The New York herald., 1877-10-01
BULGARIAN BATTLEFlELDS.
The Turkish Victory
Near Eski Djuma.
BATTLE OF KARAHASSAN.
Mehemst Ais Attack on the
Russians on the Lom.
TOPOGRAPHY OF TRE BATTLE FIELD.
How the Russians Lost a Com
manding Position.
ARTILLERY OPENING The ACTION.
The Capture of Kiretchil and Kara
haSsan by the Turks.
STORMTNG HAIDERkEUTI.
Baker Pacha Turns the Scale at
Doubtful Moment.
How the Russians Lost a Com
manding Position.
ARTILLERY OPENING THE ACTION.
The Capture of Kiretchin and Kara
haSsan by the Turks.
STORMING IIAIDERkEUI.
Baker Pacha Turns the Scale at
Doubtful Moment.
kABIx JESiKiof, NEAR TIKI CAMP or THE
TURKISH FORCE, COVERING EsKI DJUMA,
At.uaa

KxsIx JESIKIoI NEAR rHx CAMP or THE
TURKISH FORCE COVERING EskI DJUMA,
August, 26, 1871 J
started out yesterday morning to walk to tho
camp OF the Turkish force, which lies at the head OF
the valley. about threo miles from this village; but,
as the long expected and often promised countersgn
OF the commander in-chiel TO the .buyuruldu"
which carry in my pocket, had not yet been affixed
scarcaiy hoped to be allowed to enter the camp or
visit the spot where the s'batte OF Eski Duma" was
fought The topography OF this part of the valley Is
curious aud offers extraordinary facilities Tor defence
On either side bold hills, the higher ridges
cred with dense woods and the lower slopes broken
up into bare knos easily practicable fcr artillery
series OF ridges tor the most part low aud gentle ex
tends the valley from SIDE TO side broken only
by the bed OF the namcess brook which at the
head OF the watershed the LON, aud falls into
the Kirk Gisch.d Su, or river Of the Forty Fords,
which the town OF Eski Djuma is situated.
At the end OF the valley tho ridge
which closes IL and forms the watershed between IL
and the River LON. This ridge low and round al the
head of the valley but much sleeper and more abrupt
to the SOUTH the battle fcld the key OF the posi-
tion, which the possession OF the Russians
Wednesday last, but ls low held, and held drmly, by
the division of Salich Pacha.
Accompanied by two friends walked up the valley
for distance Of about three miles, Until found
selves close base OF the ridge and within a few
hundred yards of the beadq uartcr tents which lay
clustered together beneath some pine ON tho
right the ridge abruptly, clothed with
ihick woods but the portion IN front OF US was only
Jparsely dotted with and bushes. On the lett
wooded heights commanding the ridge. but
forming portion Of the same line of defence. We
subsequently ascertained that on the right OF the
Turkish position the ridge throws spur at right
angles, which projects toward tho River Lom and IS
still held by tho Russians. Immediately be-
meath the position flows the LON, through a
fiat valley The heights the Turkish side OF the
steep and precpitous, but ths Russian side
ground rises gently back from the valley low
rounded hills, scanned BY depressions, through which
small rivulets flow down to tho river At the entrance
OF OF these, opposite 10 the ridge The other
bank which is held by the Turks, lies Popk io, at
distance OF nearly three miles from the bank OF the
Lom. The Russian camp, um told, is situated be-
tween Popkoi aud the stream that can DO clearly
from The ridge and the hills behind IT. which
is forbidden to strangers.
1.-THE DJuMAn
have already sent telcgrapnic account OF the
sharp little fight which has been magniaed into
battle, and entitled 1.-The Battle OF Eski DIuman II
ought rather to be called '.rhe Combat OF Kcbir
JeniKio," for Eski DJuma Is not less than sixteen
miles distant But although the magnitude of The
its interest and Importance as preliminary to tho
lar greater struggle now close at hand. At both
cxiramitles OF the line oil defence from Ras-
grad 10 Esxi Djuma, covering the approaches 10
Shumla, the opposing forces have now come mo col
lsion and measured each others strength; but tho
fight at Esirdscne, IN when Aziz Pacha lost his he
not important from a military and strategic
point OF that which took place on Wednesday
and Thursday last in this valley. The Russian out
posts having crossed the river IRON Popkio had as-
ceDded the heignts the opposite side meeting
with enemy had established themselves on tho
crest OF the ridge, but had occupied woods on
their left. The Turkish forces, which had been In
camp al Eski DJuma having received reiniorcoments
from Shuma, mad been gradually pushing up tho
vaiey oil kcbr JeniSio. as II became apparent tnat
the Russians were in strength at PopSioL on WedIes
day last. The very day which Sa!lch Pachs. who
Commands the division, aud General Valentine Baker
with their respective STATS, quitted the camp Esk
Duma for the advanced positions, q battalion OF
Turkish infantry had attacked the Russian outposts
the rdgc aud had driven tnem down the hill toward
the river The colonel in command knowing that
the Russians were 70 ce, thought could not hold
the ridge anu resirng when Pscha and stan
arrived tho ground with small oitriDg
party Salich and Baker once saw the Importance
OF the position, ana the Turks Immediately or
dered 10 hold It, The Russians also recognized thc
advantage they had lost, and advanced to reaKc the
ridge under cover OF hrc Of snrapueL Their irst
round killed three ana wounded five OF the famous
Polish Legion, which was drawn up, iori TX In
ber tho lett oil the Turkish line The attack seems
have been determined, the Russians advancing ia
cose column 1--WE times upon portion OF the Turk
isb position, but each timo they rcpused by a
wclsusained infantry 6re and BY excellent prac-
tice of two field pieces, which had tho exact range
and opened Dire tho moment tney left cover
BAKER PAcn4's FLANK ATTACK.
The quick eye and trained mind Of Baker Pacha at
once the state Of affairs and the topography Of
the field. He rode on 10 the right toward the wood
with fifty or sixty horse Circassians and half bat
talon OF regulars. Leaving two companies IN his
rear he advanced witn the remainder Of tile
infantry and through the wood, and. having arrived
the edgc IL. opened banking nro al distance OF
3OU yards upon the Russian attacking columns. The
Kussaps evidently thought their lett be
turned by large orce, OF which these lew hundreds
the road might oe the advanced guard and as two
field pieces coming up uplilnbcred aud orened upon
them from the same direction tDe columns fell pack
Tho retreat covered by SIX battaons or infantry
and the remainder Of the attacking force was scattered
down tne hill and across the like nock OF sheep
Had tue TURKS had cavalry sufficient pursue might
hsvo gone hard win the whole division. 30 say mil
itary eye-witnesses oil the anair VINO estimate the
nufnber OF tho retiring enemy at 10000 least
nd arc quite unable 10 account TOR the retreat OF
= Iorcs Either the Russian commander is ~ pro-
vided with artillery, tor he brought vory ittle INTO
action, or be considered himself outLumoered by the
Turks and decided not TO sacrihco his men IN an at
tack upon such strong defensive posit,on. am told.
Sowsvcr that the Russlans fought very badly aud
without the slightest dasn or perseverance, Tue
n.reut asssrmipstlou, but melted away the moment
lhey fslt the T0rkisn hre
-' rsB EossfAx LOSSES
TAs bsshi-Sasouk sseuodrsis, who refuse 10 stand