National Republican., 1877-10-27
BEFORE PLEyNA.
Interesting petall. Of the september Battles

thc movemcnis now going on over the same ground,
becomes especially interesting II Is dated At the
headquarters Of the Grand Duke Nicholas Pora-
dine, September Il, 1877.
Lieut.. Greene says:
After the second attack on Plcvna. so decisive
repulse by the Turks on July 30, there were no
offensive movements ON the part of the Russians
until September O. The Russians experienced
much difficulty in moving up their reinforcements
on August - their offensive plans were slightly
dcrangcd by All attack Of Turks from Pleyna made
by 5000 men, supported by forty pieces of artl.
Russian position near Zgaieyitza, eleven miles
southeast of Pievna The Turks carried aud held
the position for short time, but were subsequently
driven out and entirely rcpulsed. The light lasted
from a. IN. to p. M, and the losses were 900
Russians aud 5000 Turks The Russians had but
Prince meIotinsky, with 5000 men, advanced to
THE ATTACK OF LovTcHA.
from the direction of sclyi. Lovtcha is the princ
pal village on the high road connecting Pievna
with Phillpolc by the Trojan Pass. Lovtcha was
held by IS nenShGd Turks A a M on dsep
on the Turkish position cast Of the town, aud at o.
nj. Gen. Schoberlaw assaulted the lines on the lcit
Lovtcha was taken Prince Imerstinsky at once
pursued toward Plcvna reaching BOjOt in striking
distance on the afternoon of September ,. During
the month following the unsuccessful attack OH
Plcvna on July 80 the Ninth and Fourth Corps occu-
pied line extending from near Trlstenik OH the
north 10 Pelistrat OH the SOUTH distance Of five
miles.
The following were the positions of the two ar
mics around Plevna; The Ninth Corps was In posi-
ton from Trlstenik To near Puradine, across the
rolling hills separating the head waters Of some
small streams flowing eastward to the Osmn. They
constructed batteries in two lines 100 yards apart
placed TO rake the ravines, us well as to com
mand every approach over open ground. They
had sixty -four pieces of artillery, and the batteries
were partially connected by infantry trenches and
rie'pits. The outposts were three or four miles
In advance on ridge dividing the waters Of the
We'd and the onna; on the left Of the Ninth Corps.
also well fortified and extended 10 Nelshat; on the
len, the Ninth Division of cavalry watching the
country TO the Osma River. Gen. Zotro COM
manded the Russian force.
THE TURKISH POSITION
consisted off series Of redOubs, similarly planned
but Of inferior strength to those which surrounded
Washington and Richmond occupying more than
half circle of five miles radius The little town
Of Peyn% from the Yea on The north to ,he We'd don on
being the junction Of the high.roads from Phil
lipolc and Sufra with those leading to Nikopal,
Storn and Kerela, and would threaten the line Of
communication with the Balkans west of the We'd.
The country Is fiat for several miles and to the east
Is muAh broken, the outlying ridges forming an
the Turks occupied their fortified positions, which
were extremely formidable and contained garri.
Rassan q % SodSnr fn anS ree o RSs ~ men bas
ries, with 400 guns, and 5000 cavalry. The move
ment began On the evening Of September 4, the
Ninth Corps to Zgalevitza and the Roumanians TO
Gribstzka.
ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER
the large rcdoubt and the entrcnched camp north
OF Pleyna were in full view. The fire opened from
spond Ii for an % hour, The Airing was accurate on
both sides, but owing to the long range the dam
age was slight After successfully closing in to-
wards the turn September II, the Jde of the
Emperor, assaults were made In cold, drizzling
! rain The Russians OF Krislow's Corps rushed for
The fire rcsemblcd that of several batteries OF CAT.
| ling guns. Nevertheless, the Russians advanced
with great bravery, and In a few moments reached
the ditch ofthe redOut. Hero they stood for about
three minutes, when
THEY BEGAN TO RETREAT.
The Turks rallied from the redoubt but battalion
OF Russians halted and gave them q whitening
The Russians then Withdrew In good order. At
least onefourth Of the attacking force LEFT
the field. Another assault on the left Of krlslow
Corps reached within 100 yards Of the redoubt but
could get no further under the terrible fire. The
Roumanians on the right made an assault on the
main redoubt, with no bctter.success. Another
! column, assisted by two regiments of the Ninth
| Corps. advanced frOm the east and were repulsed
about Ave p. IN. Finally, rs darkness closed OIL
manians, under PopescO rushed forward, without
firing shot, and got into the ditch In large mum
bers before the Turks saw them. Here they killed
holes from the ditch. They climbed over the re
part, which was much beaten down by the artillery
fire, and. after handto-hand
BAYoNET FIGHT IN THE DARK,
they drove the Turks out and held the redoubt
the two Tedoubts nearest the Chansee Gen. Scobe
lew an officer Of extraordinary bravery carried Tho
redoubt one and q half miles southwest Of Plevnf
Just after dark, the Turks taking position 600 yard
tn the west In this precarious position he remained
all night entering, like wedge, between the Turk
sh rCdoubs. The gallant assaults OF Scobeew OF
the great redoubt turned the tide aud checked de
feat. The Grand Duke and staff remained on tn
field anxiously awaiting the reports Of his aid dc
, camps, who had been sent to various parts OF tn
field. The night was cold ana dismal with no pro
} lection against the rain except their rubber coat
Turkish IcdOubt north Of the great redoubt prove
stronger than was thought, and its fire compclle
the Russians to remain inside the redoubt or on III
south side, and prevented them from introducin
! artillery into It,
ON THE LEFT
however, the Turks early began work sgains
Gen. Scobelew, who was subjected TO fire on thre
sides On his 'front.' the actual rear of the intrench
, mcnts he was occupying was Il line of infantr
!, inrenchments, constructed during the night, 90
yards from him: On his len he had the fire of tn
redoubt the hin, which he had failed 10 tax,
+, and in his rear, though long range, was the re
. doubt which Krslow had unsuccessfully assaulted
d horse was blswn from under him by a sheli,) an
/. maintained his ground until eleven o'clock a, IN
@ when the Turks brought up column OF reinforce
s ments from Pleyna about 1000 men. This co
. umn struck him on the right flank when III
u position became untenable and Scobeew retired.
e since that time @ up 70 september % 4 affairs ~ :,
rcdoubt under the fire Of the neighborng worl
=, against which the Roumanians were adyancin
WIN hppIOhCIts pahullth, lHt Nu
slams wounded up to that date were COCO TIL
dead then unburied numbered 1900. The Rot
mUnian loss Ia stated at3UOOin killed and wounde,
!: SEVERAL BATTALIoNs WERE ASNIHILATEI
:, The Turkish loss Is estimated at $500 men. o
# September l3a council of war was held by III
y Emperor, Grand Duke, Gen. MllOutine, (War Mini
II ter, Gen. NepOkoitchitsky tchief Of staff Gei
=, Scvltsky second chief Of staff, and Gen. ZotOy
!, chief oil stan of the right wing. II was detc
4 mined 10 make no more open assaults against Ii
II redoubs, which had cost them in two months
OVER 1000 MEN,
I, without decisive results but they will hold the
positions, throw up counter lines of intrencOmeI
q and strong redoubts. The Russians held tho Loo
u Chachansce with division Of cavalry across I'll
o river on the Sofia road. Gen. scobeleVs grei
Z bravery was rewarded by promotion " tho rank q
Z lieutenant general IN command OF the Sixteent
! Division. He Is thirtytive years old. Gen. Pom
q eranbew was advanced from the command OF Ii
Sixteenth Division 10 that Of the Fourteenth Corp
I and Gen. Krislow resumes command Of the Mint
y Cavalry division.
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