First Battle of Plevna

First Attack of Plevna
Part of Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) and Siege of Plevna
First attack of Plevna, July 20, 1877, by the author L.G. Beskrovny
Date July 19–20, 1877 Location Plevna, Ottoman Empire (nowadays Pleven, Bulgaria) Result Ottoman victory (see Aftermath)
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Osman Pasha	Lt. Gen. Yuri Schilder-Schuldner Maj. Gen. Knorring † Rgt. Col. Rosenbaum †
Units involved
Unknown	5th division of the IX. corps
Strength
8,000 or 13,000	7,500 infantry
Casualties and losses
12–2,000 Turks killed 30 wounded (See Casualties...)	3,000+ deaths: 74 officers killed 2,771 men killed (See Casualties...)

The first battle of Plevna (or "defence of Plevna", a made-up title by the author Frederick William von Herbert) was the first assault that happened during the siege of Plevna in July 1877. On July 18th, 1877, 1,500 Russian cavalries were reconnoitering around the town of Plevna in Ottoman Empire. They, the Russian cavalries, did clashed when the Turkish skirmishes were small, and the Russians think that the town itself was minorly defended. They report this to the lieutenant general Schilder-Schuldner. He sends his whole infantry estimated 7,500 to occupy the town of Plevna, which take place on July 20th 1877.

Background

On July 13th, 1877, Osman Pasha had left Vidin with the column which consist amount of 19 battalions, 6 squadrons and 9 batteries, and also of an total of 12,000 mens and 54 guns. Hearing that he was too was late to relieve on Nikopolo, he then instead to push into Plevna.

The Russians cavalry were going to reconnoitering around the town of Plevna. Those Russians cavalry had clashed to a small number of Turkish skirmishers, thinking that the town itself was lightly defended, and as well the cavalry reported this to the Russian Lieutenant general Schilder-Schuldner, commanding the 5th division of the IX. corps of his infantries about 7,500 Russians infantry to occupy the town of Plevna, which had already captured Nikopol, and decides later to occupy Plevna, as of his guns were already set on action. Small numbers of Turks in the trenches were easily overcome, which allows the Turks to flee. Osman Pasha had concealed his main forces, from in houses or at barns, or the others behind the sheltered locations also. This will allowed the Russians to enter a city unaware, while considerable numbers of the Ottoman main forces which were set of being concealing throughout Plevna, commanded by the Osman Pasha himself. The Turkish batteries had came later when theyre into action as soon as they arrive and returned on fire. A desultory artillery duel was carried on until nightfall, but there were no inclusive attacks that was made by the Russians on the 19th century.

Osman had distributed his own army into three sections: firstly at Janik Bair ridge, facing north, where there was a total of 13 battalions and 4 batteries of Ottomans army, besides with advanced posts of 2 battalions and 1 battery each. Thereafter, at Opanetz and Bukova, facing at east and northeast, they were a total 5 battalions and 10 guns that were post on the eastern end of the Janik Bair; to the hills south of the Bulgareni road, theres a total 4 battalions and 2 batteries that were allotted, and on the either side of the road, under cover in the rear of them, most of the cavalry was placed. The remaining troops had formed a general reserve, which was posted on the hill just at east of the town. The hills to the north and east of Plevna were perfectly bare. The Turks had covered the 115 miles from Widin in seven days, as of they were "trying heat" and was exhausted from that, besides few trenches that got being vomited.

Aftermath

Incident took place that the Regiment Colonel Rosenbaum had died during the first assault of Plevna

The Turks forcibly offered the Russians to retreat, with a courageous resistance also. With a bugle signal, the Turks had revealed themselves and began to take out the Russians by pouring massive rifles to a startled Russians. Such small numbers only of those who made it into Plevna, besides man-aged to escaped the town. Their leader, Knorring, had likely fell into their own death in action, as well as the commander of "Archangel" Rosenbaum. At virtually point-blank range, the Winchesters had poured out the majority of the bullets, and the Peabody-Martinis kept up a lingering long-range fire upon the retreating Russians.

Casualties

Russians

Russians casualties were extended as high, more than the Turks casualties numbers. The estimation of an total of Russian casualties were about like 2,500+ or up to 3,000 casualties of the Russians (includes a total of 74 officers and 2,771 mens). "On the north flank they pressed into Bukova, and also succeeded in driving back the Turkish right wing; but in both cases Turkish reinforcements arrived and with vigorous counter-attacks pressed back the Russians, with the result that by noon they were in full retreat, having lost 2,800 men out of a total of 8,000."

Turkish

The total casualties of the Turks after the outcome may varies according to the various different websites. The Turks had loss about 12 of the Turkish troops, as well as the Turkish that were wounded about a total 30 of them. But, according to the "Xenophon Military History" website, a total large casualties of the Turks were higher than those minor numbers, as of the total is about 2,000 Turks were killed. Another accounts claim that it was 1,500 casualties. Severe looses were sustained by the two Regiments of Russian, which were Voglodana regiments and other one.