The New York herald., 1877-07-11
lHE SET0VA CROSSING.
How the Russians Went
Over the Danube.
GRAPHIC WAR PICTURES.
An Advance Under the Fire of
Turkish Guns.
(From the London Daily News, june ao.I


Information which led me ride direct to Simnitza
was told thsrc would DO two attempts
1t crossing the Danube, At Tarna
Marguerelle, the other from Sinnitza 10 Sis
tova The latter was understood 10 be moro
important and chose it. Roaching Simnitzs, found
there the whole OF the Fourteenth division. CON-
mapded by General Dragimirol with a division CON-
posed OF the Eighth army corps, commanded BY Gen.
eral Radelsky. General Dragimiron IN the midst
OF the preparations tor crossing
rHE SITUATION
Let INC first describe the locality. Smnitsa is al
most opposite the long struggling Turkish town OF
.ova but above it, and in the hoows Of precpica
,yerhanging the Danube Below Slstova. for dis
ance Of two miles the Turkish bank is steep, IN places
lutte prcciptoas with here and there little hoows,
and above the river side steep wooded slopes
covered with gardens vineyards, leading to bare
ridge forming the SKY line. Two miles below Slstova
is a narrow marked depression in tho Turkish bank,
leading up from little cove formed by the ahiuents oil
\ small stream above, and to the right Of this coyo
was n small camp OF Turkish soldiers, fixed there
doubtless in CONSCIOUSNESS OF the weakness oil tho
point, ana above the camp on the sky limo was a
battery OF heavy Between the cove and Sistova
several cannon we're disposed Of the trees,
and cdatey on the proper right Of the town was
a small open earthwork armed with few field guns.
sis,ova is an open town. Probably in and about it
thcre was not moro brigade Of Turkish troops,
but then II is not than long days march
from either Rustchuk or Nicopos So much for tho
Turkish side
The attempt was, far as possible, to be Of the
nature OF surprise, and 1t was necessary therefore TO
postpone the dispositions TIL after nighttal. The
division Dragimiro had the post Of honor, and was
expected TO make footing on the Turkish side by
early morning. The division Mirsky in sup
port to make night march from
LISA. and be in position at Simnitza at
seven A. NJ follow It's sister division across in the
eveat Of the iatters In the event of failure
il was to take up the lighting and force passage at
all sacrifices for the .Archduke Nicholas had an
nounced that he would take denial. The river had
be crossed at Simntza, cost what 1t might Other
divisions stood within call II need werc. The waters
might be reddened, but they must be crossed.
THE MOVE.
With the darkness General Dragmiroff began his
dispositions. The Grst work TO plant made
placements field guns all along the edge of the
BATS TO sweep with FIRE tho opposite banks This was
while his infantry was being marched over the fats
town In to tho cover OF the willow wood Tho darkness
md the distractions were both great that all wos
.ot ready till the first gllmmer OF gray dawn. There
was no BRIDGE but number OF river boats, capable or
holding from fifteen to forty men eech These were
dragged on carriages through the mud and launched
the darkness from under the spreading boughs OF the
willow trees The troops embarked ana pushed across
as the craft arrived. DragmiroT stood the Shiny
margin to bid his gallant fellows Godspeed. Ho would
fam have shown the way, Tor, although scientific
soldier, It his duty to remain till later he CRATE
full task devoved on Major General Yolchine. whose
brigade consisted OF the regiments of Valinsk and
Minsk, the Fiity-third and Fifty fourth OF The line.
The boats put on singy, rowing across for the little
cove, and later the little steamug was brought into
..pREAMIyG OF THE noua'
For once the Turks had not spent tho night watches
in heavy Sleep Their few cannon at once opened hre
ON tho boats. the hidden masses among the willows
and on the coiumns marching across the Hat Nor
was this all. From the slopes above the cove there
came at the boats u smart infantry hre. The
Turkish rlemen were holding tho landing place.
Yolchine has not gained experience and credit
In Caucasian warfare for nothing. His boat lead
ing. The Turkish riemen in position about fifty
yards from the shore He landed his handful and bade
sheLl lie down in the mud one or two down
previously with Turkish bullets. He opened skir-
mshng fire to cover the landing boats that followed.
Unc by one these landed their relghis, who followed
tho exam pie OF the first boat load.
YOUNG HERO.
AT length enough had accumulated Young Sk0be-
1on there, host in himself. Yolchne bade his
men fix bayonets, stand up and follow thoir officers.
There rush and cheer that rang louder in the
sswerAl it. THAT volley was not Gred in vain,
but tho Turks did not wait for cold Steel
distance up the slope. but for the titne could not
press lar from the base Busly yet slowly the craft
moved to ana fro from shore to shore. The Russian
guns had at opened when the Turkish fire showed
fire may be, it will not all at once
falling the water, whIstling through the
willows, ana bursting among the columns
on the lat one shell iron mountain gun fell INTO
boat containing guns their guuncrs and the COM
mandant of the battery. The boat was swamped ut
once and all on board perished This was the only
serious casualty, but numerous Russian soldiers
falling Oh both SIDES OF the river. Never
theless the work was going steadily on, aud when.
soon alter seven O'Clock went TO meet Prince MIrsky
Oh the high ground before Sinniiza, the report was
that already the whole brigade Of foichine had reached
the other side, that Russian battery there, and
Mat Draeimifon himself had crossed We stood Tor
tome time surveying tue scene.
sIsTovA, SILENT.
Cast eye down there 10 your lett front athwart
he flats. and note the masses OF troops waiting there
marching toward the cover ol me willows. See
the long row oil gus IN action there by the water's
edge covered by the baiaIiops OF infantry, in this
case mlschevous convcntonaity. owing to the ex-
posurc Tor the Turkish cannon will just yet DO
wholly siIcDced Note how deity the Russian shells
pitch INTO that eurtbwork the verge OF Sistova.
But the gallant gunners stubborniy fight thor guns
under The rain oi fire, ana when one gun Is quiet
another gives tongue. And what a mark Hall
army corps out there ON the Hat, with no
speck OF that patch OF willows
down there. Hark 10 the c;ackle OF musketry
fire on the wooded slopes rising out from
moving, tor that Turkish battery on the sky fine
dropping shells with fell swtness among tho
might be city OF the dead But the Turkish
gunners cling 10 their posts ana their guns with
WONDERFUL stanchnoss, amid clouds of dust TIM up
by the shells which burst around them Nor
are the single pieces among the trees wholly quiet
Shells are dropping among the troops on tue HAT and
the ambulance are hurry ing ABOUT with brancards
or piodding toward the military surgery with heavy,
blood sodoen burdens. You watch the shells drop
into the water, starring It's surface they fall
MS II had been glass. What wonder
that one and all should miss those clumsy, heavy
laden craft which stud the water thicky. shell
IN one oil these boats would produce fearful results
among the closely pucked lrcigDL Not less Tell havoc
would 1t work among tnc soidicrs further Gu, massed
there under the shelter OF the clay bank
HAVE nRES
One realizes how great would have been the Russian
loss II the Turks had been any great In the
Sistova position, and how, after all the Comma andcr
In Chief might have been orced take n
DENIAL accepting the inevitable. But the
affair stands the whole thing might have
been spectacle specially got up for the
eradication OF Smnitza enjoying the effect from the
platform high ground overbangiug the nsts The
aughter and hustle there strange contrast
no apparent absence OF human lie in Sisova, oppo-
lite. Bat then Sstova viutm lashcd 10 the STAKE
rhose on Simnitza Bluff knew their skins were safe.