Year: 1877

The Greatest Battle Of the European War


The Russian Army Disnstrously Defeated


Gallant Charges of n Russian Corps.


The New York Herald has full and
graphic account of the great Russian
defeat at Plevna, from which we take the
following thrilling passages


Two brigades of Russian infantry were
in the Radisovo valley behind the guns
of General Tchekoff's brigade - the
Thirty-second division on the right, the
First brigade of the Thirtieth division on
the left. The leading battalions were
ordered to advance over the ridge to
attack.


The orderwas hailed with glad cheers,
for the infantry men had been chatting
at their inaction, and the battalions, with
swift step, streamed forward through the
glen and up the steep slope behind,
marching in company columns. The
rifle companies led the way. The Rus
sian artillery had afforded active support
to this movement by firing with increased
rapidity over the heads of the advancing
infantry. =, ,


1t was maintained with such vigor that
it completely covered the column when
the infantrymen had crossed the crest
and were descending the slope and
crossing the intervening valley to the as
sault of the Turkish position. Just be-
fore reaching the crest the battalions
deployed into line at the double quick,
and crossed in this formation, breaking
to pass through the intervals between
the guns.


The Turkish shells whistled through
them as they advanced in line, and the
men were already slain in great num-
bers, but the lo2e. undulating line
tramps steadily over he stubbles and
crashes through the unde growth on the
descent. Beyond, the sldrmishing line
is thrown out in advance.


The fighting line retains the formation
for time, until under the oombined in
fuences of the impatience of the men
and their rapidly thinning ranks, it breaks
into rugged spray of humanity and
surges on swiftly, loosely and with no
close cohesion. The supports are close
up and run up into the fighting line in
dependently and eagerly. It is verit-
able chase of fighting men, impelled by
q burning desire to get forward and come
to close quaruers with the enemy, who is
firing at them from behind the shelter of
the epaulment. Presently, all along the
face of the advancing infantrymen burst
forth faring volleys of musketry fire.
The Jagged line springs forward through
the maize fields, gradually assuming a
concave shape. A Turkish position is
neared. The rolling of rifle fire is inces-
SAINT, yet dominated by the fercer and
louder turmoil of the artillery above.


The ammunition wagons gallop up
to the cannon with fresh fuel for the
fire. The guns redouble the energy of
their firing, the gunners work like de-
mons. The crackle of the musketry fire
rises into sharp peal. The clamor of
the hurrahs of the fighting men comes
back to us on the breeze, making the
blood tingle with the excitement of the
fray.


Away on the left village is on fire,
the dark smoke rising from amid the
surrounding vineyards in O black pillar
against the sky. The white smoke of
tie battle rolls up in heavy clouds and
curtains in the picture of war that is
before us.


The fell fury of the battle has entered
on It's maddest paroxyisms. The sup
ports that had remained behind, lying
lust under the crest of the slope, are
pushing forward over the brow of the
hill. The wounded begin to trickle
back over the ridge. We can see the
dead and the more severely wounded
lying where they fall on the stubble and
amid the maize. The living wave of
fighting men is pouring over them, ever
on and on. The gallant gunners to the
right and to the left of US stand to their
work with @ will on the shell-swept
ridge. The Turkish cannon fire begins
to waver in that earthwork over against
us. More supports stream down with a
louder cheer into the Russian fighting
line. Suddenly the disconnected men of
the advance close up, and are together
again in strong line. We can discern
the officers signaling for the concentra-
ton by the waving of their swords. The
distance from the Turkish line isabout one
hundred yards. A fierce, hoarse shout
reaches us, but already the rush has
begun. With the speed that only comes
in tho last desperate moment Of closing
on bitter foe the Russians spring for
ward. The wild dash is headed by the
colonel of one of. the regiments of the
Thirty-second division.


The Turks in the shelter trench hold
their ground. The bristling line of bay
onets is close upon them, but the sons
of Islam, with their blind reliance on
Kismet, look fate in the shape of the
armed Muscovite steadily in the face.
They fire steadily and with terrible
effect into the advancing forces.


The horse of the gallant colonel who
is leading the charge goes down, but the
colonel is on his feet in second and,
waving his sword, leads his men forward
on foot. 1t is only for few PAGES. He
staggers and falls. I heard afterward
that he was killed. We can hear the
sound of wrath-half howl, half yell +
with which men, bayonets at "the
charge" rush on to avenge him. They
have not long to wait. 1t is but few
wards now to the Turkish works, and
these are soon traversed. In an instant
they are over the parapet and in among
the Turks like m avalanche. The car
mage is seen to be terrible. Tt is hand
to hand and breast to breast. The rush
which carried the Russians in sweeps all
before it. Not many Turks grta chance
to run away from the cleaning bayonets
swayed by muscular Russian arms. The
outer edge of the first position is won.


About six o'clock the Turks pressed
forward heavy mass Of infantry to re-
capture the position. Here Schackoskoy
took bold step, sending two batteries
down into the first position he had taken
to keep the returning Turks in check. It
was in vain. The Turks were not to be
denied, and in spite of the most de-
termined fighting by the Russians had
reoccupied their second position before
seven o'clock.


The First brigade of the Thirty-ffth
division had early inclined to the left,
where the towers and houses of Plevna
were visible. It was rash, for the