Map Of The Country Around The Plevna

Description

The map and article published in The Illustrated London News on August 11, 1877, deal with the military operations that took place around Pleven and in the area between Pleven and Lovça during the 1877-78 Ottoman-Russian War. The map shows the villages, passes, valleys, forests and elevations in the area, centered on Pleven, in detail; the locations, dates of movement and lines of both Ottoman and Russian troops are also indicated. Important positions around Pleven, such as Grivitza, Bukova, Slatina, Yeni Berkovitz, Krishin and Brestovetz, stand out as peripheral support points of the Ottoman defense. According to the newspaper report, on July 19, 1877, Russian troops under the command of General Schilder-Schulder reached the front of Pleven with forces consisting of three infantry regiments (17th, 18th, 19th), five artillery batteries and Cossack cavalry, and managed to enter the city for a short time. However, they were driven back from the city after failing to capture the strategic bridge over the Vid River and when Turkish reinforcements under Osman Pasha arrived from the west. The Ottoman army immediately strengthened the city's defense lines and took control of the surrounding villages of Opanesh (Plişiya), Grivitza, Radishovo, Tuchenitza and Slatina as of July 31 (shown in the small plan in the upper left corner of the map). On the same day, the Russians also showed a heavy military presence around Lovech. General Krüdener advanced from Nikopol to Karadach Bulgarski and established his headquarters there; General Schakhovsky advanced via Bulgareni, Karadach and Pordim and established himself in Polishat. General Skobelev commanded the troops advancing in the direction of Lovech. The Russian army attacked this line with a total of 13 infantry regiments, 5 cavalry regiments, 160 cannons and approximately 32,000 soldiers; although they captured the villages of Grivitza and Radishovo, the attacks against the Ottoman trenches, especially in the latter village, were unsuccessful and the Russians were forced to retreat with heavy losses at the end of the day. Turkish forces also suffered significant losses, but managed to hold the front line. This battle demonstrates the strength of the Ottoman resistance and the difficulties the Russians faced in front of Plevna.