Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1877-12-19
LATE FoPEIGN NOTES.

i LONDON, December 12.-Full partic,
lars of the capture Of Plevna were sci
from Bogot. 1t appears that at a coul
Gil of war held on Saturday last it W,
decided that the moment had arrived
attack Plevna by storm. The followin
day terrific bon.5ardment began. A
early dawn on Monday general actio
commenced.
SIX COLUMNS OF ATTACK
were formed, each mastering IL, 600 mer
the reserve consisting of no less tha
$4,000. The fire of the Russian sieg
guns suddenly ceased, and the Russo
Roumanian storming columns thre,
themselves against the advance Turkisl
redoubts. There they met with . dea
| perate resastance. Aftef ekc kclian91lI
volley after volleyWfth telling effect,
hand-to-fght ensued. No quarter wa
claimed or given. When the first re
doubt was captured,
NOT A PRISONER WAS TAKEN.
The storming columns then advanced OF
the inner lines, where the main force oil
Osman Pasha's army were massed. The
Ottoman chief, seeing that further re
sistance would be useless, ordered re.
treat northwards towards Widdin. Al
this critical moment, the Russo Rou.
manian field artillery reserve advanced
as far as the heights Immediately com.
manding the upper portion of Plevna,
and
OPENED AN ENFILADING FIRE
which made terrible havoc among the
Turkish troops in the valley below, who
were proceeding to attack the position
just occupied by the enemy. The Rus
sian batteries were attacked over and
over again, but in vain, the object of
these repeated onslaughts being to
divert attention from the main body
that was advancing in the opposite d.
rection.
IN THE HEAT OF THE FRAY
Osman Pasha placed himself at the head
of his troops, and pressed forward az far
as Oponesch, situated about three miles
from Plevna, with every hope of break
ing through the Russian lines; but be-
fore he could do so he was met by the
Russian Roumanian reserves. Oponesch
lies on the right of the high road
that borders the Vid, and large reserve
force had been posted there in expecta-
ton that Osman Pasha would attempt
to retreat on Widdin. This force was well
supported by artillery that had been
placed on the heights in front of Dolni-
Etropol. 1t was in the plain between
Oponesch and Dolni- Etropol that Osman
Pasha and his brave followers met
WITH rurTp NC crEp
The Russian guns swept down whole
and the ground was soon COW
cred with the dead and dying. Here,
too, Osman himself was badly wounded
in the foot and fell senseless from his
horse, receiving further injuries from his
fall. Seeing their commander hors de
combat, and possibly supposing him to
have been killed, the Turks began to lay
down their arms. The Russians had al
ready entered Plevna. Victory was in
their hands.
TEN THOUSAND DEAD AND WOUNDED
TURKS
lay on the field. Not vestige of pro-
visions was anywhere to be found. The
civil population had hardly enough food
for the day, and the ambulances had
barely accommodation for few hundred
wounded.
The total number of prisoners is esti-
mated at &C, 600: 400 guns were captured.
The Russian and Roumanian losses
ire considerable, but the figure is not
vet known.
To this account of the fall of Plevna
must be added few words, destined to
throw some light on this all-important
event. 1t is told, on undisputable au-
,hority, that shortly after the last re-
pulse Of the aasailants Prince Bismarck
the opinion that the next at
,ack would probably be more successful,
ls the Russians
WOULD RECEIVE GOOD ADVICE.
bundle of documents supposed to be
he plan for the siege of Plevna, has
ince then reached the Russian headquar-
ers from Berlin, and there is not an Off
,er in the Russian and Roumanian ar
nies who does not believe that Tod
eben's plan of attack was based upon
he good advice to which Prince Bis
narck referred.