The New York Herald Newspaper, September 24, 1877, Page 4

’ THE STRUGGLE ON THE LOM. Details of a Desperate Fight With the Czarewitch’s Army. SLAUGHTER OF THE RUSSIAN WOUNDED. The Muscovites Finally Forced to Retreat. HEapQuaRters TRIRtTY-vIrTH Divigiox, TuMTRENTH CORPS, ARMY OF THE easton} GaGovo, Sept. 1, 1377. Such intense heat as we have tived through for the past ten days has been altogether unfavorable for fopid inovements; nevertheless it has not prevented my riding from Sistova here, urged on by the expe tation of an engagement, in very good time indeed. The long monotonous road from tue Danube to Bjola Ishali not soon forget, the thermometer marking 42 degrees Reaumur, and tho air perfectly dead. The ‘trains of supply wagons halted by the roadside, where the lean cattle panted in the sun and the drivers Sought shelter in the small patches of shade under the carts, For long miles not a drop of water was to be had; bloated carcasses of horses and oxen polluted the air; the silence was only broken by the buzz of myriads of flies, attacking man and beast alike, and In the lifeless landscape a few eagles hoveritg over the carrion made the desolation still more op- pressive. Tho narrow dusty track wound over tho’ broad hills and down into parched val- leys, whore the negiected corn was baking in the ear and dropping to the grouua; through strag- Bling villages, innabitea only by a few Bulgars, who make foeble attempts to harvest enough corn for their winter supply, aud, at last, at the end of a long day, Into Bjela, with all its odors a welcome buven, with tts many fountains of cool, clear water and food for the horses in abundance, Here we found a equadron of Cossacks ordered up to the front from the Emper- or’s headqnarters, and so we resolyed to joia them, baving beon invited by the captain to share bis for- | tuno for the journey, Leaving our pack horso at Bjela to ve cared tor until our return, at some inilel- nito date in the future, my servant and bodyguard, Terence, as devoted a fellow as ever was, strapped our blankets to the saddles, and with a minimum of pro- visions for ourselves and a good day’s feed tor the ani- mals we were off at the head of the column, moving away to the inspiriting songs of the Cossacks on tho path through the woods toward the Lom, the instruc- tions from headquarters directing the route to ’op- kioj, where the Czarowitch was supposed tobe. Our slay with the Cossacks was one long picnic—every few hours we would halt and bivouac, drink tea andeat, At noon Terence bought asheep from a peasant, and for supper we had roast and boiled mutton, with a cab- Dage soup. Our horses were luxuriously groomed and fed, we shared the captain’s pillows at night and his tea by da; SHIPTING THE HEADQUARTERS, Arriving at the Lom we found the Czarewitch’s | idquarters were movea to Hodzekikioj, about a dozen miles to the rear, 80 we struck across the coua- try, baving lost nearly a day by the detour and even more if we were to count tno leisurely gait the Cos- sacks kept up. tho whole distance and the indolent pauses in the march, We madea lane through the melon flelds and vineyards wherever we went. At every halt grapes and melons were heaped before as, sweet ears of roasted maize were put in our hands, fresh bread dropped from Heaven kuows whore. We always had plenty and moro than enough of every- thing. I am not sure but I should have been weak *nough fo have continued the same luxurious lite Were it not for the fact that the squadron was ordered to remain af the Czarewttch’s heat- quarters, So wo pushed on the next morn- ing over the mountains by unfrequented paths reaching the Kara Lom toward dark. There we learned that the camp was a dozen versts to the south, near the village of Gagovo. We were near the outpost: Nine and we burried in toward the camp, stopped now and then by Cossack videttes, and at last reached the village, which is spread out over both sides of a little valley. It was now dark, and the camp-fires of tho little army twinkled on a hillside a milo away, By Jucky chance we caugnt sight of the fleld t legrapn, and following it soon came to the office in a little de- serted Turkish house. No ono had the parole, and as ‘we would either be shot or arrested without it we ac. cepted a very warm invitation to pass. the night there, Tea, borscht and a good bed of straw in the yard among the horses—that is all I remember of that night, and with a freshly baked loaf of black bread, a parting gilt from the warm hearted officer of the telegraph Station, we were away bright and early the next morning to the camp, where wo saw a regiment already on the move down into the valley. We fot- lowed and soon overtook General Leonoff, who was ‘on bis way to the village of Karahasankioj, about six Versts to the eastward, on a hill across the valley, where he had been holding an advanced position with weak force of cavairy and a few guns for the last three weeks. POSITION OF THE ADVANCED Posts. To well understand the importance of this advanced ‘Posts It is necessary to know the topography of the sur- Founding country. ‘The valleys of the Kara Lom and the Lom run nearly parallel with each other, north and south, and are separated by a range ot high bills covered with a growth of bushes and small oak trees, ‘Th valleys are broad and fertile—more especially the one of the Kara Lom, a little stream scarcely ten feet wide, but deeply cut into the hght earth of the valley. ‘The Kussians advancing from Bjola the last of July found themseives on the low hills to the west of the Kara Lom, and in frontof them this groat range of high summits, all held by the Turks. In one pot only is there a considerable break in the range, and that fs directly opposite the village of Gagovo, Here the peaks suddenly terminate in a little irregular bluff, ana there is a plateau or rather a fut topped ridge, much lower than tno rest of the range for the extent of two miles to the southward, where the conical peaks again rise, all thickiy wooded, and succeed one another ina continuous rank past Eski D)zuma and Osman Bazar to the blue Baikans in the far distance, At the nortuern extremity of the break in the chain of hills, scattered over both sides of a sharp dip in the little plateau that terminates the wooded summits, are the thaicned houses of the village of Karabasankioj, and great Hacks of golden straw shone ‘in the sunlight among the walnut trees as we made our way up the steep Ropes bebind the town, that it ts at this point that both valleys suddenly nar- how, aud the mouotuin just north of the village 1s one Of the lurgest of tho range and Is really the key of the whole position, ‘The Kussians compreheaded the im- Portance of the possession of the villa; od the neigh- Doring ridge, and alter a sharp htilo fight in the village of Hajdarkioj, in the valley ne Popkioj, a few Weeks since, they stored the Leight to the south and atterward took Karabasankivj) and hail the coveted ridge. General Leonofl conducted vs to his quarters nmong the straw stacks under grout walnut trees to the right of the town, and we made ourscives | comiortable. Hussars bust us a charming little hut out of sticks and straw, The General lived jn a litte shelter tent near by, We ate in the sbnde of a great @nd it the nuts did not drop fairly into we had only to throw up a@ stick to knock them off. In tront of us there was agrove of iarge trees, and the ground sioped away steeply to the val- Jey on the right and to the ridge opposite, Along the Tidgo In question were our Cossack outposts, aud, to anake perfectly clear the description of the battle, the chief incidents of which I havo already forwarded by telegraph, I will tell exactly where they were pinced, First, beyond tho Village, through a piece of woods Along the flank of the mountain, out into the corn feild beyond, was the left of the position, then next to the woods along the ridge was an open field, with @ Sparse growth of bushes; next @ maize ticld, next a patch of woods, then a great Held of maize, with a tew trees, and a little mound, and all along these lines were our pickets, Beyond the mound was another stubble field, and then a wood which extended to the poaks beyond, ‘This ‘Wood was the advanced position of the Turks, and all loug the eage of it we could see the Circassian vi- deties and small camps of infantry, From the litte mound I bave spoken of our line of outposis rau down I should have mentioned | into the valley to the village of Hajdarkioj, already alluded to, IN SIGHT OF THE ENEMY, For two days we watched the white ponies of the Circassian outposts, whisking about in the edge of the woods; we visited the lines of our own pickets and from the ridge examived the fortiications around Ras- grad on the hills across tue valicy of the Lom, planned even a reconnoissance in force to take a iook at the railway, and General Vannoffsky, the chief of staflof the Czarewitch, came himself and inspected the position the second day of our stay. Twenty or thirty dead Turks shot im a skirmish a day or two be- fore our arrival lay in the maize felds on the ridge, and a burying party was sent out to cover them with earth, We were io sight ol the enemy. From the door of our but we could see his outposts by day and bis camp fires by night, but be seemed to have no inten- tion of molesting us, and we began to Gnd that life at the outposts was pot so full of incident after all, We bad only one regiment, the Zar- aiskie, No. 140, counting not more than two thousana Ove buadred m a single battery of artillery and two large guns and about five hundred hussars and Cos- sacks, With this force it was out of the question tu attempt to get possession of the whole of the ridgo, and we were obliged to content ourscives while await- ing the movements of the Turks, On Thursday morning tne eagles that had beon cir- cling over the corpses in the maize fields until they were buried were seen in the air above the valley of the Lom, and General Leonoff said this was an intalli- blo sign of an imminent action. And, to be sure, betore we bad taken our tea, at about eight o'clock in the morning, & Cossack came up with the intelligence that the Circassians were coming through the maize on the ridge. Even while be was speakeng began the popping of rifles, and we could see the ontposts fring and wheeling their horses, We were in the saddie in ap instant, down through the grove where the regiment was encamped, to the little redoubt on tho right, where two guns were speedily put in position; then across through the ploughed flelds in front of the grove where a few rifle pits had been dug the day before, and through the burned portion of the village to the stubble ficid on the ridge whore th outposts were. On tho right of the outpost line, along the ridge, the popping was still goimg on. As we rode through the camp soldiers were falling in line, and small squads were moving off in different directions, Once on the ridge we could see assembling on the crest of the hill opposite quite a large force. of | cavalry under tno battery ihere, and soon they began to come down into che vailoy by the steep, crooked paths, We went off to the leit through the woods, with two guns of a Cossack battery, and let go a few shells trom tbe corn field there. By that time the Circassians bad advanced to the village of Sadina, and bud set it on Gre, The sbells bursting very pear them sent them scrambling in all directions, and we re= turned to the stubble fleld to place a couple of heavy wuus there, and soon we were throwing some large shetis into the vineyard back of Sadina, where we could see sabres flashing. Now began to work the redoubt on the right, and we were off to see what was going on there, Just as we arrived u shot struck one of the guns, overturning it, but fortunately hurting no one, and trom the smoke we could see that the Turks had cannon in position ail alpng the ridge, in the second stubble fleld on the edge of the woous, on the heights beyoud and in the maize below. Suddenly our large guns on the centre ceased firing, and we rushed back through the burned village to find the cause of this, when we quw the stubble fleld, where our cunnon were at work but a short quarter ofan hour before, all swarming with Turkish infantry andthe two guns al- ready back im the village, THE TURKISH CHARGES. The Turks bad been concealed in the maize beyond tho riige and only awaited the signal to pour up over the cress, On they come over the open field like flies across a plate, firiog rapidly, with guns at their hips. How they tell {rom the fire of the Russiun infantry at the edge of the maize fleid below! The stubble field was dotted with the dead and woanded, but along the crest came hundreds more 1m soiid column, then de- ploying as skirmishers vll over the Qeld, Through the maize field to the right we could see the bayoneis flash and sabres striking, and we knew they wero ro- killing our deau or slaughtering the wounded, On they came, in spite of the murderous fire of the infantry, and before the two large guns got well placed. in the ploughed fielu where we stood the buliets began to throw up the dust around us, After a couple of shell dropped right in the midst of the masses advancing over the stubble field the Turkish guns along the ridge began to direct their attention to us, and a shell struck alongside the horse of General Leonoff close by ua, and the air was musical with the whizzing picces; still another picked us up a trifle farther to the Jeft, and weretired through the grove, whore the shells were already tearing their way among the trees. It was now nearly eloven o’clock, and the wounded were limping back, their white shirts all drenched with blood, six infantry men bearing a wounded officer, four supporting a hard hit comrade, four more with a dead officer quite naked, stripped by bashi-bazouks, who were seen and killed om the spot. Ali this thinned out the ranks In front, but the soldiers knew too well the fate of the wounded if they were to be left benind, and they baa seen often enough the horrible mutila- tion of the dead to make them anxious to bring to the rear both the dead and the wounded. Ndw on the right were constant volleys and an irregular pop- ping fire, aud every man in the camp in the grove went up to the front, Tents were left standipg, knapsacks were hastily collected, as many as could be loaded upon the carts which went to the rear, tood was left cooking over the fires, and an increase of musketry in the flelds below the grove soon told that they were at it im earnest, Now there Degin to fall jarge shells from the heavy guns inthe edge of the woods on the ridgo straight into our pleas- ant quarters, and we lost no time in throwing our blankets upon the saddles and leaving tne place. All our guns wore now retired, as Turkisn infantry were swarming inthe maize, Although the stalks were man high, we could see the bayonets flasn and here and there a dark mass moving. Word had already been sent to General Baranoff In the camp at Gagovo to send up all possible reinforcements, It was bigh noon; a scorching sun drove us into the shade of #mail wal- nut trees, We foand shade, but no shelter from the bullets continually dropping trom the rigut and the lett. WAITING FOR REINFORCEMENTS, | Anxtously we watcted the roads to Gagovo for signs ot reinforcements, and the hours which haa hitherto passed quickly enough now began to grow tedious, Two long, Weary hours we stood there with only anoc- casional rapid gallop to the right and left tosce how the day was turning, The men kept upa stubborn fire, bat | the raitie of the Turkish guns grew more and more continuous. In the village the fighting was desperate; a single look was enough for mo, tor the bullets cut the uir all around, and my horse took me out of it ia ahurry. Those weary, anxious two hours! Terence | amused himself with digging the bullets out of the | ground and the trees for a while and [ began to write | my despatch, bat a few sholl prodding into the soft ground near us put an end to the occupations of us both. There wasacall for matches to set fire tothe houses and haystacks of our quarters lose on our leit to prevent the nearer approach of the furkish rifles men, who were getting impudent, I hunted up a few | stabsands Cossack soon did the work, we felt sate for a, while in that direction at least. General Leonoff was all over the field, and Colonel Nazaroff, almost overcome by the heat, 180 busily engaged, More cartridges were distributed all along the | line and the work went on, At last, between two and three o'clock, thore Was a pause, and not a shot was | heard for hulfan hour, Just then we saw aiong the hill road from Gagovo the white tunics of Rusman intantry- { men coming up between the maize fleids, Three hun- dred of thom there were, and never was a reinio: mont more welcome, for we still had hopes of boldii the position, They lay down in the fleld where we were to be less exposed to the bullets, which were be- ginning by this time to reach us at intervals; an extra supply of cartridges was stowed away in pockets and in the bosoms of their tunies, and they weut off tothe right, where help was needod, With them came by the valley road four guns of a Cossack battery and took position on the right, Our semicircle, at first a mile across, was now narrowed down to barely one hundred rods, The infantry went into the grove, and the firing vegan agaiv as before, Tho battery set to work also, but drew the ‘fre from countless can. non all along the Turkish line, and after hour retired with some loss, While we were at the right 600 hundred more reivforcementscame up by the hill road—a movement whien escaped my notice atthe time, General Baranof nad sent up all the men he could spare from the camp at Gaxovo, leaving onlv 250 to protect the camp aud supply wagons All the time the battery was engaged we could see the fight going on between the two parts of the villoge. Now the Turks got possession of the ynburned portion and again the white tunics were there in force. The bat- tery retired only when wesaw coming through te maize close at band four columns of infantry und a great detachment of cavalry, threatening the valley road. . AN UNWILLING RETREAT. Everybody went back sullenly, leaving the camp and much baggage, The soldiers, all black with powder, sweaty and dirty, came along by twos and threes, muttering “Mnogo! Mno- go!” “Mnogo! Mnogo!’’ “There are a great many of them."” Not a soldier but wanted to stay and fight it out; not a single man showed sigus of fear. They would collect and go back again and then retire siowly. The lez appeared in the grove, and we disap- pearea in the gully bebind the town and were up through the maize flelds upon the hill road, General Leonofl went toward tho village, but we had bad enough o! that. Out of the maize, we came upon a ploughed fleld, and bere dismounted apd awaited the Turks. In the gully the wounded were being car- ried away, Through the maize came a little cart with the dead body of a captain, quite naked, trundled along by four soldiers, ‘Two men, with rifles lashed together aud a tent swung upon them, bore aleng 4 comrade bit in the chest, Others limped along, sup- ported on the arms of iriends, and so the whole troop got tothe rear, Agsin the shells found us out, and as betore, had a vay ugly wi of dropping 4 few rods short of ws; making it nervous work to stand and not hit back, Once over the next rise and imto the road, we could soe nothing of the fight, so we lingered and slowly re- tired with the men until the whole right fell back and our old quarters wero filled with Turks. Of the fightin the village atter that I know nothing. It went on until dark, and wo left the bill near by toward sunset. Tho village changed bands that afternoon six separate times, and when at sundows we collected at the foot of the nill, General Leonoff went back with a few men and took the village once more, always in hopes of aid from the corps headquarters, only. two or threo miles tothe rear of Gagovo, A few shells trom the guns inthe camp sent the Turkist cavalry tbat bad been hanging avout the right flank back to the hills again, and every wounded man reached Gagovo in safety. It ishoped that none were left on the Geld, although it is impossible to gay. General Vannofisky, with others of the Czarewiteh’s stafl, reached Gagovo at sunset, THE DAY LOST. The day was already lost, aud the position, the key to this part of the valley of the Low, was in the enemy’s banda. A thousand more men would have hold it; but for some reason they were not sent, As it was, the odds were iinmense. The whole army of Rasgrad, not less than twenty thousand, comprising a strong cavalry force and many guns, was thrown upon a single regiment and one battery, and they were kept at bay twelve houts, At least twelve (nousand formed the columns of the advance, and cannon were in position as far as Papkioj, supported by strong forces of infantay and cavalry. The great maize flelds seemed to blaze with the red fez ©The loss of the position 1s not irreparable, put still it was ao im- portant point and well worth keeping. The iniantry and artillery lost 3 officers and 79 man killed, 17 ofi- cers and 857 men wounded. It is not yot known how great the loss was im the cavalry. On the Turkish side the loss must have been very much gre: for the Russians did excellent work with their rifles and the Turks fired mach at random, trusting to the.number of their bullets rather than to their direction; both sides were under cover frequently, there was little fighting in the open and no bayonet duels that I could hear of, The night o! the battle all slept where they dropped down, We had neither break- fast, dinner ner supper, so we wandered about until wo found our triends at the telegraph station, who gave us black bread and tea, and I wrote my despatch shel- tered from the wind in the door of the hat. The vil- lage of Karahagankioj burned brightly all night, and innumerable Ores twinkled all along the hill. At day- break Friday morning the infantry was put in posl- tion behing the bushes all along the hill south of Ga- govo; large forces of Turks were seen moving about; there was some picket firing, but the expected attack aid not come, That night wo were all outpos' no one wok off his equipments, but lay down expecting every moment to have an attack, Generals Baranoif, Leonoff and myself had a little shelter of boards to keep off the heavy dew, and we slept uudisturbed ex- cept by frequent despatches from the different points along tho line. The particulars of the visit of the Czarewitch and of the skirmish to-day i have alreauy sent by telegrapn. The Turkish advance makes {t 1m- possible for us to take the river road to the Kuetchuk- Bjeia chausée now, and the ride of fifty miles to Giurgevo, always a hard day’s work, is now much | more difficult than ever, for the first twenty miles are through a thickiy wooded, billy country, with only a labyrinth of cart tracks for roads. The only way to make the distance is to keep compass in nand and goahead duo north. [tis not one of the pleasant features of this campaign that one must ba bis own postman, THE SIEGE OF KARS. REMOVAL OF GENERAL LORIS MELIKOFF, AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER'S CAM- PAIGN—A BOLD DAéSH FOR ERZEROUM BY THE RUSSIANS TROBABLE, {From the London Dally News. Kars, August 17, 1877. The miscarriage of the siege of Kara and the failure of Loris Melikoff to penetrate to Erzeroum bid fair to end the campaign in Armenia tor the prosent year, Even though very considerable Russtan reiniorce- ments arrive within the next fow days, the near approach of 4 wintor, which among tho moup- tains will set in after the expiration of an- other month, will precluae the porsibility of attempting seriously to invade the counmiry, It is, however, very probable that Kars will be again in- vested and as in 1854 the blockade continued during the winter, We do pot yot know here the name ot Loris Mehkoff’s successor, but his presence hag already been felt in the renewed activity of the Rus- sian movements. Yesterday three battalions, 500 horse and eight guns were pushed to within four hours’ march of Kars, and not a day passes without some similar alarm and the cail- ing out of several battalions to reconnoitre the enemy. Even as [I write the rumor has spread that the Russians, turning Kars by a long circuitous route, have succeeded in occupying the passes of the Soghanii Mountains. If the rumor be true Mukitar Pacha’s position is one of the greatest difculty, His communications with Erzeroum are menaced and, worse still, he ts forced to assume the offensive to opon up a line of retreat, the enemy hav- ing thus the advantage of awaliiog the attack in chosen positions, while the Turks are obliged to attuck, @ thing they have, up to the present, not attempted, aud in whieh they are aimost sure to be | defeated, PREPARATIONS FOR THE WINTER. Even though the Russians be again jorced to retire from the Kars Valley aud Sogbabh Mountains, thas leaving the direct road to Erzeroum tree, the winter suows Will eflectually block it imiediately alter, the ad by Ardauan belug the only route avaiable auring x months of the year, Though the Russians have demolisned the foriifcations of Ardapan to pre tue lurks re-establishing themselves a. this impor ctually cut off the supp! tue defies of the Soghanli Dagh, emigrating to Erzeroum ana 1 unuble to loave tue town are | 4 in stores of provisions in view of the prospective siege. ‘the plains around Kars have ever been jamed tor their vast cattie berds, privcipally buffaloce aud oxen. During the summer months the iuxuriant pastures ot the plain afford abundant nutriment tor these ani- Many family bizonde, and those mals; Uut on the advent of winter the excessive cold horessitates their being stablud and stall fed, This year thO gravest apprebensions are entertained thus fodder will fail, the cavalry ot the Russian aod Turkish army having consumed a lorge portion of the hay and oats of the district, SCARCITY OF PUDDER, Bosides, whichever army bolds the plain during the Winter months will require What remains for the eus- tenance of tis borses, Fears ure also entertained that tue pest now raging ia the Persian border provinces will spread to this towa and work havoc amoog the garrison, as tn 1854—tho cholera whivh broke out in consequence of the Turkish soldiers stripping tho Russian dead and muking use of their clothes. (he cholera then raging in the hostile camp. This latter detatl J have trom Feysey Pueha, the Present chief of stail, Who was present within the town during the defence of the place by General Willams, and who succeeded in making bts escape through the Russian lines the night previous to the surrender, Feysey Pacha is a Hungarian by birtu, avd has served over torty years io the Turkisu army. He commanded during the late action at Khoruimdus, Mukhtar Pacha being aboont directing the movemen At Veli-Buba and Ala rd, By bis advice I start before cawo to-morrow lor the banks of the Arpae NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, SEPTEMB General informs me that an action is im- ARDAHAN, The Russian garrison of Ardahan, consisting of an infantry brigade, a regiment of cavalry and one fleld battery, together with some newly arrived reintorce- ments, are, it appears, preparing to assail Mukbtar Pacha, probabiy with a view of fo 1g Lim backward to bis old defensive positions, and thus leaviog Kars onee more unprotected, In fact, according to all appearances the campaign seems about being opened again, and the litle time ug before the ad- vont of winter would suggest a resolution on the part of Melikoll’s successor to act with the utmost vigor and secure some decisive resuit immediately. The Turkish army, on the other band, seems confident of being able to maintain itself in and around Kars, inter stores are veing pr pared, and stoves for the use of the troops during the severe weather are being daily brought up. Notwithstanding tne small amount of artillery with the lurkish army— some live batteries—not a mogle fresh piece has been brought up since the iate activi ound Zevine. the uther band, the Russian artillery amounts to ov ope hundred und tweuty pieces of somewnat beavier calibre than those of their oppoacats. 1 don’t know whether it is owing to this circumstance, or to the t that he cannot count ou the cohesion of bis army, (Mat Mukbtar Packa will uot assume the offensive, FLANK MOVEMENTS, ‘That he wil) remaia contioualiy on the defensive bo bas repeatedly deciarea. ‘There can be wo ques- tom tat such an attitude is decidedly the best under the circumstun but showd the Russians as (bey are rep the Turkiso diarsbal wilt dad bimseli obliged, to withdraw withim the lines of Kars, leaving Armonia at the mercy of 1 him im the very josition: themselves previously. & determined effort will be made to penetrate to Erzeroum, simultanoousiy renewing the siege of Kara, or elve the campaign has been abandoned tor the present year, Ismuei Pacha, with bis Kurds, bas on the Bajazet flank penetrated turee Lours’ march mo Russian (erriory. This movement bus absoiutely no siguificance or importance. Ip my iast lewer | men- toned the expedition of Emir All and bis thousayd horsemen toward Ardahan and the skirmishes with the Russian garrisop, Since then he has been forced to return to the camp, BXVOSKD POSITION OF THE GUNNERS. ‘The works of tortitication around Kurs are being steadily pusbed forward, The bait excavated ditches Of the redoubts are being perfected, and spiiuter-proof blindages for the troops erected. Strange tu say, how ever, notwithstanding the large numver ot artiliery men killed at their guns by the Russian projectiles, not a single covered battery, or even embrasure battery, ig belug constructed, All ttie pieces are en barbetie— that 1%, on raived curriages—-looking over the crest of the parapet. Apropos of artiliery, 1t seems strange tout neither the Russian nor furkiso service has adopted the latest pattern Krupp gun and projectiie, though both armies are equipped witu the Exaen guns, On voth sides (he weapon is the deep grouved gun, with the old-iasbioned lead coating, tustead of the sal: low polygroove system and copper ringed shot, LITERATURE. A PERE BRIIND THE SCENES. From the title of Mr. T. Adolphus Trotlope’s book, “a Peep Behind the Scones at Rome’ (Scribner, Wel- ford & Armstrong), we are led to expect some starting revelations of Papal corruptions, instead of that we find a volume of old wompn’s gossip such as we would expect to hear at «country tea drinking. First Old Maid (stirring up the sugar in her cup)— Have you heard about Maria Vandini? Second Old Muid (adding more cream to her teu)— No; do tell. Whut is there about her¢ First Old Maid—On, 1s scandalous! Second Old Maid, (drawing chair nearer)—Scand: ous! you don’t say so. Pray tell me all about it, First Old Maid—Poor girl, she hasbeen made the vic- tim of those dreadful Cuthulies, You must know that she had a lover, nota very reputable one, whom her pareots frowned upon, for they had pickeu out an estimable young man for her to marry. Maria bated the estimable young man and lovell the disreputable young man and used to meet him clandestinely. One day she met him in achurch, and just as be bad his arm around her and was about to kiss her the Princi- pessa di Torrevechia uppeared belore them, The young man ran away and the Principessa pounced upon Maria and bustied her off home, She was sent to her room and no ove came near her but the father confessor of the Pralint family (sne was staying at their house iu Rome), aud he impressea the girl with the enormity of her crime and the impossibility of forgiveness, and told her that Signora Pralini would throw ber out into the streets that very night, He pointed out the convent as the only refuge for her, ‘and she tearfully begged bim to get her admitted, which he did. Now it turns out that the whole thing Was a well laid plau of the Church of Rome to get this young gift into its clutches, tor she hud a large dowery. And they got ber, but they worked their wires so well that it seemed like a voluntary thing ou her part, Second Old Maid—I’ll warrant you tuat the Pope | ‘Was at (De bottom ol it First Old Maid—On, that is understood (to ser. vant), Bridget, (aside) ‘poor benightea creature,” (aloud) you may all up the tozpot und hand me that copy of Calvin off tue sbelt, MCHOLAS 2ONTURN. Like all of Dr, Hoiiand’s stories, “Nicholas Minturn”? (Scribner, Armstrong & Co.) was writien with « purpose. In this novel Dr, Holland takes the tramp question by the horns, and, as this question is just’ now agitating the public prints, the Doctor 1s assured of a large audience, But that is no new sensation to this writer, for bis books always start off with an edition of 20,000, which doubles belore they have been iong upon the market, ‘Nicholas Minturn’? ist! tory of a young mao with plenty of money, who is thrown upon the world before bis back bone has stiffened up, Hois looking for a model to build bimseif upon, and when he thinks be has found one he finds {t stuffed with sawdust. The number of vagrantsin New York ex- cites his youthiul sympathies and arouses him to look about lor some means for their relict, He entertained tramps at his rooms and showed them bis art treas- ures. Them he got up a series of lectures, churging ten cents admission, the ticket boing a loa! of bread or a bar of soap, or whatever else ihe sub- ject of the lecture might be, At last Nicholas called ® meeting of members and officers of chariteble imstitutions and gave whem bis plan for the suppression of the tramp. ‘I should like to 8eo,”’ said he, “every charitable organization exist- ing in this city (New York), including my own enter. prise, swept out ot existence, I would like to see es- tublished in their place @ singie organization whose purpose 1s to work @ radical cure for pauperism, I would ike to seo the city government, whicu 1s directly responsible for more than naif the pauperism we have, united im administration with tho chosen representatives of the benevolonce of the city m the working out of this grandcure. 1 would like to sce the city divided into districts so small that one man can hold in each, not only a registry of every family living in it, but obtain and preserve a knowledge of each family’s circamstances and character. 1 would have a labor bureau in every district, in connection with this local superintonaent’s office, 1 would have the record of every man and woman evén more cum- plete than any that has ever been made by your mercantile agencies. 1 Would have such vagrancy as we flud illustrated by the tramps and dead beats who swarm about tho city a soilicieut crime for condemnation to bard labor in prisons and factories built for that purpose. 1 would make beg- gary on the streets a misdemeanor, punishable by im. prisonment. I would have every nelpiess person understand where help in emergencies can always be had by @ Tepresentation, subject to immediate and competent examination. [ would see the matter 20 arranged that a premium would be put upon trath ard ban upon faisehood, ‘Temperance and intemperance should always be considerations in dealing with the poor. There is no limitto the benetits which such an organiaation as this would have the power to inaugu- rate and perpetuate; and, gentiemoen, | verily believe that under its intelligent and faithful administration we could banish begzare from the streets, introduce new era of prosperity and Virtue among all the suff ing poor, and save ourselves forever trom the terrible pauperization that curses and almost killa the cities of the Old World.”” As this is the mature plan of Dr, Holland, who has given years of study to the subject of the reliet of pauperism, it is worthy of consideration, Of course there is a love story running all through tho novel, and in this the eral reader will be the most inter- ested. ‘THE NRW YORK METROROLOGICAL ONSERVATORY, The annual report for 1876 of this useful institution, prepared by the dircotor, Dr. Draper, is one of the vainable contributions to scientific literaiure. It is comptlod with care and tilustrated with charts, show- ing the annual and average raiptall as Now York, as compared wilh other cities on the Atlantic coast It is to be regretted that the position of the observatory at the arsenal 1s not better adapted for its purpose. Its sunken site does not permit a satisfuctory result in ob- servations Of the wivd directions If the ornamental building on the cievated edge of the old reservoir in Central Park could be adapted for the purvoses of an ER 24, 1877—WITH SUPPLEMENT. observatory it structure, Id also become a very useful LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. The London Publishers? Circular recalis the famous check ‘or £20,000 paid by the late William Longman, the publisher, just deoeased, to Lord Macaulay, and sighs to reflect that ‘not unto us in the present year Of grace is there any Macaulay's history giv: Vive the book t' The Chicago /nter-Ocean the booksellers im Chicago at $8,000,000. Projessor Francis Bow work om ‘Modern Philosophy” is just ready at Seribuer, Armstrong & Co.'s, ‘The legal profession will soon be supplied with a new and elaborate treatise on the law of mortgages, by Leonard A. Jones, in two volumes. * No ‘ess than 116 editions of Manzoni’s novel “I Promessi Sposi’ bave been published in Italy. is fame, Opposition seems, as a rule, to benefit literature. Bayle says that the Index Expurgatorius helped the sale of books so much that the publishers conspired to get their works condemued by the Pope's conser, Ove result of MacMahon’s official campaigu against the re- Publican press is to increase its sale enormously, as Well as to elevate its ton@ and spirit. One opposition Frevch paper bas eolarg ightiold sinco May lust, and another bas added ten thousund to its circu- lation, * The London Publishers’ Circular attacks the froe public libraries, founded at the expense of the tax- payers, on the ground tnat charities are no permanent benefit and that it 1s not right to tax everybody to-pro- Vide novels tor idle people to read; aud novels, it de- clares, form eighty per cent of the books demanded. The newest Index Expurgatorius ia M. Rouveyer’s catalogue of works suppressed, prosecuted or cou- demned in the last thirty-six years, from 1941 to 1877, just out in Paris, A learned Frenchman of Hebrew extraction, M. Cohen, bas attempted in two big octavo volumes, avd with @ wouderfui dispiay of learning, to restore the Pharisees to a place of honor. According to this writer Phariwaism was really @ protest of rationalism against Priesicrait andthe Pharisees were the Protestants of Judea, General Lefray’s ‘Memorials of the Discovery and Early, Settlement ot the Bermudas,” published by Longmans, in Londou, in two volames, narrates the early bistory of ouf iar-oif island neighbors, which is tull of romance and adventure, We aro to have a memoir of George Sand from the } pen of Mr, Leopold Katscheu, | Austria publishes 8: periodicals of all kinds, of | Which 691 are in German, Mr, Jumes Parton’s book oa “Curicature and Other Comie Arts in All Vimos Many Lands,” with 200 Miustrations, 18 in the press of Harper & Brothers, Messra Harper & Urothers wili shortly publish a work upon “Pottery and Porcelain,” by Jennie J. Young, a lady who has doue much to awaken a popu- Jar interest in the subject of ceramic art, The work will treat of both ancient and modern ceramics abd will be profusely illustrated, NEW BOOKS RECEIVED, American Addresses, with # Lecture on the Stady of Biology, by Thomas Hi. Huxley. New York: D. Appleton 0. In Silk Attire, « novel, by William Black. New York: Harper & Broth: ave! y iam Black. New York: Miscelianies, by’ Henry Edward (Manning), Cardinal Arcubishop of W tminsier, Sew York: The Cutholic ciety. 1 Epistles of the Apostle Pant, by Conybeare and Philadlpuia: William Syckiemoore., Gut ofthe Depths; a Story of a Woman's Lite, Philadel- phin: T. B. Peterson & Brothers. United Stites Law Di ‘New Yi u Bishop (Metuodist Episcopal \ 2D. Appleton & anual of do 4 Inlatd Work, for amatores, urs, with designs by Arthur Hoy bicago: John Wilkinson. Carita, « novel, by Mrs. Oliphant. (Paper.) Harper & Brothers, Marjorie Beu (Pa Lovers, a novel, by Mary Patriek. Harper & Brothers, @ Puvsishers’ Trade List Annual, 1877, with sketches and portrait: the Harper Brothers, New Yor: The Publishers’ Weekly. FINE ARTS. IN THE PICTURE GALLERIES. Aw tho season opens and people begin to flock back to town, the picture dealers bring out their new pic- tures by twos and threes to replace those which have been on exhibition since the last season, carrying out | this process gradually until with the October days an | almost or erurely new collection adorns tho walis ot their gallorics for the inspection of art lovers who | find the autumn days exceilont ones for tours of in- | spection to see wiat the artists have on their easels or the dealers tn their gailertes, ‘To the number of tne uew pictures already noticed | which buve lately been placed in tne Goupil Gallery, | four others have just been added, | The most important ts one of those scenes from | French cierigal iife im which that excellent artist, J. | G Vibert, ts so happy. The title is “Le Prédicateur & | VEssa”” (The Preacher on Trial), Iu am imposing apartment in ap ecclesiastical palace sits in a high backed, richly carved sedilius, back green screen to shield His E:minence trom the dranght, with his feet in a furred chauge pied and with his gloved hands joined across his pauncn, a carainal wearing lis scarlet robes and berretta, wuile opposite to him on the other side of the fireplace, trom which | he ts shielded by a scroon, stands, leaning over a chair on which lies his crucifix, a Dominican monk wildly | gesticulating with outstretched hands, and carried away by the zeal which he pats into the sermon which he 1s rehearsing, The cardinal, also somowhat ex- his cold, hard face sits forward im nis chair aud glares at him with opened mouth, probably ordering him to calm down, and giving the advive of Talleyrand, “sSurtout pas trop de axe,” which seema so far to have | no effect, for the monk appears almost to have for- gotten bin, Behind ths latter, on a chair, lies his hat and a book, while by it leans bis cane, At the cardi. nal’s left hand, on a carved table, is placed on a small stand ap illuminated miasal and the débris of a while | | | | | | slight rep i the” fireplace, over which if @ nboly picture, by the low fire, sits snugly @ brass water pitcher, strongly ive of something hot, as 1s the well fed card!- | The excited monk is evidently | one of a number up tor trial in rotation, among whom, as usual, one will be chosen by the cardinal to go preaching on a “mission” during the Lenten season, His earnest, excited manner shows that the appoint. ment is a coveted one, for as the chosen one goes | about from place to place preaching he will be made much of and weil cared for as regards both inser and outer man by the resident priests, and nis lite wiil,be in strong contrast to the hard beds, monotonous round ot dutics and frugal fare of the monastery. ‘the pic- ture js admirably painted in acter, smooth, mellow | tone, and the expressive faces finely treated. Tho ac- tion is good, notably im the Ogure of the decideuly emporté monk, and the scene is an extremely amusing one, strong in satire, Excellent in texture painting is the white anderrobe of the Dominican and His Eminence’s soarlet vestments, aud excellently treated are the accessories, A charming harmony is observa- ble over all Vibert is also represented by a fine little canvas ofa gayly dressed Cataionian jar imerensnt, calling his wares, with which ne is burdened, at the entrance toa stepped passage leading trom the street to the inner courtyards of the curiously constructed dwellings Iv is Dr¥liant in color and of an easy duis, Une of ive always pieasiag Meyer von Bremen’s ext catches th A group of children tn a cottage wing room d Of Cheifs around a4 \abie, waile the vides on one band “ihe Chilaren’s Pet, on oUt Of its woouen cage, and feeds it irom w piece Of sugar with the ovver, Charming are the figures of the two giris, the younger ol whom leans over her big brother, while the older wits with ler back (0 us on ver chair, just raising ber head from the book in which she has been tuterested, with the jaunty litle mize on ber head, The younger boy, intent, huif sits bali kocels on mis chair, On a beuch neur by lies the motuer’s knitting, showing that sue i# not iur off, The higat coummg ia tirou,h the latuicod window, striking oa the flowers in a pot and past on to tho faces of the children, is admirably man- aged. These pure, quiet, sweet little pictures of child hit which Unis ars 18 #0 felicitous, and which cume home to every one of us, are very coarming. ‘Tue last of the quartet, “The Fair Connoisseur,” by Paimeroli, is a very delicate, gracetul piece of paiut- r Au admirably dressed, lair, yet nov too young, an artist's easel and gazes in a very dilettanti style at (he canvas, One vi ber long gloved Lanus ies on her lap, and with the other she daintily volds ber golden lorgnon, which sho h been wsing, She is 6v dently ab home in t 10 and une amie ot the bas drawn tue chair up cioge to tho easel for her and laid her shawl carefully on the arm, ‘The treatmeut of the figure 14 wdmiraviec, and tue light hicely mapaged iuils aeviciously ou # “love ot w Lou. net,’ on the delicate tace velow, aad ou the daintily Voted dress, The coloring is light and iree and the details Woll Worked ap; on the woole a charming bit, ‘Scnaus bas lately added to his gallery two fine exem- ples of Kaewmerer, ‘La Mouiste' ” In the fray a ewes This | madame sits At @aso in front of a framed cauvas on | janded at Narragansett, and boarded the shore Li Window and liits ber dress from her daiuty feet, Fa the coring is rich and truthtul In the other @ Of ladies dressed in tue ueight of the French mode are on the baleowy of a hotel, having = fin- ished their morning coffee. One, standing, 1s ng Out bo Sea through & telescope, aad ihe otner, sitting, gazes at ber, The picture is pleasing, but does pot - approach the first mentioned, nice little Will shortly piace on exhivition. wo peat little minisiure-like Meyer von Bremen’s—s ironing, aod 4 boy at a doorstep, discussing @ po book and 4 piece of bread, while a dog, with iy paws On the Loy's leg, is Legging tor a sbare. La- side the mother is seea preparing the supper, which the child bas anticipated There is an excellent picture by Seignac, “ihe Chiid’s Supper.” They are at play, and have laid out a small supper and he older girl i giving the younger ooe wo drink. by two small girl is focding a cat, wile @ C In ihe other @ boy, leis of Munic lo oa stanus 16 ehurge of & baby, hus the cupboard, aad ou 4 beveb dividing bis sb prize wud Lolding Mis charge. A cat, sitting by them on the low beach, completes the group. There are two excvilent Emile Lambinet’s—tenderly treated Januscapes, with water, cattie aud tigures, young demoisoiles Gshing, aud two ladies and a baby = furan afternoon unuer the trees, are by Charles ue, An admirable picture by F. Sonderiand is “Fishing and cht’ One ef the Prassiag land police pas uple of young poachers, red-banded, ust Foames and those of ie parents they stand before him, The doy looks up 8 cap aud holds bi ‘ying little sister's band, A comical little dog, staring up as the gruf ol, aud asking what it is aii about and if bi wanted, completes the comical xroup. The bey hat his tisuing rod and the girls bold iresbly gat! flowers, Just where they siaud a ouge #40 OD & post proniviis isaiog and trespassing of any kiad, Booka, shoes and stockings on the ground show that they are truants and buve stolen a day from school tor their ex- cursiou, wh.ch bus come to such a lamentable end ‘There is in the rooms \itied ‘Sadness, by Professor Ailvgretti, of Rome. Lt 18 a sweet, chastened, slightly bowed head of a young female, over which ts gracetully turown @ luce veil, leaving visible the Charming face. STUDIO NOTES. David Joungon has just fuished the landscape on the Wawaganda, Essex county, N. Y., spoken of some Weeks ago, Over the quiet waters of the stream stretch the wide-spreading branches of a huge chest oak, allowing glimpses through the branches of the waters a8 they stretch away. In the foreground a young girl is seated sketching, while toward us, ov slight rise, winds a path, Up tais and into the shade of the great tree come a tow cattle, The picvure ia stroug In light and shode aad general treatment, the coloring is rich and powerful, aud a pertect harmony ia geen. The cloudy sky 1s admirable, as is a gracetal bit Ol the opposite bank of the river, down tO which Wam- ders u woodland path, and where throug’ the lofty trees are faintly seen the blue outlines of the Shanda kin Mountains, A. KR, Wyant bas receutly returned to his stadia, He bus under way a large canves of oaks by a pond, while in the distance, over the mooriand, is seen & cottage. He 18 also at Work un u little picture of sheep by 4 brookside, with houses im tue distuuce, which 19 very pleasing, A study of ludian Pass, in the Adiroa- dacks, i# boldly treated. Chuton Ogiivie bi county, N. Y¥., wher sketching. Hartley, the sculptor, bas a graceful figare in clay of a young girl holdiag a paim leat over her bead, while she looke trom under it smiling upward which he cails “The First Umoreila.” He is vow modeling a Iie size Ocure of Minnehaha, which he tntends tor tho spring exnivition. The ludian maiden i repee- Seuied as described by the poet 1 tae lines :— Sat the lovely Minnehaha, Sat his dwuglter, Langhi ti Plaitins mats of the, i. Bierstadt and Homer are back with portfolios fall of color sketcues. Walter shirlaw will be professor of drawing aad painting to the Art Studeuts’ League this winter, returned from Leeds, Greene he bas been induatrioasly Wat GOSSIP FROM PARISIAN STUDIOS, Cabanel is very busy painting, on an order from the government, some large canvases of Biblical subjects, which, when finished, will bo placed in the Pantheon, Bougereau has been sponding his summer as usual at La Kochelie and has just Goished a portrait of the Bishop of La Rochelle. Geromo has just finished the model tn clay of bil great group of the two gladratora from his world re nowned picture “Pollice Verso,” which 1s to be east ig bronze for the approaching Expoaition, He has b so bard at work at this thathe has patoted but little latoly, but be is now at work on some mosque interl- ors. Meissonnier is at work on a large and important canvas, in the time of Heori Il. some guests e just arrived at a great castle, where the seigneur with his family 18 receiving them, There are many figures, (be picture is tull of action and the costumes tywhich is a high | cited, with bis berretta stuck away on his head over | | General Jeanningros, six times wounded om the of the time give good play to the artist’s magnificent | treatment. Hugues Merle {s painting a Charlotte Corday for the next Salon, Tuo moment the artist bas chosen is | when she knocks for admittance at the street door of | Murat’s house, and hoids the letter im one hund and the kuite concealed from whoever auswers iu the | other, She is ready, for he him: Merle is ulso at work on « painting of cards with the feeble minded Coar | King, tor whose atnusemen: they we: | Salmo ts parting two ptetures whieh will come to | Goupi’s gallery vere. Une, an Amerinan sceue, repror septs @ youby Woman: iu the Puritan costume carving on a tree in the jurest the name of the loved one, The other represents a young girl in # dainty costume a windy day on tue seusbore pear Trouvilie, the it kuown Freveb watering piace. ‘The Porisian artists will send their fresh pictures to the Salon of 1875 and to the Galiery of the Later to Xpositio. tue beat of their pictares which ny been already exhibited. FOREIGN akt NOTES, Rembranat’s ‘Lesson in Anatomy”? is once more to its pluce tn the Mus: 4 the Hague, alter a Gireful lining, Holman Haunt will soon return from Jerusalem to London with bis great picture, which be has beon punting there for some time past. The Cassel pictares have been moved into the highly artistic new gallery which bas been ,roparcd tor their Teception im that city. | A much needed Indios’ Fchool of art is about to be founded in Rome, a house in the Via degli Artist having already been taken, Aimé Millet will have in the Salon of 1878 a One | bust of the lately decoascd hfe Senator Edmund Adar, Tweaty-one statues, symbolizing the different coan- tries to be represented at the French Inernational Ex. position of 1875, ure being executed by mipent ch seulptors and will adoro the facade of the prins oxpal building, Munkacsy, the Hungarian artist, and Yriarte, the art writer, have lately been nominated to the Legion of Honor. The Royal M Brussels has just paid 20,000 ‘aking of Antioch,” franes tor Gallait’s pe painter, is dead, Dalipbard, the land ReCORD, A BRILLIAN (From the Pall Mail Gazotte, Sept, 12.) The day belore yesterday the Duc d’Aumale, in pres ence of the garrison of Chaumont, handed the order of jrand Uificer of the Legion of Honor to General Jean | ningros, saying:—“Soluiers, forty-two years ago Core poral Jeanningros, who, like you, carried bis knap- sack and wasket, received bis Orat wound TI Jour years ago 1 banded vo Lieuteni ean! who Was cajied the Bayard of tne Zoua’ th as Kojght of the Legion ot Honor, fo-day I hand of pattie, the star of Grand Officer, This order bas | never ducorated a more valiant heart.’ THE PRICE INQUEST, Coroner Crane, of Hoboken, held an inquest at Har- rison, N. J., On Saturday night, im regard to the death of George W. Price, the Newark fireman who was killed by an explosion at the Hudson County Chemical Works on Mooday last The jury, atter the examinae tion of several witnesses, returned a verdict “that th said George W. Price came to lis death on Moaday, th | pete Of Septemver, A. D., 1877, from concussion of the in, ‘used by the explosion ot a cylinder in Bigelow & cnewical works, in the townsnip of Kearvey, Hudson county, N.J., and we turther exonerate the said Bigciow & Co, froin all blame." AN ESCAPED BURGLAR, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE UERALD.] Newrort, R. 1, Sept. 23, 1877. id that Alexander, the burglat pd last wight, hired @ satlboat, and that the boy whoaided him im getting out went off with bilo aud both are now at liberty. It is presumed that they, train at miduigot, at Kingsto: York. Aloxander 1s @ profess: thathe will be found, Boats were out nearly policemen veing on board, but the pair had gail much ground to be overtaken. ARREST OF A BURGLAR. Nasuva, N. H., Sept, Jack Hall, alias Jack Smith, of New ¥ rested 19 Hudson last night for break st f J.B, MeQuesti od David this city, aud stealing quite & quantity of 14 procecded to N bei uo