THE BLOCKADE OF PLEVNA. 
371 
decisive attack on the defences of onr investing army. Under sncli 
circumstances the attack of the 28th November arrived. 
From reports received by the Staff of the army from all the sectors 
of the investment in the course of the 27th November, as also from the 
testimony of deserters,we came to the conclusion that Osman Pasha was 
about to undertake a decisive sortie against the line of defence of the 
investing army. On the 26th, the fire of the hostile artillery had 
sensibly grown feebler, on the 27th it absolutely ceased. Deserters 
reported that the reserves of biscuit and shoes had been distributed 
to the troops, and their ammunition also replenished and examined. 
On the Sofia road, and round about the town, a great movement of 
troops was perceived, and a concentration in the more important 
Turkish camps of troops and baggage wagons. On the river Yid the 
Turks were working at the construction of a bridge under cover of the 
guns of the Oponetz redoubts. All these signs proved that the enemy 
were preparing for a sortie, and that the attack would in all probability 
be directed against the sector of General Ganetski. 
In view of this, I made a preliminary report of all these circumstances 
to the Cominander-in-Chief of the army, H.H. the Prince of Roumania, 
and with his permission I gave the following orders:— 
1. One brigade of the 16th Infantry Division, with three batteries, and one 
brigade of the 3rd Foot Guard Division, under Lieut.-Gen. SkobelefF, to 
move at daybreak to the left bank of the Yid. The brigade of the 16th 
Division, and the three batteries, to take post near Dolni Dubnik, and 
be ready to reinforce the troops of General Ganetski; the brigade of 
Guards opposite the two nearest redoubts, but on the left bank of the 
river Yid, ready to support, according to circumstances and their actual 
requirements, the troops of Generals Ganetski or Katalei. 
2. The other brigade of the 16th Division, with three batteries, to remain in its 
actual positions, in a constant state of readiness to turn out. 
3. The three battalions of the 3rd Bifle Brigade, included in the troops of the 
4th Sector, to move early in the morning of the 28 th November to the 
village of Grivitza, to strengthen the troops of the 2nd Sector, under 
Lieut.-Gen. Kriidener. 
4. The advanced position on the Plevna-Lovtcha road, from the Mikrovitsa 
redoubt to the Tutchenitsa ravine, to be occupied by a brigade of the 
30th Division. The other brigade of the 30th Division to remain in the 
camp on the Bijine Hill, but ready to turn out. The command of the 
troops remaining in the 4th Sector to be given to Major-General ShitnikofF. 
5. Four battalions of Boumanians and three batteries to move early on the 28th 
from Yerbitsa to Grivitsa. 
In Yerbitsa tliere were already four battalions of Roumanians, with 
two batteries, ready to turn out. The sector of General Ganetski was 
thus strengthened, and the above distribution of troops enabled us also 
to reinforce the troops of the next sectors should a false attack be 
directed on them by the Turks, to draw off our attention from the main 
point of attack. 
