Chapter X: The War with Turkey

The long-expected declaration of war between Russia and Turkey took place on April 23, 1877, accompanied by a proclamation to the Roumanian nation from the Grand Duke Nicholas, announcing his intention of entering their territory in the hope of finding the same welcome as in the former wars. A special sitting of the Chamber assembled on the 26th of the same month to confirm the Convention with Russia; and a council of war held the same evening decided to occupy the line of the Sabar, to reinforce the troops on the Danube, and to garrison Calafat, as the precipitate advance of the Russians, coupled with the assent of the Chamber to the Convention, rendered Roumania liable to a Turkish invasion. The question now to be solved was whether the Roumanian army under Prince Charles was to take an active share in the campaign, and, if so, on what terms. It was, however, eventually decided to remain passive for the present, though the Grand Duke seemed anxious to draw Prince Charles into co-operation with the Russian army. The mobilised Roumanian troops were organised as follows, under the supreme command of Prince Charles, with Colonel Slaniceanu as Chief of his Staff:

FIRST ARMY CORPS: General Lupu.

First Division, Colonel Cerchez: 2 brigades, 1 cavalry brigade,
3 batteries.

Second Division, Colonel Logadi: 2 brigades, 1 cavalry brigade,
3 batteries.

Corps Artillery--6 batteries.

SECOND ARMY CORPS: General Radovici.

Third Division, Colonel Angelesbu: 2 brigades, 1 cavalry
brigade, 3 batteries.

Fourth Division, General Manu: 2 brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3
batteries.

Corps Artillery--6 batteries.

The total strength of the army amounted to 50,000 men with 180 guns, with a reserve of about 70,000 men of the National Guard and Militia.

An important resolution, adopted by the Chamber on May 11, 1877, declared that a state of war existed with Turkey, and expressed confidence in the justice of the Powers, authorising the Government to use every endeavour to obtain the recognition of Roumanian independence at the close of the war. The desire of the Russian Commander-in-Chief for the assistance of the Roumanian army found frequent expression even in these days. At an interview at Plojeschti the Grand Duke demanded active support from Prince Charles, as he felt convinced that his own force was not sufficient to cope with its task, and added that at the first council of war he had asked for reinforcements amounting to another three or four Army Corps. The least he expected was that Prince Charles would hold the left bank of the Danube until the Russians had finished their strategical deployment.

Prince Charles replied that he intended to keep his troops under his own command, but that the Russians would be benefited by having their right flank secured. The Roumanian garrisons of Oltenitza and Giurgiu would not retire until relieved by Russian troops. At the same time he declared himself anxious to take an active part in the war, but only on condition that his proposals were agreed to.

The Grand Duke returned the Prince's visit on the following day, May 15, accompanied by his son and a numerous suite, which included M. de Nelidow, who had conducted the negotiations with Roumania, and was now in charge of the diplomatic correspondence at headquarters.

In reply to an inquiry in the Chamber on May 21, Cogalniceanu declared that Roumania was practically independent, as Europe would not force her to return to her former bondage. It was then decided by a large majority to create an order, "The Star of Roumania," as the first act of Roumanian independence. This order consists of five classes--viz., Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, and Grand Cross,--whose members wear a star of eight rays depending from a crown and surcharged with a cross in blue enamel, which displays the eagle of Wallachia. The ribbon is red, bordered with blue, and the motto runs: _In fide salus_.

Prince Charles Anthony entirely agreed with his son's attitude towards Russia, and stigmatised the mooted co-operation, with its inevitable subordination and incorporation in the Russian army, as a "political _felo de se_."

"The _possibility of a Russian defeat_," he wrote, "no matter how improbable, must also be considered: an untouched reserve on this side of the Danube, which could only consist of the Roumanian army intact, would in that case possess an immense importance!"

Prince Charles, accompanied by his Staff, set out on the 27th to inspect his troops at Crajowa and Calafat, and found them in excellent order and discipline. At 7 P.M. the Prince ordered the bombardment of Widin to commence, and a lively cannonade ensued, during which three Turkish shells exploded in the immediate neighbourhood of the Prince. The _sangfroid_ of their ruler did not fail to arouse a feeling of appreciation in the Roumanian nation, who on his return greeted him everywhere with indescribable enthusiasm.

The Czar in the meantime declared that, if the Roumanian Government wished to take part in the campaign, it must do so at its own expense and risk, and must, moreover, place the army under the command of the Grand Duke. "Russia has _no need_ of the support of the Roumanian army. The force which has been put into the field against Turkey _is more than sufficient_ to achieve the high object which the Czar had in view in commencing the present war."

Prince Charles attended a council of war at the Russian headquarters in Plojeschti on June 1, 1877, and, whilst discussing the advance into Bulgaria, casually pointed out the strategic importance of the junction of the roads at Plevna. The Grand Duke urged the Prince to cross the Danube near Widin as soon as possible, but Prince Charles was unable to comply with this request until the material necessary for bridges had been collected.

The Czar arrived at Plojeschti a few days later with a suite of over 700 persons, amongst them Prince Alexander of Battenberg, then a subaltern in the Hessian Dragoons. In a private interview with Prince Charles the Czar expressed his intention of lending Roumania, which already owed so much to Russia, a helping hand, but declined to enter into the vexed question of Roumanian co-operation in the war. A curious incident occurred during the Czar's return visit to Bucharest, when a large bouquet, thrown from a house, fell close by his carriage. The Czar started back, fearing a bomb, and only the ready tact of Princess Elisabeth covered his confusion.

An important conversation took place between Prince Charles and Gortchakoff, who definitely expressed the opinion that, though the Delta of the Danube was essential for the development of Roumania, Russia wants one of its arms, the Kilia. The Prince declared that his first object was to preserve the integrity of his country, and that any extension of the frontier after the war would be only a secondary consideration. Gortchakoff appeared to be firmly of opinion that the war would be short and glorious. He could not, therefore, agree with the openly expressed wish of the Headquarters Staff for the co-operation of the Roumanian army.[21] The reports of the first engagements did not, however, fully bear out this belief; for, though successful at other points, the Russians were beaten in Asia at Bajaset, and were forced to withdraw from that town, whilst Mukhtar Pacha compelled General Tergukassoff to retire to Igdir.

[21] The Grand Duke, on hearing of this conversation, declared that
diplomatists were much too eager to interfere in affairs which did
not concern them.

"_From_ PRINCE CHARLES ANTHONY, _June 11th, 1877_.

"At last the situation has somewhat cleared, and the presence of the Czar under existing conditions may possibly be an important starting-point for future developments. The declaration of independence is perfectly justified; it is a _fait accompli_, which must, in any case, be reckoned with hereafter. At the time this declaration took place, four weeks ago, I feared a considerable increase of the complications already existing, and could hardly become reconciled to it. However, I always remembered that your course of action must be based on motives of which we must be ignorant. Your wisdom in seizing the right moment is again confirmed. The foreign Press, although extremely surprised, has become more or less reconciled to the altered situation, and even the English papers have bridled themselves with decency....

"In my opinion the material military successes of the Russians will be in Asia; the moral successes in Europe; and the conception of a moral victory is so elastic that I see no reason why the war should be prolonged beyond reasonable limits.

"The creation of a united State--Roumania-Bulgaria--of course with the freedom of the Danube to the sea, would be a magnificent creative idea, only the deep-seated difference of the nationalities gives rise to weighty considerations."

* * * * *

On June 28, 1877, the Grand Duke arrived at Simnitza, where the Fourteenth Division had collected a number of boats preparatory to effecting a crossing, aided by a vigorous cannonade the day before along the whole line of the Danube. The Volhynian Regiment embarked at 2 A.M. in absolute silence, and had barely landed when an alarm shot was fired. A short engagement terminated in the retreat of the Turkish force, and, in spite of hostile fire from the artillery, General Dragomirow succeeded in assembling the whole of his Division on the farther bank of the river, with the loss of about 30 officers and 700 men. The construction of a bridge was commenced from both banks simultaneously, though several sections were destroyed by a sudden storm. The bridge at Braila remained intact, and was crossed by Prince Charles on foot the following day.

Notwithstanding the fact that Roumania had so far taken but a small share in the campaign, Prince Charles was able to supply the Russian headquarters with trustworthy information about the enemy's movements, especially with regard to the garrison of Widin, under Osman Pacha, who was now reported to be on the march to Rahova with fifteen battalions and two batteries. Though an advanced party of Cossacks seized Plevna on July 8, they were unable to retain possession of that town, a couple of Turkish battalions from Nikopoli forcing them to retire on the following day.

Prince Charles now quitted Schimnik to rejoin his headquarters at Pojana, near Calafat, where he was better able to superintend the movements of his army. In a letter to the Princess he alludes to the Russian estimate of his army as follows: "The Russians do not want to recognise the services we have rendered them; Grand Duke Nicholas has sent a long report to the Czar, dealing with the course of events from the beginning of the war to the crossing of the Danube, and does not give a single word to the Roumanian army. 'The only thing,' he says about the country, 'is that the Roumanian railways are indifferent.' That may be so; but without our indifferent railways, and without the Roumanian troops, the Russians would not be in Bulgaria by now."

On July 13 General Gourko succeeded in crossing the Hainkioi Pass, after encountering very great difficulties on the narrow mountain paths. The guns barely managed to keep up with the columns. On the other hand, serious news was received from Plevna on July 20, for, though the Russians succeeded in occupying Lowtscha, General von Schilder-Schuldner was forced to beat a speedy retreat halfway to Nikopoli, screened by his cavalry, leaving the Turks in possession of Plevna. The Russian headquarters now requested that the Roumanian army might occupy Nikopoli and take charge of the prisoners of war, but Prince Charles declined to accede to this without some definite agreement about the employment of his troops. The attitude of the Russian diplomats now appeared to suffer considerable change, so far as the employment of the Roumanian army was concerned. Prince Gortchakoff permitted himself to remark to the Princess, with marked sarcasm: "_Toujours pas de blessés Roumains!_" to which she readily replied: "_Non, Dieu merci, nous n'avons que très peu jusqu'à présent!_"

The Prince wrote as follows to his consort:

"Yesterday, General Sefcari, commissioned by the Grand Duke
Nicholas, arrived here to inform me that the defeat of the
Russians at Plevna was caused by us: '_Dites au Prince que
les Roumains sont cause que nous avons été battus à Plevna!_'
The Russian headquarters maintain that a portion of General
Krüdener's troops were retained at Nikopoli because we had
refused to occupy that fortress and guard and transport the
Turkish prisoners. This is true; I always mean to refuse such
police duties; my army is too good for that. On the other hand,
I have declared my willingness to occupy Nikopoli and advance
with the Russians against the 35,000 to 45,000 Turks at Plevna.
This offer does not find favour with the Russians, as they do
not wish to share a victory with us...."

Roumanian troops, however, proceeded at once to garrison Nikopoli, where the Roumanian flag was hoisted on July 29, and a message was sent to the Grand Duke demanding a separate base of operations in Bulgaria, and the undivided command of the Roumanian army as the only condition which Prince Charles could accept.

A report was received at 4 P.M. on the 31st that the Russians had suffered a severe defeat at Plevna, and were retiring panic-stricken on Sistow; this was confirmed at 9 P.M. by the following despatch in cipher:

"WEDNESDAY, _July 19-31, 1877_, 3.35 P.M.
"PRINCE CHARLES OF ROUMANIA.
"Headquarters of the Roumanian Army.

"The Turks having assembled in great force at Plevna are
crushing us. Beg you to join, make a demonstration, and, if
possible, cross the Danube, as you wish. This demonstration
between Jiul and Corabia is indispensable to facilitate my
movements.

"NICHOLAS."

Prince Charles replied that the Fourth Division would hold Nikopoli, and that the Third would occupy the position quitted by the Fourth; the want of torpedoes would prevent the passage of the river, as a Turkish monitor was stationed near Rahova. The headquarters of the Prince were now transferred to Corabia, where the bridge was to be constructed, and a fresh _ordre de bataille_ drawn up in accordance with the altered conditions:

The First Corps, consisting of three infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade, and six batteries was to form a general reserve.

The Second Corps suffered no alteration.

The Corps of Observation, under General Lupu, consisting of two Divisions with six batteries and two cavalry regiments, remained at Calafat.

The Russian advance, in the meantime, had come to a complete standstill, whilst some forty battalions and 200 guns under General Sotow awaited the arrival of six further Divisions before attempting to drive Osman Pacha away from his entrenched position at Plevna. A prolonged series of despatches now passed between the Russian and Roumanian Headquarters with reference to the bridge over the Danube. If the latter was constructed at Nikopoli, the army would probably be merged in that of the Grand Duke, whilst at Magura it would secure independent action, at the same time cutting off Osman's communications with Sofia and the East.

The impatience of the Grand Duke at the repeated delays led to the following despatch from Colonel Gherghel, attached to his Staff, on August 16:

"By order of H.I.H. the Grand Duke Nicholas I have the honour
to communicate to your Highness that H.I.H. desires the Third
Roumanian Division to cross the Danube at once at Nikopoli to
unite with the Fourth. H.I.H. will visit the two Divisions as
soon as they are concentrated."

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:

"The command before Plevna is no easy matter: it will cost many
a bloody battle before the Turks are conquered; nay, it may
be questioned whether we shall succeed in this struggle! But I
could not refuse the Emperor's offer, although I should have
preferred my army to fight in its own sphere of operations. Now
my troops will form the right wing, the Russian Ninth Corps
the centre, and the Fourth the left wing. The Roumanian troops
will cross our bridge over the Danube to-day. I shall review
them first and then set out for Turnu-Magurele to proceed _viâ_
Nikopoli to my headquarters at Poradim (27 miles from Nikopoli)."

Prince Charles found his new headquarters at Poradim a long straggling Bulgarian village about four and a half miles from the Turkish line of entrenchments round Plevna. Only one house at the entrance to the village seemed fit to live in, but at the best it was but a poor apology for a house. Half ruined, without doors or windows, it offered every opportunity for a study of the discomforts of campaigning. Here, as elsewhere, the noisome odour of corruption, caused by the hundreds of unburied carcases of horses and other animals, made the air terrible to breathe.

The following morning the Prince found the troops of the Russian Fourth Corps greatly reduced in strength, as their effective strength present for duty only amounted to from 12,000 to 14,000 men for twenty-one battalions. On inspecting the outposts on the heights of Grivitza, Raditschewo, and Tutschenitza, the Prince realised to the full the strategical importance of Plevna, and also the immense difficulties in attacking the Turkish entrenchments. Osman Pacha's communications with Suleiman Pacha were seriously affected by the capture of Lowtcha by Prince Imeritinski and General Skobeleff on September 6, and it then became possible to attack Plevna from the south as well.

A General Order was drafted by the Prince and his Staff with a view to the attack on the position, which was so warmly urged by the Grand Duke and his Staff, but which was to be postponed for the present.

The troops now under the command of Prince Charles amounted to 107 battalions, 74 squadrons, and 442 guns. Total, 75,000 men and 8000 horses.

The Grand Duke Nicholas, whose temperament had suffered much during the last few weeks, declared bluntly: "_Il faut attaquer absolument_," to all the representations of the Prince, who was firmly convinced that Plevna could not be taken before the arrival of the expected Russian reinforcements. The Grand Duke, on the other hand, was afraid that, unless Plevna was taken at once, Suleiman Pacha would effect a junction with Osman, and thus outnumber the Russian force.

The preliminary bombardment of Plevna by 146 guns commenced on September 7, and continued throughout the night. Little or no damage was done by this cannonade, to which the Turkish guns only replied from time to time. Fire was again opened the following morning with 226 guns, chiefly concentrated against the Grivitza redoubt.

About noon Prince Charles noticed that the guns of his Fourth Division were forced to retire before the fire of a Turkish redan some 900 yards to their front. The 13th Dorobanz Regiment, supported by the 1st Battalion of the 5th Line Regiment and a section of artillery, were ordered to take the redan. The attack was successfully carried out with a loss of two officers and 112 men wounded and 20 killed, about the same time that General Skobeleff gained possession of the Green Hill.

A council of war on September 10 decided to undertake a general attack along the whole line at 3 P.M. the following day. The only dissentient vote was that of Prince Charles, who thought that the four days' bombardment had produced too little effect, but he gave way to the opinion of the majority.

At eleven o'clock on the momentous morning of September 11 a hot musketry fire was heard on the left flank, but owing to the thick mist the cause could not be ascertained at once, and it was not until 1 P.M. that Prince Charles received a report that General Skobeleff had already been hotly engaged for the last two hours, suffering severe losses. In the meantime the mist had lifted, and at 3 P.M. the attacking columns moved in good order against the entrenchments. After suffering terrible losses, the columns were obliged to fall back, leaving innumerable corpses to mark the line of their advance. Twice the Roumanian infantry reached the ditch of the death-dealing Grivitza redoubt; twice, despite the utmost gallantry, they were forced back. Prince Charles could no longer watch this desperate struggle without taking share in it, and galloped down from his post of observation to the spot where the survivors of his gallant troops stood. Animated by the presence and the praises of their leader, the soldiers demanded to be led once more against the hitherto impregnable redoubt.

It is nearly half-past five o'clock; the Prince is going to join the Emperor Alexander, with whom is the Grand Duke Nicholas, in order to report to him on the state of affairs. The latter recognised him from a distance, and met him with the anxious query, "How are things going?" The Prince could only reply that the attack had miscarried, although he had still hope that the first Grivitza redoubt may be taken. Whilst he is still conversing with the Emperor, who is very much affected, an officer of Cossacks rides up at full gallop with the news that Turkish cavalry has broken out of Plevna and is advancing along the Grivitza road! Everybody present implores the Emperor to retire immediately from his point of observation, and to return for safety to his headquarters. The Emperor cedes to the general wish and returns to Raditschewo, accompanied by a large military escort--a sad spectacle for those who were present. The thunder of artillery, the rattling of musketry continue apace although the day is drawing to a close. The Prince is still without any news concerning the result of the attack on the Grivitza redoubt, which he had ordered to be made. A battalion is drawn from the reserve for the protection of the Grand Duke and the Prince. A huge fire is lit, round which their Highnesses sit down with their staff. Everybody is more or less overcome by the excitement of the day, and conversation is at a standstill. Suddenly at nine o'clock a horseman appears on the scene. He brings the unexpected, and yet so anxiously longed-for news, that at half-past seven o'clock the Roumanians, by a last effort, had taken the Grivitza redoubt, and captured a Turkish flag and three cannon. Whilst at the same time four Russian battalions successfully advanced on the works from the south; but a second redoubt, constructed in rear of the first, proved too strong to be assaulted; thus the Russians were held in check.

The news of this success, which had been delayed owing to the officer having lost his way in the dark, acts like magic upon those present. The Prince immediately sends the joyful tidings to the Emperor.

General Skobeleff, whose independent advance was much criticised at headquarters, succeeded in taking two redoubts on the Green Hill, and demanded immediate support for his decimated force. This, however, could not be granted, owing to the distance (ten miles) from the reserve and the danger of the troops losing their way across country by night. The thunder of the guns and the rattle of musketry continued throughout the night, and only ceased at daybreak. The losses sustained proved to be enormous--16,000 killed and wounded, amongst them 2600 Roumanians.

A council of war, held the second day after the battle, in the absence of Prince Charles, decided to summon General von Todleben, the ever famous defender of Sebastopol, with the whole of the Imperial Guard; to desist from further assaults until their arrival, and to entrench the positions gained. A few votes (amongst others that of the Grand Duke) were even given for the withdrawal of the whole army behind the line of the Osma. The total want of initiative shown by General Krylow, who commanded the centre, led to his removal from the command of the Fourth Russian Corps, which was then given to General Pomeranzew. Prince Charles assembled his generals in the great battery near Raditschewo, and gave them orders to shorten the line enclosing Plevna; the counter-entrenchments which were ordered suffered considerable delay, however, as the Russian troops carried no entrenching tools.

The second Grivitza redoubt was attacked by the Roumanians on the 18th, but Prince Charles, who personally superintended the attack, was compelled to recall his brave troops, as the Turkish fire inflicted annihilating losses on the assaulting columns, who, nevertheless, succeeded in reaching the ditch of the redoubt. The losses amounted to 20 officers and 583 men killed and wounded within two hours.

General von Todleben arrived before Plevna on September 30, and at a council of war at once expressed the opinion that the Turkish army could only be forced to surrender by means of a blockade. Plevna must be completely surrounded before a blockade could be enforced, and at least two more Corps were needed for this purpose. A Cavalry Corps under General Gourko was formed to operate on the far bank of the Wid, and to prevent Turkish supply columns from entering Plevna on that side.

The Prince thus described the state of affairs in a letter to Princess Elisabeth, dated October 5th, 1877:

"The Imperial Headquarters Staff have at last realised the
situation, and a large army is now to be concentrated here:
several divisions of infantry, in addition to the Imperial Guard!

"All these troops will be placed under my command, a
distinction which cannot be over-estimated from a military
and political point of view. General Todleben is appointed as
my second-in-command, with Prince Imeritinski as Chief of my
Staff: they are both pleased at being under my command, the
latter, indeed, had before applied for the post, whilst the
former told me that he was happy to serve under a German Prince,
and especially under a Hohenzollern. I replied that I felt
complimented at having the celebrated defender of Sebastopol at
my side, and that I regarded him as my military preceptor from
whom I had much to learn. We are already excellent friends, and
understand each other perfectly. I told him candidly what I
thought about the attack of September 11th and the course to be
pursued now, and had the satisfaction of hearing from him that
my proposals were absolutely correct then, and are so still."

A curious incident is related in his next letter:

"Yesterday evening at nine o'clock (October 8), as I was at work
with General Todleben and Prince Imeritinski, the aide-de-camp
on duty rushed into the room to report that an alarm had been
given along the whole line: large watch-fires were seen and
guns were heard in the distance! The two squadrons of my escort
saddled at once, and aides-de-camp and orderlies galloped up
from all sides. I did not allow myself to be disquieted, and
declared at once that it was a false alarm, for the night was
so dark, the weather so terrible, and the roads so impassable
from the downpour of rain, that it was impossible for the enemy
to adopt the offensive. Several officers, who had been sent
out, soon returned with the news that the Rifle Brigade of the
Guard had lost their way, and had called for guides. Count
Woronzow, the Chief of Staff of the Guard, at once rode to meet
the troops; but small detachments of the Brigade wandered about
the whole night, and did not assemble until this morning, stiff
with cold and wet. The fires, which had appeared so large in the
mist, were only those of our own bivouacs.... I am now rather
more comfortably furnished; since the last few days I have
managed to obtain windows and doors, straw mats on the floor,
and had the roof repaired, so that the rain no longer falls into
my bedroom....

"The weather has been terrible for the last eight days, and the
troops have suffered much in consequence: their boots simply
rot on their feet in the melting snow: many have lost limbs
through frost-bite, and the hospital tents are not sufficient
to receive all the sick--more than 2000 men in the Army of the
West!

"... I visited the Roumanian troops in the trenches, where
they are standing knee-deep in mud and water! The breastworks
have fallen in in many places, so that they are exposed to the
musketry of the Turks, and many men have been wounded during the
last few days."

The sufferings of the troops were still further increased by the destruction of the bridges over the Danube, and to the discomforts of cold and wet was added the terror of starvation. A number of disputes occurred between the Russian and Roumanian foraging-parties, which culminated one day in a party of Russians being marched past the Prince's quarters as prisoners!

The second Grivitza redoubt was taken, after a first unsuccessful attempt, by the Roumanians on October 19, but the Turkish reserves eventually forced them to retire, with a loss of 300 killed and 707 wounded. The Russians, however, succeeded in gaining possession of the great redoubt at Gornji-Dubnik under cover of night on the 24th, and thereby completed the investment of Plevna, from which Osman could now only escape by forcing his way through the lines of the Allies.

The course of the investment proved uneventful until November 10, when General Skobeleff took the Green Hill by a night attack, with the comparatively trifling loss of 200 men. This important point commands the town of Plevna, and its capture could not fail to hasten the end of the siege. Every attempt, especially by means of night attacks, was made by the Turks to drive the Russians out of this position, but each attempt was defeated by the stern valour of Skobeleff's veterans. In reply to the Grand Duke's summons to surrender, Osman Pacha sent the proud and soldierly answer that he had not yet exhausted all his means, and therefore could not capitulate: that his honour as a soldier required him to hold out to the last.

The whole Russo-Roumanian line investing Plevna was now divided into six sections under separate commanders. The first and largest, consisting of some thirty field works connected by shelter-trenches, extended for nine and a half miles from the right bank of the Wid to the Griwitza redoubt, the second ran from thence to the Plevna-Rustchuk road, the third to the Tutschenitza Ravine, and the fourth to Krtuschab, the fifth to the line of the Wid, and the sixth completed the circle to the west of that river.

The difficulties of his position were thus described by Prince Charles, November 17, 1877:

"The command here is no easy task, for the General Staff often
alter the dispositions, and the Imperial headquarters interfere
directly on every occasion, thereby causing confusion. This has,
however, been amended after some representations, and we are now
left alone. The expression, 'under my immediate command,' in my
last General Order, marks the altered conditions, and prevents
any direct interference. It sometimes looks to me as though the
Russians found me in the way!...

"A few days ago I visited the Roumanian right wing opposite
Oponetz, and ordered a heavy bombardment to be commenced against
the redoubts. The Turks did not reply, which proves that their
ammunition is running short; our outposts then advanced and
occupied the nearest heights without resistance. We only lost
two men. Plevna can only hold out for another fortnight at the
most; we expect Osman to attempt to break through any day, which
will be the sign that his supply of food has come to an end. The
position held by Skobeleff is continually attacked by the Turks,
especially at night; they hope to find there a means of escape.
Skobeleff has been slightly wounded twice; it is a miracle that
he has not met his death, for he is always in the thick of the
bullets...."

A Roumanian detachment, under Colonel Slaniceanu, after a hot engagement took the Turkish works at Rahova, with a loss of over 300 men, on November 20, and two Turkish guns and 140 ammunition carts fell into the hands of the victor. This success was followed up by the occupation of Tzibar Palanka and Rasgrad-Mahala, whence an attempt was to be made on Lom-Palanka.

Another period of stormy weather followed December 5 and increased the already enormous difficulties of supply by carrying away nineteen pontoons of the bridge at Nikopoli. The roads became quite impassable; hundreds of horses succumbed to privation and overwork, and lay rotting by the roadside.

The long expected attempt of Osman Pacha to break through the lines of investment took place on December 10. A report was received the night before that the Turks were bridging the Wid, followed at half-past eight the next morning by the news that the besieged were commencing a sally. On hearing that the Roumanians had occupied the second Grivitza redoubt, Prince Charles at once repaired to that vantage-point, and eventually to the heights commanding Bukowa. At half-past eleven Prince Charles reported to the Czar by telegraph: "The battle on the other side of the Wid has come to a standstill. I can clearly distinguish the three lines, the Turks being caught between two fires. The first prisoners are now on their way to me."

The reports which subsequently reached Prince Charles showed that the course of the action was as follows:

The Turks commenced a hot fire from the guns posted near the
Wid at half-past seven, just as the thick morning mist lifted;
several columns then crossed the river by the stone bridge and
that constructed near Opanetz, and attacked the redoubt near
Gornji-Netropol with such vigour that the 9th Russian Grenadiers
were forced to retire, leaving eight guns in the redoubt. The
next redoubt was also taken at the first rush, as the reserves
had no time to reinforce the first line. The two Russian
Grenadier Divisions, however, prevented any further progress
of the attacking columns, though they were unable to regain
possession of the lost redoubts. At ten o'clock the advance of
the Roumanians against the enemy's right flank caused the Turks
to form front to that direction as well. The struggle continued
till noon, by which time the Turkish troops were completely
surrounded, and their commander, wounded in the left leg by a
splinter of a shell, then decided to surrender, as his force
could neither advance on Sofia nor retire to Plevna.

A white flag was hoisted on a cottage not far from the bridge
over the Wid about 1 P.M., and a staff officer was despatched to
find the commander of the nearest body of troops. A Roumanian
officer, Colonel Cerchez, was the fortunate man to receive
the message that Osman Pacha wished to see him. The Turkish
Commander-in-Chief was having his wound dressed when Colonel
Cerchez reached the cottage. He declined, however, to receive
Osman's sword, as he had no authority to do so, and sent for
General Ganetzki. On the arrival of the Russian General, Osman
was forced to surrender unconditionally, as his situation was
absolutely hopeless. No less than 40,000 men and seventy-seven
guns thus fell into the hands of the victors.

An indescribable scene of confusion presented itself to the eyes of Prince Charles, who, on hearing of the surrender of the Turkish commander, proceeded to the bridge over the Wid, where the decisive struggle had taken place. Russian and Roumanian Corps alternated with long columns of prisoners and fugitives from Plevna; thousands of carts, waggons, and horses, laden with the wretched goods and chattels of the Mohammedan population, blocks the Sofia road. A carriage, surrounded by Roumanian troopers, was suddenly encountered, and proved to contain no less a person than Osman Pacha, accompanied by Tahir Pacha, the Chief of Staff, and Tewfik Pacha, the Chief Engineer. "The Turkish Commander is a man of middle height and thick-set figure; his large melancholy eyes lend his face a most attractive expression, and his whole manner is quiet, dignified, and sympathetic." Prince Charles shook hands with him, and expressed his admiration at the heroic defence of Plevna. The Grand Duke Nicholas, who arrived at this moment, also expressed his admiration of this feat of arms, and ordered the distinguished prisoner to be treated with the utmost attention. Prince Charles subsequently returned through Plevna to Poradim to report the course of events to the Czar. The following day the Czar, after attending a _Te Deum_ in the open air in celebration of the victory, sent for Osman Pacha, who had not yet quitted the vicinity of Plevna. The Turkish General was received by his Imperial Majesty in the presence of the Grand Duke Nicholas and Prince Charles. After paying tribute to the heroic courage with which Plevna had been defended, the Czar returned Osman's sword as a mark of esteem, a compliment which the latter briefly acknowledged with true Oriental courtesy.

It was decided by a council of war to reinforce General Gourko, so that the projected advance on Sofia might proceed at once, and Prince Charles's offer to observe Widin with two Divisions, whilst a third escorted the prisoners of war to the Russian frontier, was gratefully accepted, since demands for reinforcements were received daily from all parts of the theatre of war.

Prince Charles took leave of the army investing Plevna with the following order:

"OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS!

"Your endurance and your heroic struggle have been crowned with
success. Plevna, which the enemy believed to be impregnable and
capable of preventing the victorious advance of his Majesty the
Czar; Plevna, which has cost the Christian forces so much noble
blood; Plevna has fallen!

"The aim of the investing army, the command of which his
Imperial Majesty was pleased to entrust to me, has now been
fulfilled, and this order conveys to the Imperial Russian
troops, which I had the honour to command, my farewell greeting,
and at the same time my gratitude for the self-sacrificing
devotion which has been accorded to me by the whole army from
general to private.

"You have fought under the eyes of your august Czar and your
chivalrous Commander-in-Chief, H.I.H. the Grand Duke Nicholas.
They have both been witnesses of your heroic courage, and there
is no need for me to add my praise to theirs.

"You have set a shining example of valour and the highest
military virtues to my young Roumanian army. The glorious
Imperial army has become united with my troops by an
irrefragable bond of friendship, and I hope that you will
preserve the same friendly remembrance of your Roumanian
brothers-in-arms as they will of you.

"I lay down my command with regret, and it is my most fervent
wish on taking leave of you that in your future struggles for
our holy cause you may achieve as glorious successes as in the
past.

"Therefore let us join once more before we part in that joyous
exclamation which springs from your hearts: Long life to his
Majesty the Czar!"

The Emperor Alexander sent the following official letter to Prince Charles, dated 1/13 December, 1877:

"After a resistance of five months, the combined efforts of our
allied troops have been crowned with complete success. The army
of Osman Pacha has laid down its arms and Plevna has fallen.
Desirous of consecrating the memory of this great success, and
the personal part your Highness has had in it, I take pleasure
in conferring on your Highness on this occasion my Order of St.
Andreas with swords. I beg your Highness to accept the insignia
as a mark of my sincere affection, the expression of which I
renew.

"ALEXANDER."

On December 5, the Grand Duke Nicholas issued an Order of the Day in which occurs the following passage:

"... In prescribing the dissolution of the corps in question I
consider I ought to express my sincere gratitude to its chief,
his Highness Prince Charles of Roumania, who, since August 17,
has commanded the allied troops forming in the first instance
the Army of the West, and later on the Corps of Investment.
Thanks to his exceptional activity his Highness was able to
establish the most complete cohesion between the Russian and
Roumanian troops, to form them into one homogeneous body, and to
direct their efforts in conformity with my prescriptions towards
the final aim which has so brilliantly crowned the common task
(_l'œuvre commune_)...."

His Imperial Highness forwarded this document to Prince Charles, together with a letter which contained a warm tribute to Prince Charles and the Roumanian army:

"The brilliant results which have just been obtained before Plevna are in a great measure due to the co-operation of the brave Roumanian army, as well as to the impulse which the allied troops received from their immediate commander, whose activity, courage, and devotion to his soldierly duties they admired and strove to imitate."

Amongst the many compliments which were showered on the Commander of the Army of Investment, none was more deeply appreciated than the following despatch from the German Emperor:

"PRINCE CHARLES OF ROUMANIA, PORADIM,

"I have followed your operations and noted the valour of your
troops with the greatest interest. I cannot express too warmly
my pleasure at this success; and I permit myself to confer on
you herewith my military Order--_Pour le Mérite_. As you are
aware of the value placed on this Order by my army, you will
no doubt appreciate its bestowal. How many dangers, exertions,
and privations you must have shared with your troops before
you could at last celebrate a glorious triumph by the fall of
Plevna! God be with you in the future.

"WILLIAM."

After an absence of four eventful months Prince Charles set out on December 22, a bitterly cold day, for Nikopoli _en route_ for Bucharest. The roadsides offered a terrible picture of the horrors of war. Almost every step was marked by the corpse of some Turkish prisoner or Russian invalid who had succumbed to the bitter cold. One incident became engraved indelibly upon the Prince's mind. A little group of Turks appeared to be talking round the fragment of a wheel at some slight distance from the road, but on closer inspection they were found to be all frozen to death over their last fire. Even the streets of Nikopoli were not free from these ghastly milestones, and the Prince's thoughts involuntarily turned to the story of Napoleon's retreat from Russia. The unfortunate Turkish prisoners, to the number of 11,000, were herded together in the ditch of the fort exposed to the bitter cold (22° R.) without even a vestige of warm clothing. Small wonder that the Prince, who could do nothing to alleviate their sufferings, hastened to cross the Danube, beyond the reach of their groans and supplications.

As only a few of the pontoons had managed to resist the pressure of the ice, Prince Charles was forced to cross the Danube by means of a small steamboat, which took an hour to reach the Roumanian bank. His first action on reaching Turnu-Magurele was directed to alleviating the miseries of the wounded and the unfortunate prisoners, to which merciful work he devoted Christmas Day of 1877.

A welcome letter from his father was received here:

"Roumania must now maintain its vitality by the development of
its independence, and prove practically to the Powers that it
has become an essential member of the European States.

"I have followed the successes of your brave troops with
undiminished attention. Their organisation has justified
itself, the spirit of the officers is the result of your
training. Their achievements have everywhere been such as one
could hardly expect from veteran troops. This attainment of an
object persistently pursued must be the highest reward for your
self-sacrificing efforts, and is at the same time a triumph over
the public opinion of Europe, which has never had much sympathy
with the Roumanian State and its army.

"At the present it is impossible to foresee what will happen
after the fall of Plevna. I do not believe in the prophecies
of the Press regarding an expected peace, for Russia cannot
possibly content herself with the result of Plevna. She must
set right the mistaken beginning of the whole campaign against
Turkey, which rested upon false calculations and disparagement
of the enemy. These events, however, have been fortunate for
Roumania, for the insufficiency of the Russian means of war was
the very reason why the support of the Roumanian army became
a necessity. It seems almost the work of Providence that such
tasks and efforts in the theatre of war should have fallen to
the lot of the Roumanians as to place them on a footing of
equality in the eyes of Russia and Europe....

"As soon as the military difficulties have been conquered,
political troubles will accumulate to a still greater degree.
The Triple Alliance must now prove its strength, for, if it is
firmly united, the decision of European affairs will lie in its
hands alone...."

Princess Elisabeth awaited her husband, from whom she had been separated for four long and anxious months, at Titu, from whence they reached Bucharest at one o'clock. The whole population of the capital turned out to do honour to their ruler, who had shared their dangers and their troubles, and who had achieved the independence of his adopted country sword in hand.

The day closed with a magnificent torchlight procession under the windows of the palace, after which Prince Charles and his wife drove through the brilliantly illuminated streets.

Whilst Prince Charles had been manfully engaged in the field, the Princess had made it her special care to look after "her" wounded, as she termed them, and it was therefore with a special pleasure that the Prince learnt that the merciful efforts of his wife had been recognised and appreciated by the Czarina, who sent a special messenger to Princess Elisabeth with the Order of St. Catherine in brilliants, on the occasion of her birthday (December 29).

A telegram from the Turkish Minister of War, Reuf Pacha, addressed to the Grand Duke Nicholas at _Bucharest_, informed the Russian Commander that the Porte had empowered Mehemed Ali to negotiate an armistice. Although Prince Charles thought that the Russians would hardly desist from their victorious advance, he nevertheless telegraphed to the Grand Duke, requesting that Roumania should participate in the negotiations with which her interests were so closely connected. Colonel Arion was sent to the Russian headquarters to act on behalf of the Prince in the approaching negotiations for an armistice. His instructions were, briefly, to obtain--

(1) The occupation of the Danubian fortresses by Roumanian troops until the conclusion of peace.

(2) The recognition of Roumania's independence.

(3) The dismantling of the Turkish fortresses on the Danube from Adakaleh in the west to the mouth of the river.

(4) The transfer to Roumania of all the mouths of the Danube.

(5) A war indemnity of 100,000,000 francs and the occupation of Nikopoli, Rahova, Lom-Palanka, and Widin until payment in full.

In the event of the Roumanian plenipotentiary not taking part in the negotiations, Colonel Arion was instructed to protest against every clause affecting Roumania which was agreed to in his absence, and to declare the same null and void. A large indemnity was demanded, because it was intended to cover the heavy expenses and losses incurred through the war.

The difficulties which Roumania seemed likely to encounter at the conclusion of peace are thus alluded to by Prince Charles in a letter to the German Crown Prince, January 14, 1878:

"The newspapers are full of rumours that the Russians intend to
resume possession of the Bessarabian districts, incorporated in
Roumania by the Treaty of Paris. I cannot believe this, seeing
that we have rendered them great service at a most critical
moment. Moreover, such a rectification of the frontier would
most decidedly be against the interests of Germany and Austria,
who must prevent the mouths of the Danube from falling into the
hands of a great Power.

"The Second Article of the treaty regulating the passage
of the Russian army through Roumania lays it down that the
Government of his Majesty the Czar pledges itself to maintain
and defend the former integrity of Roumania. Though it cannot be
believed that this formal engagement is to be violated, still
great anxiety prevails here, especially as the Russian Press
constantly refers to this topic."

Minister Cogalniceanu also forwarded a Note to the Russian Agent in Bucharest, laying stress on the fact that Roumania had proclaimed its independence by declaring war with the Porte direct, and that the army had crossed the Danube at the invitation of the Russian Government as well as of the Headquarters Staff. The independent character which Roumania assumed during the war could not, therefore, be cast aside when, at the conclusion of hostilities, the work of diplomacy commenced. The Roumanian Government accordingly claimed the right and the duty of taking part in the negotiations, just as the army had shared the heat and the burden of the fighting. On January 29, however, Prince Ghika reported by telegraph from St. Petersburg that the Czar and his Chancellor had formally notified him of the intention of the Russian Government to regain possession of the Roumanian portion of Bessarabia, whilst Roumania was to be indemnified by the Delta of the Danube and the Dobrutscha as far as Kustendje. The motive assigned was that the territory in question was not ceded to Roumania but to Moldavia, and had been separated from Russia by a treaty of which scarcely a single provision remained in force. Moreover, the national dignity and honour of Russia demanded the re-acquisition of this district. General Ignatieff, it was said, would be sent to Bucharest to negotiate direct with Prince Charles and his Government. In reply to all Ghika's remonstrances, Gortchakoff retorted: "Whatever arguments you employ, they cannot modify our decision, which is unalterable. You are opposed by a political necessity."

General Ignatieff arrived at Bucharest on January 31, 1878, and presented the following almost threatening letter from Prince Gortchakoff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs:

"His Majesty the Czar considers that the time has arrived to
elucidate certain questions which I have already discussed in
general terms with your Excellency regarding the future peace.
It is essential that there should be no misunderstanding on this
point.

"It is with a view to avoiding such misunderstandings that
my august master is sending his aide-de-camp, General Count
Ignatieff, to Bucharest. He will explain to you the views of
the Imperial Cabinet, with the general tendency of which your
Excellency is already acquainted. You know that we desire to
do everything for Roumania that is possible in the field of
diplomacy. But your Excellency knows also that we have interests
and rights to guard which we cannot forego. What we expect from
the Roumanian Government is a just and rational appreciation
of its situation and ours. This is the way in which the
traditions which unite Roumania to Russia may be perpetuated and
consolidated. Your country owes its past to us, and I believe
that it will also find in us its most solid support in the
future. I reckon on the keen intelligence of your Excellency
and of the President of the Council to see to it that high
and statesmanlike views shall prevail over party passions at
a moment which may be decisive for the relations between our
countries."

Count Ignatieff did not mention the proposed cession of Bessarabia to Prince Charles until the latter questioned him on this point. The Prince then declared his inability to accede to this exchange, which he felt convinced did not emanate from the Czar, but from his Majesty's political _entourage_. The Russian envoy subsequently touched upon the possibility of Prince Charles being elected to the throne of Bulgaria, and even asked what would be his attitude should such an offer be made. The Prince, needless to say, answered evasively, and at once turned the conversation.

The Roumanian Agent in Paris reported on the 25th that neither M. Waddington, Lord Lyons, nor Prince Hohenlohe were informed of the Russian demands on Bessarabia, and that he had come to the conviction that the question of the proposed cession excited very little interest amongst the Powers, whilst not even Germany was expected to protest against the action of Russia.

The papers relating to the recent diplomatic correspondence were laid before a secret sitting of the Chamber and the Senate on February 4. Amidst the greatest excitement, the representatives of the nation declared that Roumania would preserve the integrity of its territory to the last, with armed force if necessary. A resolution embodying the claims of Roumania to the consideration of Russia, and referring to the guarantee of the Powers, as well as to the promise contained in the Convention of March 4, 1877, was adopted unanimously by the Chamber and by a large majority in the Senate.

A critical period now arrived with the news that the English Lower House had voted £6,000,000 sterling for military preparations, whilst the advance of the British fleet to the entrance of the Dardanelles led to the Russian occupation of several entrenchments within the neutral zone before Constantinople. Owing to the threatening attitude of England, delays took place in the treaty of peace, and Russia threatened to occupy Constantinople. The English Ambassador at Vienna remarked to the Roumanian Agent that his Government had no information about the Russian claims to Bessarabia, and pointed out that this question was of a very delicate nature, because Russia appeared to lay special stress on the retrocession of the districts, and also because of the unwillingness of other States to interfere between allies.

Cogalniceanu laid two important Notes before the Prince on February 14, 1878, referring to the independence of Roumania, and addressed to the Powers and the Sublime Porte. The first Note referred to a former one of June 3, proclaiming independence, and at the same time requesting the Powers to abstain from recognising it until the decisive moment arrived. This had now occurred, and Roumania hoped that the Powers would now welcome her as worthy of admission to the great European family, seeing that she had sealed her independence with the sword. The Note concluded with the request that a Roumanian delegate might attend the approaching conference. The second Note, addressed to Constantinople, expressed a desire to resume friendly relations with the Porte, and referred briefly to the reasons which led Roumania to take part in the war. The voluntary recognition of the accomplished independence would create a firmer and more valuable bond of union between Turkey and Roumania than that which now belonged to the past.

The preliminaries of the peace were signed at Adrianople on January 31, 1878, when the following conditions were agreed to:

(1) Bulgaria to be formed into an autonomous tributary principality under a Christian Government.

(2) The independence of Montenegro to be recognised.

(3) Roumania and Servia to be independent and to receive an increase of territory.

(4) Bosnia and Herzegovina to be granted an autonomous administration.

(5) Russia to be indemnified for the expense and losses caused by the war.

Prince Bismarck, speaking of the Eastern Question in the Reichstag, said the preliminaries of peace in no way affected the interests of Germany, and that there was no cause to exchange the part of a spectator for that of an actor. The question of the Dardanelles alone was of great importance, for "the water ways, the straits, as well as the Danube from the Black Sea northwards, must remain open to German commerce." Germany, declared the Chancellor, would not adopt the attitude of an arbitrator, but that of an "honest broker," who had every intention of doing business (_i.e._, in effecting a lasting peace). The German Empire would never sacrifice the friendship with Russia, which had been proved through past generations, in order to obtain the vain credit of playing the judge in Europe!

The attitude to be adopted by Prince Charles was thus sketched out by his father:

"The offered portion of the unproductive Dobrutscha is, indeed,
no compensation for the cession of Bessarabia, but will,
nevertheless, be acceptable if Küstendje forms part of the
bargain. Indeed, the acquisition of this Black Sea port may
perhaps be of the greatest importance to the future of the
flourishing commerce of Roumania. The _conditio sine quâ non_
for the incorporation of the district on the right bank must be
the dismantling of the Danubian fortresses, for an autonomous
Bulgaria has no need for fortified protection on its northern
frontier, whilst they might, even under changed circumstances,
prove a danger to Roumania, as they would become so many
sally-ports in time of war."

The virgin fortress of Widin, which had been invested by three Roumanian Divisions, was handed over by Isset Pacha on February 24, when the Turkish garrison marched out with all the honours of war. An enormous quantity of munitions of war was found in the magazines, but the supplies of food appeared to be almost exhausted. A day later the rock fortress of Belgradjik was also handed over to the Roumanians with the same ceremonies.

The following laconic telegram from the Grand Duke Nicholas was handed to Prince Charles on March 3, 1878:

"It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the peace has
just been signed."