The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-09-23

the Russian regiment holding the dis
trict was forced to retire and was
obliged to change my plans in order tC
retake the lost ground the following
day. 1t was not until the evening ol
September "a that the entire noun,
tain village Of Sykwantun was In oul
hands. At first our attack did net
succeed, but the fighting was con.
tinued with undated vigor, even ar.
ter darkness had set in. We repeated.
ly gained possession Of the heights
but were iiaally compelled to with,
draw temporarily. Many of our de.
tachments became mixed up and,in
the disorder unity of command was
rendered dillicult. Leaders OF indi:
vidual detachments, however, cOntin.
ued the attack time after time and at
last succeeded in occupying the de-
sired position, thereby attaining the
object Of the operations Of the right
flank. AS soon as the left flank in
the vicinity of the Yentai mines on
September > (Orluif's detachment,)
occupied the heights to the north OF
the mines, hold ny a strong position
facing south, he opened tire with two
batteries and engaged the army In an
artillery duel. Orloif's right flank
was then four miles from the left
flank and the remaiId 7 Of the army.
1u order to aid our troops holding
los tionS near Sykwantun, Orloff sent
part of his fo:ca from the hills and at
tackled the enemy in the direction of
the village OF Sakhumoon. This
movement was carried on In corn
fields. oar men with a frontal and
llahk tire, and, losing their bearing in
the corn fields, began to retire. The
troops remaining III the hills also re-
tired westward.
BY the time Orlotf'S detachment
was within mile and third OF our
other forces, OrlCT himself was
wounded, rs was also Gen. Fomin,
who subsequently died.
After the evacuation of the posi-
tion which had been intended to serve
as base for our attack, the japanese
extended northward and occupied the
whole range Of hills and the Yentai
mines. SamSonoif's sotnia OF Cossacks
dismounjed aud defended our position
with the utmost courage, but were
gradually driven back.
ENEMY'S STRONG POSITION
Tile enemy was now established
in an extremely strong position on the
bills, and it would have been too haZ.
ardouS for our left flank to attack
them, in view Of the losses sustained
in the previous five days We there.
fore withdrew to the village of Tai
enko, and | decided to retire to Muk.
den, the retreat being accomplished
on September 7th. The evacuation
OF Liao Yang began and was con
cluded the morning Of September 4th
All our equipment was moved and
there was no time to save commits.
sariat reserves, which was sufficient
to last the whole army eight days
These were all destroyed. The pom.
toon bridges were dismantled and car.
rled oil by the troops. while temper.
ary pontoons, were burned and the rail.
way briuges wrecked. The army re.
tired in perfect order. The enemy
attempted to pursue, but were re-
pulsed.
Precautions were taken on Sep.
tembcr and 1 to prevent Il turning
movement from the east. The Japa-
nese to the soulhward took no yigor.
Gus Initiative, but Gen. kuroki as
Sumed the offensive to the eastward.
Our detachments rolding positions at
Talienko suStaired furious night
attack, which, was particularly desper-
ate on September ). We rctaine d
our position, but suffered heavy losses
one regiment, which bore the brunt
OF the fight, losing i'm 800 killed or
wounded
by evening OF September 5 the
danger OF Simultaneous attack on
our front and left flank had disappear
cd. The removal # cur artillery
transport and baggage trains was
effected in the face OF immense dni-
culties, but was successfully conclud-
ed. Our retirement on Mukden OH
September was covered by strong
rear guard OF cavalry
We abandoned Iothing from Aug.
10 up TO the time OF our arrival at
Mukdcn. Our cngibeerS worked with
lhe greatest devotion. Throughout
all the ilshtinG they rendered invalu-
able service III making and repairing
roads and assisting in the railway
Lrallic.