RUSSIAN FIELD ARTILLERY. 
307 
head downwards. On crossing the wood we saw a species of lunette 
of weak profile, but sufficiently thick to protect against musketry 
fire; in its limited space there was a great number of corpses. 
From our position, the wood intervening, we had not been able to 
see this lunette, and, therefore, those in it who had been killed by 
artillery fire, owed their deaths to our battery of horse artillery, which 
had cannonaded the Turks left, from our right wing. 
Having examined the position rapidly in the short time allowed, I 
rejoined the battery, which was entering Dzuranli, the rendezvous for 
all the regiments that had been pursuing the enemy. The Chasseurs 
alone had not yet returned; the infantry were distributed about 
the narrow winding streets of the town; the cavalry were behind 
the town, facing a mountain which was held by the enemy; and to 
our two batteries, a small space was told off, in which we formed 
in column of route. We called the roll, and took an inventory of our 
ammunition, and found that we (No. 4 battery) had expended 180 
common shell, 300 shrapnel, and 30 case shot. 
In addition to the losses previously mentioned, we found that there 
were 3 men and 10 horses slightly wounded. The materiel was in a 
comparatively good state; some rifle bullets had penetrated the sides 
of the limber boxes, and had also damaged several spokes and felloes 
of the wheels. In one gun, we noticed a great escape of gas, owing to 
damage to the breech-closing arrangement; later on, it was necessary 
to replace this piece. 
No. 3 gun, and two ammunition wagons, had not as yet joined us, 
and caused me some anxiety; I therefore sent to the commander of 
the train, with 12 pairs of horses and two artificers to bring off these 
carriages. 
There was, however, no need for alarm, as an under officer (Feldweb el) 
had been left with the gun, on whose ability and judgment I could 
safely rely. The officer was justified in not remaining with the gun 
during the general advance, for, without horses, nothing could have 
been done, and the two wagons were nearly empty. In the meantime, 
we moved to a position fronting the city of Eski-Saara, which was 
burning; the enemy was on the top of a neighbouring hill, and 
was, doubtless, occupied in fortifying his position. As we did 
not know whether we should continue the advance, open fire on 
the enemy, or bivouac, I prepared for any contingency, and ordered 
the guns to be cleaned. To my great astonishment, I discovered that 
two of them were loaded with shrapnel; I ordered them to be unloaded, 
and took the cartridges out, and then tried to extract the shrapnel, but 
in vain. After all the firing, especially with the case shot, during 
which time the sponge had not been used, the bore had got so foul, 
that all efforts to extract the projectile were in vain. We could not 
fire them off; moreover, we were forced to economize our ammunition, 
especially shrapnel, which we most required. Having received orders 
to advance towards the N.E., we supposed it was in order to bivouac ; 
I therefore resolved to leave the guns loaded, and make all right 
when we encamped. We had acquired great confidence in the shrapnel, 
and had not had any accidents in manipulating it. Moreover we had 
