306 
RUSSIAN FIELD ARTILLERY. 
We know that the smallest graduation of the time fuze for our 
shrapnel shell—viz., J-secs., corresponds to a range of 300 yds.; this 
was diminished to -f-secs., and with it the moral and material effect 
of the shrapnel is much greater than that of case shot, as I personally 
found out in a critical moment during the battle of Elena. 
Before ending my remarks I would wish to mention the sword, which, 
in my opinion, should be done away with. In the actions I have 
already mentioned, and in those which followed, I became fully per¬ 
suaded of its uselessness. It is an unnecessary weight to carry, is 
troublesome to the man, often frightens the horse, and spoils the 
clothes. Can any gunner tell me that he, or any other, has ever had 
occasion to make use of his sword ? And there were certainly 
many occasions in this campaign when the enemy suddenly surrounded 
the battery, and was near enough for a hand to hand fight. 
In each case it would have been quite sufficient to have had a short 
cutlass (Kortiks), as they have in the navy, which has the double 
advantage of serving in the bivouac as a knife, and in the battle as a 
weapon. The sword with a metal scabbard has many disadvantages ; 
it loses its edge, the scabbard rusts and gets dented, the buckles and 
slings of the belt get broken, it interferes with the mounted man when 
he is riding, annoys the horse, makes a noise, &c., &c.* 
The battle of Dzuranli ended at 3 p.m. After the column had 
occupied the ground abandoned by the Turks, it concentrated across 
the wood, and awaited new orders. The battery formed <e column of 
route,” and remained on the high road. 
Overcome with intense thirst, I directed my steps to a well, round 
which some soldiers were collected, and out of which they were trying 
to get water by means of their canteens. The battery was only at 
about 70yds. from this well; so I called an artificer and ordered him 
to send two men with camp kettles, to get water for the men. On 
examining the place, I found that the well was the same by which we 
had corrected our elevations when firing against the enemy^s infantry. 
The well was in the centre of the position, although, from the battery 
it had appeared to us as being slightly to the right; we had therefore 
not been occupying a central position, but one rather to the left; 
No. 6 battery had been still further to the left; it had,however, a 
clearer field of sight than we had. 
Around the well were a few dead bodies of Russian soldiers, and 
300 yds. further on, in the direction of the wood, heaps of dead Turks. 
On returning to the battery, I saw a line of wheat sheaves piled up 
crossways, with a trench in front, the earth from which was thrown 
into the sheaves. It was quite apparent that the Turks had been 
waiting in that position for us, and this was confirmed by there being 
look-out places in the trees, in one of which, a Turk was suspended 
* The author seems to forget what I take to be the greatest defect of the sword—viz., that when 
serving the gun it is constantly getting between the legs, and in the wheels and brackets of trail. 
In England the drivers have no weapon, it being considered that in case of close quarters they 
have enough to do to manage their horses. With us the mounted men only have swords, and the 
others a short sword-bayonet. 
