Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-05

III we IeCeSSeS Ill Ullo nlllSluo,-WnGr6-
ever, in fact, nature had provided bit
of shelter under which fully-armed
and equipped soldier could secrete him
self. Of this tremendously important
movement, carried out on a scale of
such magnitude the Turks had no idea.
With the slightest warning, it would
have been easy to defeat it; our bat.
teries could have swept the hillside of
every Russian in a very short time,
and have frustrated the clever design of
the Muscovite general. AS it was,
however, the Turks fell into the trap
thus skillfully laid for them
While we are still wondering what on
earth they mean-even the audacity of
the vancouver never suggesting the
yelling of some deep design-the
enemv's horsemen approach still near
er to the actual accent of the pass. AS
they come they make grand display
The force of mounted men is certainly
an imposing one. We are all agreed
that they are pushing their reconnois-
sance adventurously near our positions
Mukhtar Pasha himself, commanding
at the pass, decides that they have now
come far enough. He accordingly gives
the order to attack-they are now at
the very foot of the hill He suspects
no danger. He is simply repelling an
insufferably bold attempt On the part of
the Russians to reconnoitre our position
AS the sloping sides thanking the pass
are covered by the fire of our artillery
and infantry there seems to be no risk of
being beaten. Rapidly the Turks rush
down the roadway, and, watching the
movement from the top IF the hill, we
are predicting that if that brilliant force
of cavalry is not utterly destroyed, at
any rate there will very soon be many
empty saddles when the steady, uner-
ring fire Of the Turks from SO short a
range is brought to bear on them.
Strange to say, though the horsemen
can see all that is going on, they choose
to remain tantalizingly near at hand.
Down 60 the Turks. Now they begin
to fire. They are within range. Their
shots begin to take effect. The hills are
just sending us back the echoes of their
fllsillade, when, in moment
EVERYTHING is CHANGED.
From many places on the hill-sides,
where but q moment ago there was moth
ing to be seen but the bare ground, start
up dense files of Russian infantry. The
hills are covered with them-their shouts
echo from side to side In an instant
they are pouring fearful volleys at muir
derously short distances on both TANKS
of the unsuspecting, unprepared Turks.
Too confident, too anxious to punish
the over-daring Of the Russian cavalry,
Mukhtar's men have advanced SO far
down in the valley that there is no
longer left the possibility of recovery.
The narroWness of the road, the close
ness of the overwhelming fire, the adj
vantageous position secured by the
enemy-above all the suddenness of the
attack, unman and paralyse them.
Panic-stricken, the Turks run hither
and thither-terrifed bewildered, I'M
able to offer the-least resistance. Up
the hillside dash the victorious Russians.
They reach the trenches as soon as the
surviving Turks themselves; position
after position they assail and take with
amazing celebrity. They have it all their
own way. Practically there is no de-
Tense of position that was just now
deemed invincible. The Turks, no
longer disciplined force, but only
nic-stricken crowd, are dri:en over
the crest of the hill, abandoning NUM-
tons, arms, everything. The confusion
is indescribabl u 10 5sf
FROM THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
Meanwhile the Russians steadily push
on their advance with unabated v;gor.
Clouds Of skirmishers cover the noun
tain slopes. All this done in time in
,descriably short. It was full midday
when the Russians gave us the first
warning of their presence, and at 2
O'Clock our army was in full retreat.
Equally astounding was the ease with
which this great feat was accomplished.
The moment that armed host sprang
from the ground resistance was virtually
at an end. Not a single gun was fired
at the advancing Russians as they came
up the hill. On the contrary, so I'M
manned were our forces, that the Turk
ishIgunners cut the traces of their artil-
-lery, mounted their horses, and galloped
away. 1t was every man for himsel-a
universal saa,ue qua pe,a. The day was
given up, and no one thought of any
thing but his own safety The brave
infantry, it is true, did what they could
for short time, but it was a forlorn
hope, and at last what was left Of them
joined in the general retreat, with the
exclamation, Defeat! defeat! 1t is the
will of Allah"
Continuing their onward rush, the
Muscovites overtake many Of the re-
treating Turks, and it is heartrending
to see the flying masses of fugitives, all
urging their way to Erzeroum, struggling
under the concentrated fire of the
greater part Of the Russian battaiions.
Such was the condition of matters at
quarter to 3.
THE SCENE WAS APPALLING.
Imagine, if you can, terrified, min
gled throng of men on horseback, Turk
ish infantry and officers, Circassians
and Bashi-Bazouks, camp-followers,
camels and their drivers, all thrown to-
gether into an undistinguishable throng,
pressing on with reckless fury and un-
reasoning panic-and IN great part I'M
der the mllrderOl1s fire Of the Russians