The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-08-16
DESPERATE FIGHTING.

the recent fighting in the vicinity of
Plevna The Turkish force was esti-
mated at $4,000. They occupied series
OF positions which are naturally strong.
and also artificially fortified in every
available spot, forming horseshoe in
front of Plevna, with both TANKS resting
on the river Vid. The Russian force
consisted of the Ninth army corps, under
Gen. Krudener, the Thirtieth division
and Thirtieth brigade of the Second di-
vision, under Prince Schackesky. with
three brigades of cavalry and 100 guns. 1t
was arranged that Gen. Krudener should
attack the Turkish center at Grivica and
the northern flank of the intrenched POI
sition over the Rahova, which Schackesky
attacked Radizoo and Gen. Skabeleff
held III check the strong Turkish force
at Looca, which was the extremity of the
Turkish line. Gen. Krldener began the
battle about half past O'Clock. After a
long bombardment he succeeded in ST.
lencing the Turkish cannon at Grivica,
but could not expel the infantry from the
earthworks. He spent the whole after
noon nnavailingly endeavoring to force
the northern flank of the Turkish posi-
ton, desisting after dark without having
gained anything material, and having
himself suffered considerable loss.
Prince Schackesky about noon carried
Radizen, and, planting four batteries on
the ridge beyond, bombar,ied the near
est Turkish position, which was
an earthwork armed with cannon
i'll front of an intrenched vii
lage. After an hours cannonade he
silenced the Turkish guns, and his in
fantry, after along and bloody contest,
| carried the earthwork and the village
OF n series OF 1ntrenched vineyards
strongly held, was then attacked and Ill
timately carried, but with a terrible
effort and very severe loss, owing to the
heavy Turkish artillery fire The Rus
slams, moreover, were unable to utilize
the captured position. About 4 o'clock
the reserve brigade was brought mp and
an attack made on the positions immedi-
ately covering Plevna. The attack con-
timed till nearly sunset The Turkish
infantry was in great force in continu-
ous line under the shelter of the trenches.
Despite the most stubborn efforts no
impression could he made upon that
line. Two companies of Russian infant
ny did work round to the right of the
Turkish trenches and entered the town
of Plevna, but it was impossible to hold
it. The Russian batteries pushed boldly
forward into the position first taken 10
attempt to keep down the Turkish can
nonade which was crashing into the in
fantry in the open field, but they were
compelled soon to evacuate the hazard
Gus spot. At shutdown the Turks made
a continuous forward movement and re-
occupied their second position. The
Russian infantry made a succession of
desperate stands and died like heroes.
The Turks gradually retook everything
they had lost The fighting lasted long
after nightfall With darkness the
Bashi -Bazouks took possession of the
battlefield, and slew all the wounded.
The Russians held the heights above
Radizevo, but the Bashi-Bazouks worked
around to the lear and fell on the
wounded, collected in the village
of Radizevo. A retreat was COM
PEELED in the direction of Bulgarenii.
The second days fighting began at
half-past 9. Gen. Skobeloff led on
brigade of Cossacks across the plain
before Loftcha, which here widens so as
to form a natural fighting ground A
strong division of Turkish infantry, en-
boldened by the success of the previous
day, came out to meet them, and hand
to-hand conflict ragged with great vio-
lence for about three hours, when the
Turks were driven back to their in
trenchments. Meanwhile Gen. Krude-
er was engaging the Turkish center,
and heavy artillery was used effectively
upon Osman Pasha's force at Garinea,
while Gen. Schackesty attacked the
positions back of the River Vid
All these operations were going on at
once. and covering a territory from ten
to fifteen miles in length. Just in the
rear of the Russian center a broken
range of hills terminated in single
crag, whose rocky face was shattered
and furrowed with sl.oGa,3d shell. Here,
unmindful of the iron hail, Cen. Krude-
ner surveyed the battle and issued Or
ders. Looking down the valley, there
was nAen in the distance thick rolling
clouds from Gen. Schackesty's guns.
But heir voices were drowned in the
louder thunder of the artillery in front
The Turks from their earthworks kept
up tremendous cannonade, and all
efforts to drive them back were unavail-
ing. Again and again whole columns of
brave men rushed to the charge, but
when they returned their ranks were
terribly depleted, and told the stubborn
ness with which the Turks will fight
when put to the test. The Third and
Ninth battalions suffered most After a
single sally scarcely one-third of the
men came back.
Gen. Schackesty's division succeeded
about noon in advancing its batteries
across the neck of land to ridge re-
Gently occupied by the Turks, and cap
trred the village of Radisova. From
this point the tide of battle turned in