Year: 1877

shell has struck drifting cloud of smoke among the
trees this side followed by quick report shows
that batteries returning the compliment, and
shortly a cloud OF dust mingled with smoke directly
Of the yellow enclosures on tho crests opposite
shows that tho shell has done lis work there Ihon
comes the weak patter OF musketry, sounding harm
less trivial beside the majestic reports OF the
long field pieces little smoke on either sdc perhaps
occasional futter among the men as a ball has
reached It's human target well aimed from the ugly
embrasures near ut hand then quiet and silence
again, broken only by the loving Of cattle, the beat
Ing OF sheep and the twiter oil birds The situation Is
impossible 1t is not OF the slightest avail 10 try and
reason yourself into the belief that this firing is in
dead earnest; 1t is too commonplace, too much like
some noisy celebration to be real duel be-
tween hostile fortincations, and tho only way
10 prove It to ones self is TO watch for
o wounded man he Is brought back 10 indulge in
the tempting but foolish proceeding OF approaching
batteries until tho 'Zp' gets unpleasant. After ALL
this is the most annoying kind OF lighting, and GER
tanly the least excusable. II approaches too nearly
the modes OF savage warfare TO De IN the least
mended. II is tar from cevatng to sit all day In
rifle pit watching for chance TO send ball into the
head or arm OF a soldier opposite within easy range;
there no heroism in the, only savage cruelty Still
the positions here seem 10 require attentions OF this
ktnd--not picket firing, perhaps, but most acute
watching. Tho Turks on the hills have every advan-
tage OF position. Their movements are quite hey ond
the from this side, while from thor heights they
can cover whole country about the town and their
and do send shells several kilometres into
the interior. An hours relaxation In the vigilance
either side might result dlsastrousy for the army
which could be listess in the face OF enemy. and
by sharp observation attacks between positions So
another US tnOse mere are often fore5cen
averted. All this explains whe II does not excuse
picket firing


TRADE AND TRiBuLATIoN.


This morning us early as four O'Clock the roar Of
many cannon Tiled the air, shells dropping into
the intervae and the town tho camp, and oc.
casionally would burst IN tue streets or deserted
houses. Five batteries ON the hills opposite hard
ut work, und tho broastworks along the line OF the
nigh bauk were almost continuous limo Of flame
tongues from Turkish rifles On this side hundreds Of
shells wero tired, aud the infantry kept up u rapid
shooting. Hidden away behind the dixie IN small
gullies the inhabitants OF the town watched the light
their and in safety the brisk trade IN the little
shops not interrupted, however, nor did the Gale
loungers all desert their favorte tables. Twas grand
sight 10 see all shells after nothor di.
rectIy IN the large battery on tho hillside in the village
opposite and II no less interesting and much
exciting to watch for bursting bomb on this sidc the
littlo batteries among the willows.


WOUNDED GENERAL.


About half past cigLt, The height OF the duel,
Cossack was seen galloping down the chd,Ssee ana
straight to the hospital department Almost soon
as he came II reported that Major General Ehrn-
rooth commanding the Eleventh DIVISION, had laiIen
From tho expressions OF sorrow that were heard on
nil sides IL was evident that, the General was ayore
IN the town, and the chagrin was only dim.uishc cd
when the wounded officer came back aud II was seen
that his wound-a bullet through the left shoulder
without touching the bone--was slight one and would
only disable him few weeks The lring Tor
two longer anu then ceased until the afternoon
when IL was removed again without much vigor IL
was reported during the day that the cause OF the sud
den and fierce cannonadiug IN the morning was the
appearance IN the river OF iect OF boats manned by
what appeared to be soldiers but which reality
only dummies. The Russians launched This fleet into
the river Just above the In order 10 try for orpe
does and TO unnask Turkish batteries The
unqualified, and, with tho exception OF the acci
don't to the General, there were few casualties


EXCITING.


Life IN town that Is within range oil turkish can
non vs. not as II might seem, very exciting In TIE
early morning the rumble oil the cannon only dstnrbs
one Tor instant aud reiresbIng sleep and obivion
come alter H. During the day the nuskct shots are
too frequent TO attract notice and the canonadns istoo
desuItory to repay constant watching, aud find my
soil after two days IN exactly the same rano 0i mind
that wondered ut IN tho Inhabitants when canic
here SO readily does human nature adapt itscl 10
every circumstance. One tbIg Is noiceapc-thcro IL
nervous acutcness oil hearing and vision engcndored ny
this lie When the petroleum lamp In The caic sud
denly ckerN In thc evening every one starts and looks
up and TO lston tho report OF expected
shell. In the daytime when crane or hawk ncf