Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1877-10-20
The Battle of BIela

headquarters Ou thV Aa'VA
Der 10.
This morning the Turkish forces adj
vanced to take up positions beyond Eo>
diska, and at 10 a. M, Sabit and BAKER
Pashas were making a reconnaissance on
our right, the Ottoman Marshal n ms
staff intending to pay a visit to Ahmed
Fyoub Pasha, in order to see that COM
mander's part of our general movement
carried out. At II a. M. We all started
TO have a look at what was going on IN
front. and especially to examine the
uosition which Baker Pasha had proposed
should be occupied. After discussing
the ouestian thoroughly the Turkish
| Marshal let us, and soon afterwards we
saw Sabit Pasha's division advancing
upon our extreme right. Suddenly some
guns opened fire upon the enemy, and
looking in the direction marked out by
the bursting shells, we perceived a body
of Russian troops, consisting ola regiment
of cavalry and two batalIions OF loot,
accompanied byfour cannon. Both sides
soon began to fire away at each other
with the greatest yigor, and infantry
were hurried up to the scene of action
bv Moslem and Muscoyite,
While observing the movements OF
Sabit Pasha, one of our little group OF
spectators happening to look round espied
a couple of Cossacks on q hill about three
thousand yards away from us. tie at
once called attention to the fact, and IN
a few minutes we saw eight more make
their appearance, and then a whole
squadron taking up positions on the crest
OF the high ground referred to. Some OF
our horses were sent under cover ei a
wood to observe the enemy, but they
had hardly been gone a moment when a
strong force ofinfantry and cavalry came
over the hill, upon which the Cossacks
had been discovered moving to the right
front, aud behind all six guns, which
were Immediately uulimbered and made
ready for their work, The Turkish cons
mander. after a due consideration of the
Russian preparations, dispatched two
battalions of infantry into a wood on the
left, and two more into 4 vineyard on
the right, and after ordering up some
reserves, thought enough had been done,
being under the impression that the
Muscovites would not dare to approach
any nearer. However, he was in error,
as the enemy began to push forward
briskly, and we soon saw their guns ex-
changing shots with our batteries at Il
distance of not more than II thousand
yards. The infantry never came to close
quarters, and all that was ineligible to
us lookers>on was that a Russian bat
talon was descending into a ravine lead
ing round Sabit Pasha's position that
some time atterward the Turkish guns
seemed to be firing further back; but
lust before 1t was dark they appeared to
have advanced again, and that we then
saw a line of skirmishers going quickly
rward,
From this it may be concluded that
Sabit Pasha's first line was urged on too
rapidly, and was consequently driven
back, but that reinforcements having ar
rived the advance was renewed, and the
wished-f for positions secured, An incident
occurred in the course of the day which
is worth noting. A Circassian-who
must certainly be allowed to have pluck"
if no other good quality-came out of the
wood on the left, and coolly rode up and
down in front of the Russian cavalry,
taking a shot at them at every turn from
a Winchester rifle, with which ne was
armed. The Muscovites naturally re-
turned the fire, but the Circassian's lucky
star was in the ascendant, and he retired
from the unequal duel unframed. It i,
so rare a thing to find anything worthy
Of commentator ~ these wild tribes that
| am glad to he able to record something
in their favor.
The serious part Of our work, however,
was now to begin, as there was no doubt
the Muscovites were threatening our pc.
sitions in great force. Fortunately, some
more infantry and another cannon arrived
to reinforce us. Three battaIions were
sent forward, and the fresh gun being
at once placed en- barbetts, soon made the
Russians move away. The greater par
of them retired to the back of the hill
their retreat being covered by a heavy
fire from their artillery, but some had t
make their way along a road exposed tC
a scOrching fire from our left. This they
tried to silence by a heavy continuous
stream of shrapnel, but finding it useless
the MuscOvite foot found themselve,
compelled TO charge our right. The
attack was unsuccessful, however, and
the enemy was much exposed to oul
rifles as well as, at times, to the effects o.
sbrapnel. The rayine | have before men.
toned now became 30 filled with smoke
that even the flashes of the rifles could
not be seen. Several of our battalions
had been coming up for some time. and
were at once pushed into the wood on
one side and the vineyard on the other
until there was no danger of any further
Russian onset. As the combat ended
only with daylight, there was no chance
Of discovering what the losses could have
been; but | think the Turks must have
suffered severely from the shrapnel, anC
that the Russians must have sustained
heavy losses from the close and concen.
trated musketry fire, especially as they
were taken in flank both from the woot
and vineyard. | shall never forget the
din kept up by the rifles to-day it was
by far the loudest | have yet heard. The
Turks are now two miles IRON Biela.