The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-03-29
ievna.

The following VIVID account OF the
pattlc of Plevna is taken from the ex-
citing story, "Where was VilliersPn by
Archibald Forbes, the distinguished
war-correspondent, in the March 81.
Nicholas. The description gains addi-
tionnl interest from the fact that Mr..
Forbes was the only journalist who wit
messed this terrible fight,
Before daybreak on the last day of
July the whole force was on the move
to the front. There was a long halt in
a hollow, where was the village of RAJ
dishovo, into which Turkish shells, fly
ing over the ridge in front, came bang
ing and crashing.
About midday Schahovskoy and his
staff, which we accompanied, rode on
to the ridge between the guns, already
in position there, and we surveyed the
marvellous view before us-the little
town of Plevna in the center, with the
Turkish earthworks, girdled by cannon
smoke, all around it.
After an artillery duel of three hours,
the Prince ordered his infantry on to
the attack. The gallant fellows passed
us, full of ardor, with bands playing
and colors flying, and went down into
the fell valley below. For three hours
the demon of carnage reigned supreme
in that dire cockpit. The wounded
came limping and groaning back, and
threw themselves heavily down on the
reverse slope in the village of Radishovo
in our rear The surgeons already had
set up their field hospitals, and were
ready for work.
Never shall forget the spectacle OF
that assault made by Schahovskoy's in
fantrymen on the Turkish earth-works
in the valley. The long ranks on which
looked down tramped steadily on to
the assault. No skirmshing line was
thrown out in advance The fighting
line remained the formation, till, what
with Impotence and what with men
falling, il broke into ragged spray OF
humanity, and surged on swiftly, loose
ly, and with no close cohesion. The
supports ran up into the fighting array
independently and eagerly, Presently
all along the bristling line burst forth
flaming volleys of musketry fire. The
Jagged line sprang forward through the
maize-felds, gradually falling into a
concave shape. The crackle of the
musketry fire rose into sharp. contin-
nous peal. The clamor of the hurrahs
of the fighting men came back to us on
the breeze, making the blood Jingle
with the excitement of battle. The
wounded began TO trickle back down
the gentle slope. We could see the
dead and the more severely wounded
lying where they had fallen, on the
stubble and amidst the maize. The liv-
ING wave of fighting men was pouring
over them, ever on and on, Suddenly
the disconnected men drew closer to-
gether We could see the officers sig
mailing for the concentration by the way
ing Of their swords. The distance yet
to be tlnvcrscd was but a hundred yards.
There was a wild rush, headed by the
colonel of one of the regiments. The
Turks in the work stood their ground
and fired with terrible effect into the
whirlwind that was rushing upon them.
The colonel's horse went down, but the
colonel was on his feet in moment
and, waving his sword, led his men for
ward on foot But only for few PAGES
lie staggered and fell. We could hear
the tempest gush of wrath--half howl,
half yell-with which his men, bayonets
at the charge, rushed on TO ayenge him.
They were over the parapet and in
among the Turks like an overwhelming
avalanche. Not many followers of the
Prophet got the chance TO run away
from the cleaning Russian bayonets.
But there were not men enough for
the enterprise. II was cruel to watch
the brave Russian soldiers standing
there leaderless, sternly awaiting death
for want of officers to lead them for
ward or to march them back. AS the
sun set in lurid crimson, the Russian
defeat became assured, The attacking
troops had been driven back or stricken
down. All around us the air was
heavy with the low moaning Of the
wounded