The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-07-27

The story Of its Capture by the Russians
Terrific Fighting ON both Sides. q }

The Story OF It's Capture by the Russians--
Terrific Fighting ON both sidss 81 .
The following account of the desperate
assault upon and capture of Nikopolis
by the Russians is furnished by war
correspondent of the New York Herald:
The batteries mt Turnu- Magurelli had
reduced Nikopolis to ruins, but the two
hills on which the town was built COM
pletely sheltered the Turkish forces from
the Russian fire. Therefore, it became
necessary to attack the town and position
from the Bulgarian side of the river.
For this purpose considerable force OF
infantry was masked west Of Sistova,
and, during the concentration, these
troops served to cover the crossing.
When the two corps had established
themselves in the direction of Biela and
Tirnova, the covering body was prepared
to move on Nikopohs.
But, in the meantime, the Turks were
strengthening their position and prepar-
ing to defeat the clearly apparent object
of their enemy. All the indications,
therefore, pointed to a bloody struggle
for the possession of Nikopolis; and, to
speak truly, neither side seemed anxious
to begin it. The threatened failure of
the Sistova bridge, and the frequent in
terruptions of traffic necessitated by the
repairs forced the Russians to make the
attack.
The extensive swamp and lake west of
Sistova interfered considerably with the
Russian advance, although it afforded
a decided protection against Turkish
attack from that side. The -Cossaeks
had been skirmishing and scouting for
more than two days in the direction of
Plevna and Nikopolis, and their opera
tons and activity masked the prepare
tions of the attacking column very eff
fectually. ~
Finally, the order for the Russian adj
vance was given, and, after an arduous
march around the lake and toward Nj
kopolis, the contending forces came into
collision. The Turks had taken the
precaution to cover their position by
double lines of pickets, supported at
intervals by several companies of picked
troops. This was to guard against the
raids of the Cossacks, whose enterprise
has impressed itself thoroughly upon
the Turkish mind. These lines of pick
cts made what might be termed formal
show of resistance, and slowly retired
on the main body. AS soon as the
Russians came within effective range
of the Turkish position, they were
met by severe artillery fire, which,
however, did not check their advance,
and to which they replied with still more
formidable fire. The Turks, being post
ed on a commanding position, had con-
siderable advantage, andas the Russians
approached frightful gaps were made In
their ranks by the Turkish artillery.
With surprising valor, however, they
continued to approach the heights, and,
as soon they came within rifle range,
they opened terrible fire on the Turks.
For half an hour this musketry duel con-
tinued, with undated vigor.
The Russians in the meantime devel
oped their front so as to approach their
left in the direction of the Ozin river.
This was movement which Threatened
the Turkish line of retreat to the south
westward and westward. About midday
on Sunday the order for the assault was
given, and the whole Russian line, sup
ported by several batteries of artillery
advantageously posted, stormed the
heights occupied 10y the Turks.
During the awful climb in the face of
a deadly fire, the Russians suffered ter
ribly, while the Turks. stubbornly de-
Tending their position, sustained equal
losses; but the onset was SO impetuous
that the Turks could not Withstand it,
and We're driven headlong over the crest
of the hills toward Nikopolis, followed
by the Cossacks and attachments OF
light infantry.
After obtaining possession of the
heights commanding the town, at ter
rible cost. it is true, the Russians virtu-
ally had Nikopolis at their mercy. The
Turks, finding their line of retreat threat
ened, abandoned the town. 1t was filed
with Turkish dead. Many wounded
were also found in the streets and in the
houses, where they had been abandoned
by the Turks in the haste of their re-