New-York tribune., 1877-05-04
THE DANrDIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1854.

OF the Gar numerous large pIIFalo uoudNiOHs HAS
been made Oh behalf Of wounded Russians.
THE DANUBIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1854.
TWO DIVISIONS or TITS RESEMBLANCE TO TIE
PRESENT ONE-BATTLEs OF KALAFAT oLTE-
KIIZA, CIrALE. AND GIURGEVO-sIEGE OF sIL!s-
TRIA-RUssIAV DEFEAT AND LOSSES.
The similarity between the present campaign
in Asia and the one during the RussoTurkish war 0:
20 years ago has already been pointed ou in these col
umns It 20 trace another marked resemblance
in certain PLACES Of the two conflicts The Sultan OF
Turkey oct ), 1853 and at the end Of
the month, Russian army under Prince Gortchakoh
reached the banks OF the Danube, and Omar Pasba com
mandar Of he Turks had arrived on the opposite shore
The events Of this campaign extend from October 1885,
until Jn'y, 1854 ana naturally group themselves into
,o PARTS each being primarily distinguished by loca-
tion with reference the Danube. The Turks were nst
to cross the river ard chose 0ur widely separated points,
as follows: From Widjin 90 Kaladt from Eustchok 10
Gurcevo; from TnItuki 10 Otenitza, and from siSra
to Kalarash all being shown in tie map. In the fourth
case the Russians drove back the Turks and atcrward
laid siege to ssria The three others led TO different re
! suits. Twelve thousand men crossed at WidNn and
occupied Kalafat Taeir enemy being weak in numbers
retired to slatna and tho Turks, instead OF following
proceeded to fOriiy the town. Meanwhile, the 1900
who were al TUrtukai had been able to make passage
through the aid Of island in the river and under cover
Of fog At Oeutza they met the Russians and engaged
in Jatde with them several days, finally forcing retreat
toward Bucharest Win loss OF I,OJO men, tOe
1O6 Heavy rains set in and about the middle Of NOvem
Der the Turks rccrosscd the river. These engagements
and few others OF much less importance served 10
uete the events Of the year The Turks were probably
not less astOnished their than the Russians
! wore at their own defeat.
The following year opened with brilliant for
Omar Pasla. The presence Of his army at Haafat was
especially annoying TO Prince Gort shakon, who sent
large renforcements his commanding general in that
mari OF Wa,lacha, with orders 10 drive the Turks back
across the river battle begun. But the Russian
gnnery was bad; few OF the balls went to the mark,
many Of the lis burst IN the air and before the enemy
had fred dozcu from their heavy battery they re-
tired into the village Of Cdc Kalafa and opened
/ a deadly fire upon the advancing column I'naii Pasba
rode into the village mounted on White horse sword
I'm hand and before the engagement closed two horses
were killed nnder hn The battle soon became furious,
and with the increasing advances the numbers Oi the
killed and wounded also increased The Russians shell
tered themselves IN and around the houses and were
attacked with fxed bayonets. Every bit OF space or
defense was contested with desperate courage but The
Russians were literally massacred quarter was neither
asked nor given and every who icu in the way Of
the Turks was put TO death. EnIaged at tins feIocty
the example was followed by the other side In some
instances IL is said officers pulling their caps
oVn tightly on their orcheads determined not 10 yield
In Little more than hOur, says an eycWl ness the
high road and the space around the houses were covered
with b.aps of tie dead and the blood ran in rivuets
]
arrived and the Turks mad possession OF every house
The Russians fellblck upon the road as their only re-
source but found themselves interrupted by detach
mont of Turkish cavalry which had been stationed III the
rear of the village They were, however, eDaheu 10 re-
tire INTO a redOubt which they had constructor anu 10
carry their artillery with them
II seemed that the total destruction Of the Russians
was inevitable when suddenly formidable reinforce
mcnt numbering 10000 men, appeared advancing rom
rbe distance -Four battalions moved forward III hne
y,th three others in column forming second me- ana
two az reserve The cavalry and ARTILLERY were aoed
M te Aanks and the whole body moved toward TIC io"
IN aIfat for the purpose of cutting of the eomInumci
ton NJ the Turks VITA five batlions OF reserve Acn
- poso prenared to receive them, but the inferiory
of his force was very evident The Russians ma ceu
| forward and were met by tremendous shower OF
I -, sbt At the same time the Turkish infantry al
d and fired aud loaded az they moved shouiins ~ 'he
80 time the national battecry. The Russians pore up
Cor time but at last wavered III spite oi IheiI
Tisorder foIlowed and the whole army trNeu ana n'''
uev succeeded, however, IN carrying on 'ho 'i'' .
T, r,rbs then retired to Kalafat, aud the Russians
abandoned C.tae ana all the villages III 'ne h'iHo
hood The roy Of the victorious army was aiHos' VIZ
- ,ds. they claimed 10 have only 3os de'u' "A'ie
an, pussian loss amounted to 1900 dead anu an I'M
&C nurober of wounded. Turkish courage AT "'l'
hattIe has been a theme for many comments Inc o'n
| Gers did not spare themselves Ihoy WIZ - - -
of the aeht and fvc prominent ones were "o'i'''
The Russians now began 10 repair tAelf lolo''' GU"
the 18th Of January had 36OOO hep III ' -, a.,
ualacbia with headquarters at Ki1uoVa Mean"hI'o '
,r had crossed the river from Nik0pois u Lo'A"'
Tb,s obliged Prince Michael Gorohakoh 7Dfo'hei oi 'o
present Chanceilor) to divide Lis atn nohs' D"' 81,
innortant operations Of tins tine wcfo WhuJ 'i'
further down the Danube Several months ""u "o'
on,ied m a seIies Of sudden attacks rom po'p e'"'
usually having other result than 10 ioice 'n'