Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-01-10
OsMAN's DEFEAT.
SCENES ON THE FIELD OF PLEVNA
AFTER THE SURRENDER.
[From the London Daily News. |

A long, loud shout went up from
the Russian army when the white
flag was seen and its Significance
was understood-a joyous shout
that swept over that dreary plain,
and was echoed back sonoronsly by
the sullcn, rugged cliffs ovcrhang-
ing the scenes. The thrill OF glad.
ness in the shout showed how
deeply the Russian soldiers had
dreaded the long, weary waiting
through the winter months among
snow and mud round tins inipreg-
nable stronghold. 1t was clear that
a load had been lifted from every
heart. a moment later a Turkish
officer was seen riding over the
bridge with white flag III his hand.
He rode forward to Generrl Ga
netsky, in command of the Grena-
diers, halted a moment, and then
rode back. As 1t turned out, he
was an officer of inferior rank, and
returned because General Ganetsky
instructed him to send an officer
with the rank of pacha to negotiate
the terms of capitulation. Then
thirty or forty of ms, headed by
General Skobcleff, who hail becn
this morning placed on the Sofia
road, rode down the road toward
the bridge, within point blank
range of the Turkish rifles, if the
Turkish soldiers grouped in masses
on the road behind the bridge. on
the clitfs overlooking the Vid had
chosen to open on Us. About fifty
yards from the bridge and seventy
five from some masses Of the other
side, we halted. General Skobeletf
and two or three other officers
:, waved white handkerchiefs. This
signal of amity was answered by
the waving of a piece of white mus
lin, about two yards square, attached
to flag staff.
PRELIMINARY PARLEY.
Then two horsemen came for
ward, each carrying a white flag. =
They rode across the bridge and
approached us. There WAS mo-
mcnt's conversation with General
Skobcleff's interpreter, and then
it was announced that Osinan him
self was coming out, and the two
horsemen galloped back.
"Osman himself coming out ~
; exclaimed all OF us with SURPRISE
This was, indeed, an unlooked> for
incident.
"At any rate We will give him a
respectful reception" exclaimed
one Russian officer, in the gallant
spirit of true chivalry.
"That We will, said another
"We must all salute him and the
soldiers must present arms"
"He is certainly great soldier,
exclaimed another, sand he has
made heroic defence"
, ''He is the greatest general of the
age" said General Sko5elcff, ''for
, he saved the honor OF his country
| will proffer him my hand and tell
him So"
All were unanimous i'll his praise
: and the butcheries of Russian
wounded committed by the Turkish
army OF Plevna were for the mo-
ment forgotten,
IN THE BATTLES PATH
J All around me the ground wal
t covered with grim relics of battle
Here and there the earth was up
torn by the explosion OF shells
Near me lay a horse groaning anc
struggling in death. Close by al
OK, silently bleeding TO death hi'
great, round, patient eyes looking
nournfully ut US. Just before mt
: was cart with d dead horse lying
IN yoke as he had fallen, and /;
! Turkish soldier whose head hac
! been carried away lying alongside
Another man was lying under tht
,, wagon, and around were foul
), wounded men, gazing MP at tht
murky sky or covered up with the
, hood Of their rugged gray overcoa
p. drawn over their faces. Not one
j. of them uttered sound. They lay
8 there and bore their suffering Will
u calm, stolid fortitude whicl
brought tears to my eyes. Jns
! behind the wagon the ground wal
;, ripped to pieces by shell fire, telling
/ how these unfortunates had me
: their fate. The road and its edge.
t were dotted here ard there will
L dead and wounded Turkish soldiers
i oxen, horses and shattered carts
n and few hundred yards north o
:, the road the ground over which
t Os,nan Pacha's sallying column
n had made that heroic charge wa
!, literally covered with dead ant
l wounded. Russian doctors wer,
I already going about ou the felt
; looking after the wounded and Civ
ing them temporary dressing while