New-York tribune., 1877-08-21
A REVIEW OF THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN.

REVIEW OF THE RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN.
THE MIGHTY ARMY GATHERED IN RoUMANIA-
CROSSING OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE CORPS IN BULGARIA-DIsAsTER AT PLEVNA-
THE BLUNDERs IN ASIA.
WASHINGTON, Aug 2O,-A private letter received
in this city from gentleman attached to the kus-
sian Army on the Danube gives the very interesting
summary given below of the movements OF the Rus
sians from the time they crossed the Pruth on April
"a up to and including the crossing of the Danube
from Sisova to Simnitza the morning of June q,
the distribution of troops in Bulgaria and the un-
successful campaign in Asia. The review was writ
ten, however, before the second battle of Pievna
The letter bears date July %, and is as follows:
"Four corps Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh and TWELFTH.
numbering about $4,000 TO 10000 men each, together
with two divisions of cavalry about 5000 Cossachs ana
mountain artillery, crossed the frontier April j.
The Eleventh Corps land portion Of the seventh Corpo
was directed to Gaatz on the Lower Danube ami ar
rived the 22d Of April The Eighth and Twelfth
Corps with the greater part OF the cavalry and the Cos
sacks marched 10 the ne ghborhood Of Bucharest ana
concentrated there about May 15 their advance guards
having taken positions on the Danube, between NkopO-
lis aud Rustohuk about May 20. The Ninth Corps was
by ran to Satna the Aluta River, seventy nNe
miles Nkopos Three more corps were soon
added TO this army, the Fourth, Thirteenth and Four
teenth. The Fourteenth arrived at Gaatz June l. re-
evng the Eleventh, which then marched to Giurgevo
the Thirteenth proceeded TO Alexandra, twenty-five
miles north of Smnitza and the Fourth Corps was held
in the railroad, TO be used accord
ing TO circumstances About May 25 then, there
were in position the Danube seven corps (and
part OF anothcr), numbering from 100000 to
225 600 men of all arms and in addition two DIVISIONS
Of cavalry about Is 600 men) and nine regiments OF
COssacks (abOut 6000 men, Preparations were AZ once
begun for crossing the Danube st two points near
Braa and near NikOpolis The first step to ill tne
nf leefC
for bridge, and thus neuralize the Turkish gunboats
The bridge Brala have been constructed
without hndrince from the Turks but tho country was
submerged by subsequent rise IN the river that the
bridge practicable, and the Lower Danube was
crossed in boats June TO- and the Heights Of aatchn
gained the next day-an with loss Of less
than $50 men. For the bridging of the Middle
Danube modern pOntOOns were constructed at
Galatz 8nd forwarded by rail to satina where
they we're launched into the Aluta Alta River; RATS
and other material prepared at slaina, ana the
whole was foated down the Olt which cutters into the
Danube opposite NlkOpos for which reason this point
mad been selected for crossing The Danube was then
blockaded above Nkopols and below Rustchuk by the
tOrpedOes put n position by steam launches Wch had
been forwarded by rail Slatra, and by wagons 10 the
Danube, where they lancIed. While these prepaI-
aons were going Oh. however he TurAs strengthened
their works at NkOpOlls by constructing cagAWOrks on
the hills commanding the river, and it was there
fore determined 10 MAKE the crossing at simnitza.
Troops were. however, concentrated opposite Nix
OpOlis and RustchuG as a feint, the Eghth Corp,
alone being paced between Alexandria and SimntLa
On the evening Of June H. and at about o'clock the
morning the advanced guards crossed in pontoon
and RATS aId landed at Tayne about four miles
below simniza The advanced guards seized tie
heights 10 west Of this rayno and held them while
whole division q 600 mem crossed This division then
advanced and after some ngug took possession Of Sis
tova, during the afternoon OF June Is, with loss of
about 500 men, the Turks retreating towards TrnOya
aud Nikopohs. Meanwhile a most vigorous lombard
ment Of both Rustchuk and Nkopos had been kept up
from June y TO June 10. and under cover of 1t the
wooden pontOOns $50 in number, besides slxty-fOur
RATS in the Olta River, were nOated down
the Danube past NikOpols during the nights Of June
18Th, 10th aud 17tb to simnza where the bridge
constructed June 10th To 1Sh in three parts
meeting islands the shores; tic aggregate length
being beeve, over 1000 yards, although this
stated officially Such the outline Of the movements
the date OF the Grand Duke NehOlass report OF
June 1s when there the south bank the whole
of the Eighth Corps another division Of infantry and
some Cossaoss The remaining corps in this neighbOr
hood NINTH eleventh. twelfth and thirteenthl,
brought the bridge. and Immediately after
the first crossing, the COssacks and part of
the Eghth Corps were pushed forward about
twelve miles to the main road to Rustchuk
where they separated portion going to the right
the road Peyna behind NkopOls and he other going
which taken BY advance guard Of cavalry June
23 The capture Of this place. Bcla with only slight
skirmsh OF great importance fOr il gave the Rus
slams the command of the Jautra River, behind which
there are excellent defensive positions by holding which
tire Russian left flank is secured from attack from the
garrisons of Rustchuk and shumla The River LON,
further to the east does afford good defensive posi-
tions its banks being low. Thus covered on their
left the Russian advance pushed forward rapidly to the
Balkans and June 25 seized lrnOva, at the northern
base OF the mountains. Tie bulk OF the army Was
then FASTENED forward TO Trnove, the Grand Dukes
headquarters;being established there June 30.
"The Ninth Corps however, was directed on Nikopolis
the rear, and carried that place by assault with se
we're loss not yet officially given July g. capturing two
Psshas. forty cannon, 6,O0O and two gInboats
July and o. Division of this Corps attacked the
village OF Plevna from the north ana east but was
repused with loss OF between 1000 and 1000 men and
driven back the Bela road. The has not been
renewed up 70 this date-JGy To- Plevna Is near the
point where the road from Rustchuk crosses the Yrd
River and is Of exactly The Importance the safe
ty OF the communications their left as Blea
is their right.
meanwhile June 80 Gen. Ghourko with ten regiments
OF cavalry and some mountain batteries preceded by
Cossacks left Trnoya and moving as Elena
ne turned TO the south and crossed the Balkans
leaving his artillery behind. The day, July i, by
bind trail he passed the mountains On July he de-
bOuched from the mountains at the village OF Khan
kioi whence he sent his Cossacks TO cut the rail
way and telegraph line at Jen Saghra, between Jam
boil and Adrianope He turned westward the day
with bis main force, and July carried the village Of
Kazanlik by assault with small loss BY this
of Gen Ghourko Russians had turned the best pass
In the Bakans-the Shpka Pass-hrough which there Is
very good road for Turkey, grades which for the
most part are easy. July g. General Ghourko gained
possession Of the village of shpka, while at the