The New York herald., 1877-07-29
.Artillsry Duel Between Turtukai
and Oltenitza
SLEEPY URK---INDIFFERENT RUSSIAN.
Our Old Friend, the Cossack, and
His Modes of Life.
uLrsxIrxA, June 20, 1877.

the surrounding country has been pretty well cleared
Of all good horses. and when takes convoy
ance for any point on the he has 70 put up with
such animals the driver chooses to hitch mp to the
carriage luck and the reserve endurance
Of the poor beasts get anywhere There Is one way
Of getting up steam that rarely fails There exists
such a sympathy between the driver and his horses
that they know tho momont he has glass OF wine
nndsr his jacketand scamper along accordingly. Not
that fourshes his whip otener or with moro force
when no Is invigorated by pint OF country
wine for his whip Is always rapid
motion, but there Is more energetic ac-
cent In his .'Ec-ea,n and superabundaus
activity that tho horses to assimato The road
20 Oltcudtza OF tho best In RoumanA and alter
short pause at wine shop we ratified along like mad
with the four horses abreast full gallop, passing
everything on the road for hours. The four beasts
had only four eyes between them, one Of the pole
horses being quito blind, and the only ono that had
two eyes having considerable difficulty with all his
joints and decided "list A. port In one leg. Lest
be accusedoi cruelty to animals hasten to add that
we made trcduent stops Tor water fed twtce in tho
forty miles, and atast tho horses in apparently
quite fresh-perhaps only strength, but
u Was efcctual
THE ARTS PEACE
All the way along ever the plain passed broad
wheat and maize fields with bands Of picturesque
peasants work every side. Along the highway
great patches OF hollyhocks and poppies madc
brilliant foreground for the fertile landscape and with
the exception OF one or two ambulances. with slightly
wounded men from the rifle pits at Otenitza
we saw no signs Of soldiers until we had
made two-thirds OF the road. Peasants, carts and
army supply wagons, loads Of hay for tho camp and
Groves Of cattle tho way market, Cossacks and
WalIachtans ON horseback occasional private
carriage filed the thoroughtare with an interesting
cavacade from this point to the end Of our Journey
Il Is at about two-hrds Of tho distance from Bucna-
rest here that tho road meets tho Dinbovza. the
row, muddy stream that flows through the capital,
and here first in sight OF the green hills be-
yond the Danube, nm almost unbroken range either
way far see. flat topped like great en-
bankment with tho dccivity following tho curves Of
the shore Scattered among the trees, in the middle
or Of the longest and most highly cultivated
slopes arc the shining walls of the little matched
houses OF Turtukai, opposite Oltentza The latter
village from its low situation Is hidden altogether un
I'll It is close at hand AS VIC came along the road we
could the level summit above Turtukai great
puls OF white smoke which driited away with the
Nind and theeo were followed by dull report long
after.
Supposng that serious firing going we hur
r,ed into town, expecting 70 nnd some excitement
there. But no; tho soldiers were calmly carrying
about the evenings raiions; few sitting in
front Of tho oae smoking the inevitable cigarette;
or two iangudy watching the hills a. seen down
the straight of the vllage they talk
Ing about price Of horses specializing the last
order from tho commandant OF the division to take
away tho few women and children who have had the
courage to here during the past weeks OF al-
most daily bombardmcnt; paying attention to every
thing In fact, except the thing that interested
t1.rA A~.<~ n~ito half v,Sln
of scouting On my account. walked down toward
the batteries the shells from either side sriko
and burst felt that bullets unpleasantly near
they came whizzing from tho earthen embrasures
along the bank opposite, attracted by my white cap;
back the hotel wondering al the spectacle Of
the Goddess OF Peace hand hand with the Demon OF
War. for shepherd boy tondIng his cattle within
furoug the Russian batteries and not out Of long
rifle range from the Turkish rife pits, watching the
bursting shols with u boys interest, bui inter
rupted in his care OF the flock
tion to tho artillery duel then going on.
oLrExITzA.
Otcntza along the northern limit of fcrtilo little
intervae perhaps half mile wide. that is bounded by
the Danube side very slightly elevated pas
turcs the other. The town has principal street
running down to the intervae whence q lne chaussfe
leads to tho river and crooked narrow byways with
scattered low houses OF mud and tha,ch Thero arc
yome few buildings OF architectural pretensons great
Number OF gram warehouses filled with wheat, barley
and maize throe nns, q telegraph Office aud .
long row OF bazaar like shops The majority oil the
inhabitants lott month or moro ago, carrying away
al their household goods, and the only who
main are Greek grain merchants the local tradesmen
and few natives who live stock the neighbor-
hood 1t not the least surprising rencontre Of the
dny hnd that the hotel was kept by creek, all the
servants and the cafe restaurant
ncd by tho nationality. Greek Is the language
OF the place now and tho ttlo stock OF this tongue
that I happened 10 have brought along has
served most useful purpose. The soldiers, OF
course, I'll the pacc. Cossack Is posted
I'm every corner and horses and men arc sheltered
from the enemies fire behind nearly every large
house. II Is worth while to pause In my narrative to
givo unqualified praise TO the common soldiers bore
and elsewhere obedicnt honest, patient to tho high
degree, type Of o working soldier ready and able
to endure extremes OF temperature. hunger, thirst
ana privaton without injury; well disciplined,
although rough ready, slow to think but sure to
obey: they certainly tho best men have seen.
TnK cossAcK
Tho Cossacks are, first Of all, good follows, simple,
natural great boys ubiquitous and active, always In
the saddle at q moments notice, always on good terms
with their comrades but fierce enemies as they are
fast friends The OF tho Turks and the hope OF
the Russians they the finest branch OF the SER
vice. You always put your finger Cossack,
no difference where you TO- He Is there gathering
hay for mis- horse, wnclng his sabre polishing his
lance, pitching his shelter tent packing up for
other move; he Is the first everywhere. am
afraid in my unlimited praise of the soldiers have
Jeff no word to apply the officers, but If call them
gentlemen does not that mean enough TO any one
who appreciates the full sense OF the torn
One has only 10 walk down the street to the in
bervulc and he can take the whole position at
Elance. Along the Danube, among tho willows, run
The Russun breastworks with frequent batteries
ing their yellow banks among the bushes and small
rees Between the and the river the little plain
unbrokcn, except by the line OF the chdussf
and a half mile away are dkcs to keep out the water
Of tie rivor ~ ircshet tme lined with irregular
clumps Of trees anu even quite forest Through the
srees along the river. and sometimes above them, is
seen an regular yellow line OF cnrth about yard
higb piorced with cnbrasures, not yard apart
and running along the bank lar one either
way. This is the Turkish brcas.work, and IRON the
iown 4, seems almost iorcshorencd among the
I'M al1a