Prince Charles refused to allow the Third Division to cross, as he had no intention of allowing his army to be incorporated with the Russian. This burning question of the command was, however, satisfactorily settled by the 25th, when the passage commenced at Corabia opposite Magura. Prince Charles crossed the Danube on the 20th, and arrived at the Imperial Headquarters at Gornija Studena at half-past seven in the evening, where he was heartily welcomed by the Czar and the Grand Duke Nicholas. The latter at once inquired whether he intended to command his Corps in person, and received a reply in the affirmative. The Grand Duke then objected that this decision would give rise to difficulties, as Prince Charles could not be placed under the command of a Russian General. The Prince retorted that that was certainly out of the question, but ten Russian Generals might easily be placed under _his_ command. Whilst Prince Charles was resting from the fatigues of his journey, the Grand Duke entered his tent, and on behalf of the Czar offered him the command of the Russian troops before Plevna, which the Prince, after some hesitation, accepted. A council of war was held the following day at ten o'clock under the shade of a large tree to discuss the future plans of operation, when it was decided that, after the passage of the Roumanian army, the bridge at Corabia should be broken up and transferred to Nikopoli, where it would be of further use to the Russian army. Prince Charles maintained that Osman was stronger than the Russians supposed, and that for the present it was useless to resume the offensive. As Prince Charles returned to Sistow, a terrible picture of the horrors of war presented itself to his eyes. Long columns of "ladder" wagons, laden with wounded soldiers from the desperate struggles for the Shipka Pass, encountered the supply columns bringing up food and ammunition. The most terrible confusion arose, as neither column could pass the other. The groans and shrieks of the wounded under a burning sun increased every minute, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that the Prince's escort could force its way through the disorganised mass. From Corabia Prince Charles bade farewell to his wife in a letter dated September 1st, 1877, which frankly recognised the importance of the task which lay before him: