 31st of Angus
/ as, at lad ilfai, seven killed and thirt,
u WOnnded; !; ut Pelisat, thirty officers ant
1920 differs killed and wounded. Tht
II tIiklsff loss is enormous: near the vii
lage of Pel1sat alone 300 bodies were
counted on the 3fst nit.
sALEIMAN# PAsHA HAS IMPROVED HI!
POSITION.
ADRIANOPLE, Sept. 2.-Inteiiigencere
celyed from Schipka Pass states thai
Sulelman Pasha has gained q more adj
vantageous position for his batteries OF
the heights Surrounding Fort Nicholas
Russian reinfGfcements arrive during
the night, the road to Gadrova being
commanded by Turkish batteries.
" s~, RUSSIANS orTNrMBERED.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-Latest dis
patches from the seat Of war giving de-
tails do not change the situation. Both
| parties claim advantage in the skirmish-
ing before Plevna. Disaster to Rus
slams near Rasgrad is confirmed. Both
parties are bringing reinforcements to
bear at Shipka Pass. Loss of Valentine
confirmed. Russian bulletins and cor
respondents, partial to them, claim that
the Russians were outnumbered in near
ly every instance, which means bad
generalship on the Russian side.
STILL ARGUING ABOUT Losses.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Sept 3.-The COM
mandant of Rustchuk made a s0rtie
with seven battalions, defeating the
Russians.
Osman Pasha, after inspecting the
nf hot +I,n
Russian losses were greater than at first
supposed.
THE BATTLE OF PELIsAT.
LONDON, Sept. "A Daily News spe-
cial dated August 81, says: Osman
Pasha's attack on the Russian positions
at Pelisat and vicinity was one of the
hardest fought battles of the war. The
Turks early in the fight captured Rus
sian redoubt one mile in front of Peli-
sat. In the course of one hour this re
by the Russians and taken again by the
Turks.
The Russian left wing was driven
back on Pelisat, in front of which tren-
ches had been dug, and were lined with
troops. The Turks advanced as though
determined to drive our left out of Peli- |
sat and turn it. The Turks began to |
descend the hill in that direction, not
with rush, but leisurely and without !
firing; not in masses or lines, but scat |
tered and diffused. They came down |
about half way in this manner, the Rus
sian artillery tearing up groups all the
time III the <tpost savage manner.
The Russian infantry fire, which had |
tor the last five minutes been very
heavy above Zeognee, now begun to |
roll along the hill crest in our direction,
md the Turks who were just coming
INTO range began to drop rapidly.
The Turkish advance veered to the
eft and went at the Russian trenches
Oh the crest of the hills between Pelisat
md Zeoglince with u shout, opening
ire at the same time.
The Turks descended inta little hol-
oW and were lost to sight for a time,
while the Russian trenches famed and
smoked and a storm OF balls was poured
nto the advancing Turks.
This must have lasted fifteen or twen-
y minutes, during which time fearful
oss OF life must have occurred. Then
We saw the Turks begin to withdraw,
off their wounded.
The Turks had no sooner withdrawn
rom the Russian fire than they formed
md advanced again. Many dead bodies
Il turks were found within ten feet of
he Russian trenches. The little slope
N the crest of which the trenches were
ltnated, was literally covered with
lead. counted seven on a space of
ot more than ten feet square.
The battle here was terrible, but the
surks were again repuIsed. It will ,
ardly be believed that they went at it
gain, yet they did so.
Ii Sapn1aH madness haoouea wa co,,I1
ee that the Russian fire never Stacked !;
II instant, and that the Russian line :
ever wavered, while reserves were !
Ealting behind, ready to fall in at the
east sign OF Wayering.
Ife scene OF carnage was again re- Z
eated, but only lasted a moment; the !
'urks, completely broken, withdrew
lllenly, firing and carrying off their
,ounded and many of their dead. =
hey fell back on redoubt which they "
all first taken, apparently with the :
ltentlon OF holding it, but they were
OF allowed to remain long there.
Another attack on the Russian centre
ad been equally as unsuccessful as 9
lat on the Russian trenches ON the left, {
he, Russians pursued the retrearing i
urks with murderous fire. a
slx companies Went at them with the a
ayonet and swept them out of the C
doubt like a Whirlwind. At four h
clock, the Turks were in retreat eyery- t
here and Thea Russians occupied the 4
hole OF their first positions. besides V
arsuing the Turks a short distance I
itll cavalry. The Russians were about II
1000 strong. Their loss is estimated
800, and the Turkish 5000, killed and
ounded.
REvTExy on TUE 1.Yrr n <,y1 .,,,-1 r
LONDON, Sept. 4.-The special cores I
,ndent OF the Daily News mt Poredin. q
sptember !, telegraphs: | rode over
g battle field when the Pelisat affair y
as over. The Turks left yery few Il
ounded, and only about three hundred
,ad on the field. Their losses could G
, better judged by the number Of q
with which the ground was h
reWn. Il
In front OF the Russian trenches, half q
ay between Pelisat and Zegalinee, the G.
arklsh dead were lying SO close they "
lgIt have shaken hands with the Rus -
ms lying inside. 1t was desperate .
tack and a desperate resistance. The n
tack seems to have been well directed. Ia
1t was made so suddenly and with
ch violence, that the Russian re1onbt
Is taken almost by surprise the first 1t
ne. n
It was in fact taken almost before f
III. Eotoskof knew the attack had be- re
II. From d Russian point of view / IA
ok upon the Whoie system of fighting eI
f0rtifieation as mistaken one. It III
ould have been much better, for Gen.
toskoff to have retreated and drawn m
Q Turks into the open country, where
cir happiness in executing maneuyres nj
the field of battle, would have nut m
aaa II D rrrnn & u ir 4 Z j i u. - u