Year: 1876




NEAY ALRXINATz, Oct. AFTER We had
on the somewhat distant hills, and our guns
had taken shot or two at them, we became
suddenly aware thst their advance guard
was very considerably nearer to us.than We
had imagined. So rapidly had they, indeed,
already engaged and driven in our outposts,
that 1t was clear very great force was
Immediately in our front, and that We
should have to bear the brunt of the battle
The trumpets sounded, and the Turks were
soon rushing down the hill. Many man
was stretched on the turf many one
returned slowly but painfully to the lines
whence he had come, but on went the COM
paRies one after another, till the bottom of
the slope was gained and the enemy con-
fronted. Then opened such fire as can
never be described. 1t was the meeting Of
desperate men-of Serbs urged forward by
reckless Russian leaders, of Turks longing
to strike their enemy.


The question was, which could be re-er
forced the longest and quickest. Fresh
Servian battallions were coming into action
every moment and extending the line Of
attack fresh Turks were coming down the
slope, and gaining the shelter trenches
which the Turks had constructed. At first
the men could not be persuaded to lie down:
they wanted to 60 forward, and expected
every moment to see them charge with the
bayonet. But they were gradually pre-
vailed upon to avail themselves of cover,
and hence the great disparity between their
loss and that of the Serbs. Among these
latter we could see that great slaughter Was
taking place, for their line, although con-
tinually fed, did not appear to increase:
while, in addition to to the rifles of Ou
infantry, our guns were able to throw whole
volleys of shells in among the blue-coated
soldiers.


With what yell went those terrible mis-
siles on their way They seemed to break
every one of them, exactly where wanted,
and to strew the ground with dead anG dy-
ing every moment. The rifles, quickly
seconding them, added to the carnage in
that valley. As the fight progressed, our
line wavered ss TIE Servians in increasing
numbers were hurled against our left bank
But this was only for while; the mel
were simply borne back, not disheartened,
and fresh troops were hnrrying up to sue
cor them. Hatiz Pasha himself being
among the foremost in the fight. 1t was q
fearfut struggle. truly, and seemed to ex
tend all along the line at this moment in
deed, it is believed that sixty Servian bat
tallons were at that moment engaged. But
all to no purpose the Turks had prevailed
against the Serbs. The ground was covered
With disabled Serbs, and still that astonish.
ing roll of Musketry maintained itself along
the Turkish front, the men firing each five
or six shots a minute.


At length the crisis came. The Servans
made one more great effort, there was a
tremendous crash, fearful roll, as if OF
thunder, and then the enem begin to give
ground With wild shouI he Turks rise
and pour volley after volley into their re
treating ranks. Our guns fire shell, which
burst over their heads, in front of and be
hind them, dealing death and destruction all
around every moment. The Servians turn
and fly !; their effort has been in vain they
must seek the shelter of their guns or be
killed to man. Without further delay
they rush to their haven of comparative
safety, leaving their dead and dying on the
ground, and the Turkish forces alone in theil
glory. Next morning Ha6z Pash and hif
colleague, who aided him and was wounded
Lahimed Pasha, were raised to the grade o.
Division Generals from that of Command
ers Of Brigade.


Next morning rode over the battle field
and among these heaps of mangled mel
gone 70 their last account we're seventy -fou
Russian officers.