, 1877-12-30
PLEVNA.
AFTER THE CAPTURE.

PLEvNA, Dec. l1.-As l rode up tho slope OF
the hill east OF Pleyna towards the redoubt de-
Tending the road between that town and the
Village Of Radicheyo, ghastlT scene was pre-
secuted. Hundreds Of Russian skeletons lay
g]istening on the hil1sides where they had fallen
during the assault Of September. The bones
were generally completely bare. Those nearest
to the Turkish earthwork had been covered with
few inches Of earth, which had been washed of
by the first shower, aud now they lay as naked
as the others. The A1oslem outpost pits we're
among these skeletons, many OF them being not
more than yard dstunt. Notwithstanding the
infectious ueighborhood OF these horrible Au-
man relics, not slovelful Of earth had been
thrown over them. Singular as it may seem,
many OF these skeletons had distinct express
ions both In the attitude III which they had fall
en- aud in the position OF the 1eshless jaws. As
sat on my horse and gazed Oh the horrible
spectacle, could distinguish those who had fall
Ell without suffering from those who had died IN
agony, and the effect was such as shall never
forget. The Russian soldiers who marched INTO
Fieyna in the rear Of Osman's sallylng forct:
passed among these remains Of their unburied
comrades, but there vas no disposition mani-
tested to intlict any punishment upon the men
who could treat tue bones Of brave enemies in
such hca1tless manner
The Bulgarian cemetery on this road, near the
town, had suffered more from the Russian bo1n-
bardment Than any other part OF the Moslem
position, the greater part Of tho headstones
beng shattered to pieces by shells.
On entering tue town itself was surprised
to find 1t.
so LITTLE INJURED BY THE cAxNoSADISG.
The streets and houses look like thusc i'll nil
other Turkish TOWNSVILLE former being
crooked, narrow, and wretchedly paved, while
the latter are dingy, tne-covered, and comfort
less in their general appearance. Ha1f-a-dozen
miuurets and large, Notwithstanding Bull
garlan church complete the religions edlisss:
other captured toTas, H. tty a1 55e f
they had been bombarded Tor q thousand years.
The Bulgarians we're standing in their door
WAYS, bidding 's Good day " to each passer-br,
and ready to - fleece him If au an opportunity
presented itself.
Within very short time after Osman's sur
render at the bridge over the Vid, on the Sofia
road.. the l5,o00 prisoners were turned back in
to the town, with the artillery aud transport
trains. These trophies represented the capture
made by the eastern wing ot the Russian forces.
The other pEisouers, as before stated, were
taken tu the camps Of the Guards and Rou-
manians. They we're guarded BY Russian and
Roumanfau soldiers, and I did not see single
instance Of i-treatment on the psrt Of either
The Turks were we'll fed III appearance, but
we're generally ragged, and were all wearing
sandals. No boots we're to be- seen, though
most Of them had overcoats. They
DID NOT APPEAR TO REGRET THEIR FATE,
and ulany OF them replied good -humoredly to
the remarks addressed them BY a Roumanian
surgeon whom accompanied Among them
there were hundreds Of horses belonging to the
cavalry and artillery, and many Of the Turkish
families Of the town hudulcd iu disconsolate
groups near tine Transport wagons. sThc
began to arrive shortly after noon,
but they were not all brought in until to-day.
This portion OF the prisoners was grouped in the
valley around the town in dense mass cover J
(ng several acres in cxtent- The contrast pre- |
seuted between these tatterdemaliou battaIions |
aud tue well-uressed men guarding them |
made the war appear one-siucd affair until !
The reflection CAME that ragged u,an |
shot as veil as Que perfectly equipped. There I
we're Russian and Kouuauiau soldier, WANDER
ne about in considerable numbers with Turk
sl rifles, sabres, rcvolvtrs, and old pistols for
sale. purchased q Peabody rifle und bayonct,
together with pair OF old tllut-lock pistols, !
bearing au inscription in Turkish They bring
put most foreibly the contrast between the
seapons of ancient and modern times. / wore
Roumaniau orerc0at OF gorgeous cu1ors, as
1ad found my own too light ior the season, and
1al neglected to provide myself with furs be-
lille flung over the shoulder, the old pistols, and
mis- oycrCoat, looked so fair All imitation Of !
-spectable Bashi-Bazouk that did not at all
eel comfortable.
Later iu the Gay, standing on the Sofia road,
n the Grayltza Valley, west Of Pleyna,
SURVEYED THE WHOLE BASIN
or1ning OSnan PasEa's position. The herbane
nd all other growing thugs had 50 c1lectuaiI7
disappeared that tue earth's surface looked al:
! cou1agratlon had swept over every square
DOT Of it. The color was dull brown, anu T |
ever gazcd upon more dismal looking region.
he sides OF the basin were sprricd bv rayines.
II centcring in the valley where stood, and !
pom the surrounding edges of the basin were |
be Turkish and Allied batteries. planted III
regular line, but commanding every yantage- |
niht uf the nefrf,flnrlDtM. |
at s p. m. | rode back into Pleyna, and uu-
lckily stumbled within the Gordon OF :scntincls |
ttardl1g tue prisoners. Twas easy enough to
ct inside, but on attempting to return, WAS |
le scntrics to allow me to pass. founl some ]
ussi11l officers, who endeavorcd to extrfcatc
IL, but the ohdurate sentnels said that no one ]
as allowed to leave P]evna that night. The I (
'und, and ali the Others were helpless. The
risoners we're SO densely parked that t
could not get through them to tlud
general OFFICER, and, to add to my +
1noyance, the Grand Duke and Prince Charles !
lzne through tile town III the other side amid I
'ud cheering, while had to remain pcnned up 9
noug the ifusfems. waited Until dark, then | t
n past the guard at full speed, aud escaped, to .
I'd myself III m utterly unknown country, full s
holes and precipices I was three hours in | |
be arrested, and perhaps shot, IS an escaped | t
lshi- -Bazouk. On. [ wandered past the krI- c
ine redoub. and through the village, thence :
to the Bresrovatz valley. aud from thence to :
g,ot, making fifteen mile rifle in utter dark {
IS over as rough country as there is in Bull t
ria. i,
have devoted this day to careful inspection Z
Il
TIE TURKISH POSITIONS, t.
th their fortiticatonsA as rode up on the O
Il Of Skeletons, l found fatigue parties at c
'rk buIying the bones Of their fallen COM u
les. Some Of the graves were SO shallow | II
1T year or two will seattle human relics >
>wed up again wheu the land is cultivated. o.
attempt was made to collect them, being ; II
rled where they had fallen. I shall Gtyer | 81
get the strange sensations caused By riding Al
It those deserted lines, whence 50 many u,
adlg missiles had flown, and which I had "
carefully avoided approaching during my pre-
us rides around Plevna. The untcnanted ii
nches, theA SO dangerous. were now nothing at