The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-08-01
CAPTURE OF. SISTOvA.
flow the Russians Forced their Way Across
the Danube in the Face of Heavy
Turkish Fire.


flow the Russians Forced their Way Across
Turkish Fire.
Details of the crossing of the Danube
at Simnitza, opposite Sistova, are given
by correspondent of the London Daily
NeaUs who was an eyewitness of the
enterprise. Ger. Dragimirof's division
had the post of honor, and was expected
to make footing on the Turkish side by
early morning. Prince Miorski's
division was to make a night march from
Lissa and be in position at Simnitza to
follow its sister division across in the
event of the latter's success. In the
event of failure, it was to take up the
fighting, and force q passage at all
hazards for the Archduke Nicholas had
announced that he would have no
denial. The river had to be crossed at
Sin1nitza, cost what it might. With the
darkness Gen. Dragimiroff began his
dispositions. The first work was to
plant in made emplacements a row OF
field guns all along the edge of the flats
to sweep with fire the opposite banks.
This was while his infantry was being
marched over the flats down into the
cover of the willow wood. The dark
ness and the distractions were both 80
great that all was not ready till the first
glimmer of dawn. There was no bridge,
but number of river boats capable of
holding from fifteen to forty men each.
These were dragged on carriages through
the mud, and launched in the darkness
from under the spreading boughs of the
willow trees. The boats put off singly,
rowing across, for the little cove, and
later little steam tug was brought into
requisition. For once the Turks had
not spent the night-watches in heavy
sleep. Their few cannon at once opened
fire on the boats, on the hidden masses
among the willows, and on the columns
marching across the fiat. Nor was this
all. From the slopes above the cove,
there came at the boats smart infantry
fire. The Turkish rihenen were hold
ing the landing place. General Yolchine
had not experience and credit in Cau-
casian for nothing. His boat was lead
ing. The Turkish rifemen were in
position about fifty yards from the shore.
He landed his handful, and bade them
lay down in the mud. One or two were
down Instantly with Turkish bullets. He
opened skirmishing fire to cover the
landing boats that followed. One by
one these landed their freights, who fol-
lowed the example of the first boat load.
At length enough had accumulated.
Young Skobeloff was there, host in
himself. Gen. Yolchine bade his men
fix bayonets, stand up and follow their
officers. There was n rush and cheer
that rang louder in the grey dawn than
the Turkish volley that answered it..
That volley was not in vain, but the
Turks did not wait for cold steel. Vol
chlne's skirmishers followed him logged
ly some distance upon the slope, but for
the time could not press on far from the
base. Busily, yet slowly, the craft
moved to and fro from the shore. The
Russian guns had at once opened when
the Turkish fire showed there was no
surprise, but, however heavy fire may
be, it will not all at once crush another
fire. The Turkish shells kept falling in
the water, whistling through the willows
and bursting among the columns OH the
flats. One shell, from a mountain gun
fell into a boat containing two guns,
their gunners and the commandant OF a
battery The boat was swamped at once,
and all on board persisted. This was the
only serious casualty, but numerous
Russian soldiers were falling. on both
sides of the river. Nevertheless the
work went steadily on, and soon after
seven o'clock, Yolchines brigade, a
Russian battery, and Gen. Dragimiroff,
had crossed the river. The ground thus
gained was held until re-enforcements
arrived. and Sistoya was captured.