The New York herald., 1877-09-03
SEVERE FIGHTING AT PELSCHAT.
The Russians Claim to Have Re'
pulsed All Attacks.
STORMING OF SIIIPKA PASS
IpY CABLE TO THE HERALD


''We have made an offensive reconnaissance
in force against the Russian fortified position
at Pelschat, five miles southeast of Plevna
and encountered the enemy half an hours
march from Plichad. After two hours dcs
perate fighting the enemy fed We carried
three redoubts by assault. captured gun,
many horses and arms. The Russians, who
numbered 10000, lost heavily; we slightly"
TURKS REPursED AT PLEvNA.
A Russian official despatch, dated Gorny-
Studen, September l, says:-"All is quiet
towards Rustchuk, Osman-Bazar, Loftscha
and the Balkan passes. There was fighting
before Plevna on August 81 from eight
o'clock in the morning until four in the
afternoon. The Turks numbered $4,000
and were repulsed along the whole line
The Russian loss was 600"
THE SIEGE OF THE sH1PKA PASS.
correspondent with the Turks at the
Shipka Pass telegraphs, under date of Friday
morning as follows:-'Large reinforcements
and several mortars have arrived, and de-
cisive action against the last Russian po-
sition will be undertaken shortly"
Other kilograms state that the Russians
also have just been reinforced.
MORE ABOUT THURSDAYS BATTLE.
correspondent with the Czarwtch's army, who
was an eyewitness OF last thursdays battle
from the Russian side, tclegraphs from Ca
govo, six miles west Of Karassan, whittier the
Russians retreated after Karassan was taken:--
general Leonof, who commanded at Karassan,
had in all about three thousand infantry, i've
hundred cavalry, hussars ana Cossacks, and ten
guns. General LconoT having been exposed to
continual attacks by small detachments
OF Turks few rifle pits had been dug along the
slope before the village and small batteries erected
on either side OF the village, and preparations made
to hold the position against the superior force
which was known to be in the vicinity Of Rasgrade.
SIX TURKS TO EACH RUSSIAN.
81 should Judge that no less than 10000
Turks formed the advance, and this is
making a very deliberate estimate of
their numbers It was odds of six
to one for eight hours before we
left the village and the firing was almost
continuous during the whole day. After the
Turks had entered q portion of the village
the Russian infantry held their ground
for two hours awaiting reinforcements. At
length 300 came and two hours more hot,
firing ensued. during which the Turks were
continually being reinforced by masses Of
troops.
THE RETREAT BRoUN.
cit was long since certain that we must
lose our position, but the retreat did not be-
gin fairly until four o'clock, the fighting hav-
ing commenced at eight in the morning, when
from all along the line came suddenly back
the exhausted infantrymen. Not q single
case of cowardice did see during the whole
day. The only remark passed was, 'There
are too many" General Leonoff and his
staff we're indefatigable in their exertions
AN UGLY RETREAT.
When the retreat begun it was an ugly
one: from one little rise to another we went,
waiting. each time until the fire was
too hot for us, and at last when
great body of Circassians hovered upon
our right flank in the maize fields. below
our cossacks, and hussars were seIt down
to meet them; our position was finally
yielded, and we struggled back to Gagovo.
SAVING THE WOUNDED.
.Such of the wounded as could manage
to crawl away did SO, while the infantry-
men bore back others on their rifles. We
gave ND our horses to wounded officers, and
finally gathered few hundreds of us at the
foot of a hill along the winding road which
leads to Karassan. The result Of the loss
of Karassan is not important, unless the
enemy succeeds in forcing the heights we
now hold.
DIFFICULT LINE TO DEFEND.
s'rhe Czarewitchs army is nece 3sarily
divided into two small masses at different
places along the whole line of front
from Giurgevo to Tirnova. Speedy
concentration is mpossible--frst, from
want of troops; second, on account
of the great distances and narrow
roads, Our present position is an admir-
able one. We stand, Of course, strictly on
the defensive" This correspondent esti-
mates that the Russians had 500 killed and
wounded in the battle.