The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-10
/" ENGLAND"
sHER WARS IN viCT0RiA's REIGN"
PART ~


stroyed the sense and connection OF the
final paragraph by the omission OF the
word "Plevna." Before resumlng we
therefore repeat this and supply the miss
ing world
To The Editor Of the Dispatch:
The foregoing, think, will amply reiute
General Maury's charge about the unduly
"grcat preparations" IL was the consum-
mate skill aud the extraordinary audacity
Of General wolselcy's plans, carried out
by the pluck and dash OF his troops, which
gave that wonderfully speedy victory at
Tel-el-Kcbir wbich the least deliberation In
tbe assault would probably have caused to
become, as Arab expected TO make 1t, a
second
"PLEvSA.'
May not comparison between Tel-el-
Kebir and Pleyna be fairly drawns Albeit
that the former fell to the British in about
thirty minutes after the assailants entered
II, with loss Of but about 400. whilst the
latter required almost as many weeks and
cost the Russians 10000 men!
Compare the natural strength Of the two
positions. "Tel-el-Keber." or "the Great
Mound" so designated in that fiat country
OF Lower Egypt, comprised undulatins
sand mounds. rising into n ridge Of some
thing like 1870 or 40 feet-about equal.
probably, to the highest ridge Of Richmond
above tide-water. Plevna took its name
from q small town situated in kind OF
basin. hills rising around il to the height
of some 800 or 600 feet. Tel-el-Keber was
one long entrenched camp, thoroughly
protected on its right flank by broad
canal, beyond which lay rice-iields inter-
sccted by water-courses, and impracticable
to the movements Of troops. The frontal
line OF defencos stretched for several miles
from the canal TO village for its left Hank.
Backward for about two miles, nearly
at right angles, and stretching along the
ridge, another line was thrown up. The
whole had been constructed with the best
military engineering skill, the labor being
that OF men accustomed through life to the
construction OF bikes and dams. The cir
eumyallation was ditched in front and
strengthened with fertilization angles, and
with bastions and redoubts. The batteries
and redoubts were sixteen in number, and
mounted sixty-seven rifled guns-most OF
them Krupp's. Arabs camp was enclosed
on three sides-namely, by the double lines
OF walls and batteries north and east; the
canal and impraeticable rice-fields on the
south; open only on the west towards
Cairo, about two hours distant by the rail-
road which connected the two places.
Pleyna, in its military character, consist
ed of a number Of detached, and at first
very hastily-thrown-up entertainments, en-
circlng the little village which gave it the
name. They occupied the slopes OF The
hills, and had no extraordinary advantages
OF location. The Turks, in all, had Just
ten more guns (seventy-seven) but they
were cannon of inferior make. Osman
Pacha had with him 10000 men; Arab
about the same number. or considerably
more, il Cairo and Salihiyeh, both within
easy reach, are to be considered. With all
the knowledge we have OF them, from the
Crimea on, who can award q superiority OF
morale to the Turks over the Egyptians
Certainly the latter were better trained,
for the Turks are VIGOROUSLY badly OFF,
cered.
According TO Lieutenant Greene [sent
over by the United States expressly to OBJ
serve the campaign Russo urkish,
1S7G-70 accredited TO Russia, and accorded
every facility for observation with SPECIAL
marks of respect, "when Osman Pacha,
having marched from Widin with 10000
NJ,
little importance was attached TO the report
at the headquarters Of the hitherto victo-
rious Russians. An order was simply sent,
OCCUPY Pleyna as quickly as possible"
A Russian force approXimatlDg in size to
that OF General Wolseley's seems speedily
to have been launched against Osmsn. He
was attacked the Goth OF July-tmee days
after his arrival was heard Of. Alter a
whole days liehting the Russians retired
with loss ofnearly 5000 men. Upon this
repulse Lieutenant Greene's comment was :
The utter madness Of attacking with an
inadequate force troops fighting behind
entertainments armed with improved mod
ern weapousl They we're armed, like the
Egyptians, with Remington rifles.
- The Russian commander reported and
asked for further orders. An instant re-
Spouse from the Grand Duke was elected,
expressing irritation and surprise that
Pleyna bad not been occupied. Large re-
Inducements were gotten up. A second
battle occurred on the 30th Of July, and
after desperate work the Russians with
drew in The evening with a loss in killed
and wounded OF over 1000 men. Lieu
tenant Greene repeated as the main cause
OF failure the terrible efficiency OF the
breech-loader behind Entertainments, add
jng a lack of concerted action upon the
part of'the assailants.
The Russians became now fully awake to
the magnitude OF their task, and the grand
est preparations were made for the de-
structi0n oi this foe. so formidable behind
his earthen bresstworks. A vast army was
concentrated. and by night surprise-for
the Turks seem to have kept no better
lookout than the Egyptians-- batteries were
advanced TO most commanding positions.
For DAYS they pounded at the earthwOrks,
knocking them utterly out OF shape, but
little effecting their efficiency.
On the 11th OF Septembcr-"t the Cars
name-day"-the third and grand assault
took place. The only success OF that ter
rible work was SkObelef7s, who captured
one distant position, but from lack OF sup
port was compelled next morning to eyacu-
ate Il. The third battle OF PleYna resulted
In the fearful loss to the Russians OF nearly
10000 men. The Russians then gave VI
TIE bloody and frutiess task OF assault.
Pleyna was invested with an army which
taxed the resources OF the Empire
10000 men guarded every avenue OF ap-
proach or retreat. AS the sequel proved
OSman probably knew that he had little tC
hone from capitulatiOn, and hc refused the
demand to surrender. Completely starved
out at last, 1T the head OF his ragged &c
famlshed troops, the Turkish seai
mander made desperate dash fol
Hberty-and came near succeeding, too
He was captured, however, with hi
whole army. Lieutenant Greene, warn
friend and eulogist OF the Russians as be
l., caunot iorbear in his shorter narrative
Army Llic in Russia" expressing horror
at the Treatment that this unfortunate but
gallant army received. In mid-December
Ia that rigorous climate without necessity
for the Danube was within easy reach, shoe
tess, rag-ciad, and furnished as they had be-
fore been, they were kept without food for