The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-03
The Surrender at PIevha.

4 On the north side the news came that
Osman Pasha was heading some 10000
troops, and had already driven in the
Russian advanced lines. He had cross
ed the Vid, and was aiming at Etropol.
Thither dashed several of the, staff.
Meanwhile the Russians, southerly and
easterly, closed in upon the Turkish
! intrenchments, capturing some easily,
but paying terrible price for others.
! The Moslems waited until the foe was
within 400 yards, and then swept the
lines with murderous fire. The Mus
covites never hesitated nor faltered, but
carried one position after another by
storm. Enthusiasm grew into fury, and
whole columns rushed through musket-
ry fire as if it carried no death. But
the Turks exhibited despairing BRAY
cry. Again and again they formed in
line and met the advancing foe at the
bayonet point. Towards afternoon the
Turkish fire began to fail, and it was
evident that their ammunition was ex-
hausted. But their courage had not
failed. In the trenches or in the open
they checked more than once the i'm
petuous Russian charge, and had it not
been for the MuscOvite guns the
battle would have proved too dear
for the object of the prize. Wherever
the Turks formed to resist or make a
stand, there was concentrated the fire of
the Russian guns. Whole battalions
were well nigh swept away.
But at Etropol, where Ghazi Osman
commanded in person, the fight was de,
moniacal. They bore down on the Rus
sian positions with fierceness and
steadiness that nothing could withstand.
Cneered on by the words, ''Allah, Al
lah!n ringing in the air, they tore
through shrapnel and musket shot until
the ground was darkened with their
dead. They leaped into the intrench-
mentS, and there, hand to hand, strug-
gled in death struggle with their hated
foes. They swarmed the redoubts, and
sprung on the Russian gunners like
tigers. Their reserves came fearlessly
forward and had to pass through a con-
verging fire that made gaps in the ranks
at every stride they marked. Nothing
daunted they rushed to the aid of their
brethren in the front. But the Russians
held on bravely, and fought with a
'steadiness and undaunted courage that
outlasted the iron-hke bravery of the
Osmanites. Gradually the Roumanians
bore down upon the Turkish flank, and
from the west the Russian troops swept
in upon the lines Closer and closer
the allied troops hemmed in their foes,
and thinner and thinner grew
the Turkish ranks. At. length
Osman. who fought as only
a Turk can fight, grew weary of the
slaughter and ordered retreat 1t was
too late. The enemy had surrounded
him, and Plevna was already in the
hands of the Russians. With last at
tempt he stroye to pierce his narrowing
bonds. He fell, and with him the Mos
lem bravery fell, too. The confusion
became terrible. Whole divisions flung
down their arms The artillery bate
ries ceased their fire, the infantry dashed
their muskets against the gun-carriage
wheels. AT length flag of truce was
visible. 1t was near Osman Pasha.
Some 30 Cossacks rode forward, and
were followed by Gen. Grsnetzky and
other officers. Supported by two Off
GERS, Osman Pasha, handing his sword
to the Russian General, said: ''To the
Emperor, through you, surrender my
sword and my army Thus, after six
hours heroic fighting on both sides,
Plevna fell, and its gallant defender and
his army became, the prisoners of the
allied Russo-Roumanian troops.-L0r-
don Daily Chronicle. lr