Dictionary of Battles: From the Earliest Date to the Present TimeHarbottle, Thomas Benfield
History
Dictionary of Battles: From the Earliest Date to the Present Time
Harbottle, Thomas Benfield
Battles
The second battle took place, July 30, when General Krüdener, with
30,000 Russians in two divisions, assailed the Turkish redoubts to the
north and east of the town. Schakofsky had command of the latter attack,
Krüdener himself leading the assault on the Gravitza redoubt on the
north. Krüdener was absolutely unsuccessful. Schakofsky by 5.30 p.m. was
in possession of two of the eastern redoubts, but before nightfall these
were retaken by the Turks, and the Russians retired, defeated all along
the line. Their losses amounted to 169 officers and 7,136 men, of whom
2,400 were left dead on the field. On the 11th and 12th of September,
the investing army, 95,000 strong, under the Grand Duke Michael,
attacked Plevna on three sides, Osman Pasha having now 30,000 men under
his command. On the 11th an attack on the Omar Tabrija redoubt was
repulsed with a loss to the Russians of 6,000 men. The attack on the
Gravitza redoubts resulted in the capture of the “Bloody Battery,” which
the Russians held till the end of the siege. On the south-west,
Skobeleff captured two of the six inner redoubts which protected that
angle of the fortress. On the 12th, the attack on the second Gravitza
redoubt was repulsed, and the two redoubts captured by Skobeleff were
retaken, after a terrible struggle. The losses in the two days’ fighting
amounted to 20,600 including 2,000 prisoners, on the Russian side, on
that of the Turks to 5,000. Of these, 8,000 Russians, and 4,000 Turks
fell in Skobeleff’s attack.
On December 10, Osman Pasha, at the head of 25,000 Turks, accompanied by
9,000 convalescents and wounded in carts, attempted to cut his way
through the Russian army, now 100,000 strong, under the King of
Roumania, with Todleben as Chief of the Staff. The attempt was made on
the east of Plevna, and was directed against the Imperial Grenadiers,
under General Ganetzki. Having successfully crossed the Vid, Osman
charged down upon the Russians, on a line two miles in length, and
carried the first line of entrenchments. Todleben, however, hurried up
reinforcements, and the Turks were in turn attacked, and driven back in
confusion across the river, Osman being severely wounded. Here they made
their last stand, but were overpowered, and driven into Plevna, which
before evening capitulated, after a defence lasting 143 days. In this
engagement, the Turks lost 5,000, and the Russians 2,000 killed and
wounded.
Podhaic.
Fought 1667, between 10,000 Poles, under John Sobieski, and 80,000
Cossacks and Tartars who were besieging Kaminiec. The Cossacks were
totally routed and forced to evacuate Poland.
Podol (Seven Weeks’ War).
Fought June 26, 1866, between the advance-guard of Prince Frederick
Charles’ army, and the Austrians, under General Clam-Gallas. The
Austrians were defeated and driven out of Podol, after severe fighting,
in which they lost heavily. The Prussians took 500 prisoners.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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