Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1877 — The Battle of Plevna. [ARTICLE]

The Battle of Plevna.

London, Aug. 2. The Daily Newt correspondent, telegraphing from Bulgareni, fifteen miles from Plevna, gives a detailed account of the fighting of Monday. The Turkish force was estimated at 50,000. They occupied a series of positions which are naturally strong and also artificially fortified in every available spot, forming a horseshoe in front of Plevna, with both flanks resting on the River Vid. The Rus • sian force consisted of the Ninth Army Corps, under Gen. Krudener, the Thirteenth Division and Thirtieth Brigade of the Second Division, under Prince Bchackesky, with three brigades of cavalry and 160 guns. It was arranged that Gen. Krudener should attack the Turkish center at Grivica and the northern flank of the intrenched position over the Rahova, while Schackesky attacked Radizevo and Gen. Skabeleff held in check the strong Turkish force at Looca, which was the extremity of the Turkish line. Gen. Krudener began the battle about halfpast nine o’clock. After a long bombardment he succeeded in silencing the Turkish cannon at Grivica, but could not expel the infantry from the earthworks. He spent the whole afternoon unavailingly endeavoring to force the northern flank of the Turkish position, desisting after dark without having gained anything material, and having himself suffered considerable loss. Prince SchackeskyAbout neon carried Radizevo, and, planting four oatteries on the ridge beyona, bombarded the nearest Turkish position, which was an earthwork armed with cannon in front of an intrenched village. After an hour’s cannonade be silenced the Turkish guns, and his infantry, after a long and bloody contest, carried the earthwork and the village. The tecond Turkish position, consisting of a series of intrenched vineyards strongly held, was then attacked and ultimately carried, but with a terrible effort and very severe loss, owing to the heavy Turkish artillery fire. The Russians, moreover, were unable to utilize the captured position. About four o’clock the reserve brigade was brought up and an attack made on the positions immediately covering Plevna. The attack continued till nearly sunset. The Turkish infantry was in great force in a continuous line under the shelter of the trenches. Despite the most stubborn efforts no impression could be made upon that line. Two companies of Russian infantry did work round to the right of the Turkish trenches and entered the town of Plevna, but it was impossible to hold it. The Russian batteries pushed boldly forward into the position first taken to attempt to keep down the Turkish cannonade which was crashing into the infantry in the open field, but they were compelled soon to evacuate the hazardous spot At sundown the Turks made a continuous forward movement and reoccupied their second position. The Russian infantry made a succession of desperate stands and died like heroes. The Turks gradually retook everything they had lost. The fighting lasted long after nightfall. With darkness the Basni-Bazouks took possession of the battle-field and slew all the wounded. The Russians held the heights above Radizevo, but the BashiBazouks worked around to their rear and fell on the wounded collected in the Village of Radizevo. A retreat was compelled in the direction of Bulgareni, and the contingencies resulting from this untoward battle are of ominous significance.