War in the East by Quintin Barry

Author:Quintin Barry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Modern / 19th Century
ISBN: 9781910294154
Publisher: Helion and Company
Published: 2012-08-15T04:00:00+00:00

24

The Third Battle of Plevna: The Assault

By the beginning of September, although the operations on the Lom were not going particularly well, the Russians were in an altogether stronger position than had been the case during August, and there were signs at headquarters of a mounting confidence that the worst was over, in Bulgaria at any rate. The Shipka Pass had been successfully defended; Osman’s sortie from Plevna had been repulsed; and, on September 3, Lovtcha had been taken. Above all, there had been a steady stream of reinforcements, to such an extent that consideration must now be given to how to use them. One option, of course, was to wait until the arrival of the Guards and Grenadiers completed the reinforcement that had been arranged. This, however, would involve remaining on the defensive at least until mid-October, which would not look good in public relations terms. It would also give the Turks more time to concentrate their forces and, most significantly of all, would mean that a winter campaign was inevitable.

The offensive choices open to the Grand Duke were three. None of them were straightforward. To reinforce the Tsarevich, with a view to defeating Mehemet Ali and driving him back, might give the opportunity to cross into Eastern Roumelia and turn against Suleiman. It might also, though, result in Mehemet Ali retreating on Rustchuk, Shumla or Rasgrad and from a secure position menace the left and rear of the Russian advance just as Osman was doing on the right.

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