The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-10-18
The Battle of RieIa

a
Telegraph telegraphs from the Turkish
headquarters on the river LON, SeptemN
Der 10.
This morning the Turkish forces adj /
vanced to take up positions beyond Vo-
diska, and at 10 a. m, Sabit and Baker |
Pashas were making a reconnaissance on |
our right, the Ottoman Marshal and his |
staff intending to pay visit to Ahmed |
Eyoub 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 look at what was going on in |
front, and especially to examine the
position which Baker Pasha had proposed |
should be occupied. After discussing
the gUestian. thoroughly the Turkish
Marshal lett 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 body
of Russian troops, consisting of a regiment
of cavalry and two batallions of foot,
accompanied by four cannon, Both sides
soon began to fire away at each other
with the greatest vigor, and infantry
were hurried up to the scene of action
by MOslem and MUscovite,
While observing the movements of
Sabit Pasha, one of our little group of
| spectators happening to look round espied
a couple of COssacks on a hill about three
| thousand yards away from us. He 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 of
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 unlimbered and made
ready for their work. The Turkish COM
mander. after a due consideration of the
Russian preparations, dispatched two
battalions of infantry into a wood on the
left, and two more into a 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 a
distance of not more than one thousand
yards. The infantry never came to close
quarters, and all that was Ineligible to
us IoOkers~On was that a Russian bat
TALON was descending into a ravine lead
ing round Sabit Pasha's position that
some time afterward 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
Jaw line of skirmishers going quickly
forward,
From this it may be concluded that
Sabit Pashas 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-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
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. 1t i
so rare a thing to find anything worthy
of commentator in these wild tribes tina
| am glad to be able to record somethini
in their favor.
The serious part of our work, however
was now TO begin, as there was no dOub
, the MUscovites were threatening our pc
: sitions in great force. Fortunately, som
, more infantry and another cannon arrives
to reinforce us. Three battalions wer
sent forward, and the fresh gun bein
at v,Io l., !
: Russians move away. The greater par
, of them retired to the back of the hill
their retreat being covered by a heav,
fire from their artillery, but some had T.
, make their way along a road exposed t.
a scOTChing fire from our left. This the,
tried to silence by a heavy c9ntinuOu
stream of shrapnel, but finding it useless
the MusCOvite foot found themselve
compelled to charge our right. TIL
attack was unsuccessful, however, an,
/ the enemy was much exposed to on
! rifles as well as, at times, to the effects Q
r shTapnel. The Tavine ! have before men
n toned now became so filled with smOk
that even the flashes of the rifles cOul
not be seen. Several of our battalion
had been coming up for some time, an
were at once pushed into the wood 0
a one side and the vineyard on the Othel
4; until there was no danger of any furthe
> Russian onset. As the combat ende
=; only with daylight, there was no cnanc
q of discovering what the losses could hay
Il been; but think the Turks must hav
e suffered severely from the shrapnel, an
n that the Russians must have sustaine
) heavy losses from the close and conceI
trated mUsketry fire, especially as the
were taken in flank both from the WOO
and vineyard. l shall never forget tn
din kept up by the rifles to-day; it WIS
I by far the lOudest l have yet heard. TIL
Turks are now two miles from Biela.