SERVICES OE TWO RUSSIAN MOUNTAIN. BATTERIES. 
123 
The 1st and 2nd Russian Mountain Batteries were manned by the 
Foot Artillery, and formed part of the advanced guard, under Skobe- 
leff, of the left wing of the army formed for operations in Bulgaria. 
They crossed the Roumanian frontier, 50 miles south-west of Kischiuev, 
on the 24th April, 1877, and came down subsequently to the Danube 
at Beia, a point about equi-distant from* Nikopolis, Sistova, and 
Rustchuk. On the 26th June, orders were issued for the advanced 
force to cross the Danube at Zimnitza-Sistova, under Dragomiroff. 
The troops directed to make the crossing comprised a Division of 
the YIII. Corps, a Regiment of Rides, and the two Mountain Bat¬ 
teries, with some Cossacks. 
The Danube at the Zimnitza-Sistova crossing is about 850 yards 
wide, with a rapid current. The approaches to the banks on the 
Zimnitza side are marshy, and commanded by the steep slopes of the 
opposite shore. For making the passage the troops were divided into 
six detachments, with a Mountain Battery attached to each of the first 
two, the post of honour being given to Lieut.-Colonel Strebiltsky’s or 
2nd Mountain Battery. Shortly after midnight, the first batch of 
pontoons were ferried down into the main stream below Zimnitza, and 
the crossing commenced. Five Field Batteries had been posted on 
the banks to open fire on any troops that might open fire on the 
flotilla. When within about 50 yards of the southern bank the first 
batch of pontoons was discovered by the Turkish outposts, who opened 
fire on them, and as the second batch arrived in main stream, a Turkish 
shell struck a pontoon carrying the leading section of the 2nd Moun¬ 
tain Battery which sank, and the whole of its contents, comprising 
Lieut.-Colonel Strebiltsky, two other battery officers, 19 gunners, and 
the two guns and equipment were lost. The remaining portion of the 
battery, however, accomplished the passage successfully, and, dis¬ 
embarking under a heavy fire, climbed the steep bluff and advanced on 
Sistova, which is situated on a plateau rising almost perpendicularly 
from the banks of the river. The guns were brought into action, and 
opened fire on the Turkish position at about 500 yards range. By 
11 a.m. the 1st Mountain Battery was also across and in action with 
the 2nd, and the enemy were eventually compelled to retire, and 
Sistova occupied by the 4th Rifle Brigade. A French military writer, 
describing this early incident of the war, states : “ It is a fact worthy 
of note, as it has rarely happened in making a hostile passage of a 
river, that artillery should accompany the leading detachments of the 
force, unless a bridge has been built capable of supporting it. In this 
instance two Mountain Batteries not only embarked and disembarked 
in open pontoons, but as soon as landed, came into action at short 
ranges on the enemy’s infantry. This manner of utilising Mountain 
Artillery is of interest as proving that often, even in a country not 
mountainous, this arm which has been rather neglected (in France) 
may be usefully employed. Indeed, light guns capable of being 
readily taken to pieces and carried on pack animals or in sleighs, 
brought into action rapidly, and dragged short distances by hand, 
possess the elements of an artillery for which a role might frequently 
be assigned.” 
