Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-06-27

i
Friday, is fully confirmed from Vienna
Further particulars of the great events
at lbrail and Galatz reach here this
morning
Tho programme was adroltly plan.
ned and carried out. 1t had been as
certained by Russian spies that the
Turkish forces at Matchin were in no
condition TO oppose crossing, il made
in force, and that only struggling bands
of Bashi-Bazouks were to be met
among the low lands along the river.
Accordingly before dawn few barge
loads of Cossacks were sent across
from Galatz to Ghiacet. The crossing
was assisted by small steamers, which
performed the journeys with the
barges as rapidly as possible. In this
manner q sufficient number of these
bravo horsemen were soon across and
mounted.
They renamed close to the river,
having their sentries out TO give no.
tice Of an approach of the enemy. The
guns in the forts at Galatz fully COW
cred the cavalry, and the gunners
stood ready to serve their pieces at q
signal from the Cossacks. SO far as
can be learned, the building OF the
bridge at Galatz partakes of the nature
of feint, because the great body Of
troops crossed into the Dobrudscha at
Ibrail.
Meanwhile the same movement had
been made at Ibrail. The barges at
this place were not so large as at Ga
latz and many valuable Cossack ponies
either fell or leaped from them into
the river, but they were mostly saved
by being lassoed and thus towed to
the shore. In some instances the
horses swan ashore at the call of their
masters, who remained on the barges.
After considerable delay several hun
dred men were landed and formed on
a grassy slope about a quarter of a
mile from the river, the intervening
land being so marshy that the horses
were led over il with great difficulty.
All being ready at both points the
telegraph was put in roquisition from
lbrail and a simultaneous movement
took place, the Cossacks advancing
with great rapidity into the Dobrud.
scha.
The force landed at Ibrail had by
far the more difficult task, Tor they
were compelled to extend their lines
to the utmost, while the detachment at
Galatz marched along the main road
and larger paths, outside of which il
would be impossible for an enemy to
approach or to flank them, because OF
the marshy condition Of the country.
In less than two hours the two lines
of horsemen had formed junction,
the distance between Galatz and Ibrai,
measured on the inside of the bend of
the river, being only eighteen miles.
Thus was formed a Gordon OF Cossacks
between the bank and the enemy.
The prominent part which the Cos
sack was thus made to play in tho
first real aggressive movement into
the cnemy's territory in Europe is
worth noticing. 1t fully justlfies all
that has been written about the i'm.
portant service which he, as horse
man, is likely to render to Russia in
the war This brings the Cossack
squarely TO the front and makes of
him what the Uhlan was to the troops
Of Prussia, FecldreW par excellence"
Under cover Of this Cossack Gordon
the pontoons were towed into position
and the bridges at the two points were
soon laid, every plank being ready and
every man having particular service
to perform. The Galatz bridge was
much more easily built than the one
at lbrail, because at the latter place,
on the Dobrudscha side, the long
stretch of swamp land before referred
to had TO be planked for the passage
of the artillery. The foot soldiers did
not wait for this event, however
No sooner had the last plank been
laid in the main structure than the
men, already drawn up in battalions,
were ordered to prepare for the cross.
ing. Eight thousand men and two
batteries of artillery then passed over
as rapidly as possible, each battalion
forming directly after it had reached
the diy ground. BY the time the guns
were ready to be brought over pre-.
parations for landing them across the
marsh were finished.
The enemy, in the shape of scatter.
ed, irregular cavalry, had shown them.
selves at various points, and when the
main body of troops had formed and
the batteries had been placed, the Cos.
sacks were ordered forward TO drive
back the videttes.
An advance was then made toward
Mattchin, the object being to attack
at once, before the force could be rein
forced. The Turks were found posted
on range of bills to the northwest.
ward OF the town. The batteries
on these hills opened on the Russian
troops, and strong detachment of ir.
regulars sailed out to meet their in.
veterate foes, the Cossacks. They did
not risk close encounter however,
and few shells from the Russian bat.
terry posted on the assailed flank dis.
persed the Bashi- -Bazouks and caused
their inglorious retreat under cover of
tho batteries on the hills.
Without delay the Russians were
ordered to advance and charge the
batteries. After n severe hand TO hand
fight tho outlying Notifications were
captured and the guns turned upon the
fleeing Turks. Thus iavorably opened
the armed occupation of the bo6ruds.
cha.
The second assault followed as soon
as the men could be reformed, and with
the aid Of the newly acquired field
pieces, the heights were carried by
storm. These most desperate strug.
giles, in which the fighting was in many
instances hand to hand, continued un-
I'll late in the afternoon.
Driven from their intrenched posi-.
ton the Turks fell back on Matchin.
Nightiall of Friday settled down over
the hills and valleys, and the victorious
invaders deemed IL wiser TO rest on the
successes of the day than to attempt
TO follow up the retreat of the Turks.
But the Russians bivonacked for the
night in the deserted camp.
The camp fires burned brightly and
could bc seen, doubtless, from the vii.
lage Of Matchin, distant only two and
a half to three miles. During the
night the utmost activity prevailed in
tho camp, and II was soon generally
known that Matchin was To be attack
cd on the morrow.
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