The Virginia Gazette

In an ample detail of the operations of the Russian army on the other side the Danube, printed at Petersburg, and which consists of 21 pages in quarto, among other reasons for the retreat, the following is mentioned: "Our cavalry was so harassed by continual skirmishes with the Ottomans, and by the bad forage, that they could no longer sustain the fatigue: During the whole time they were obliged, by the alertness of the enemy, to be under arms."

Want of water was another hardship they underwent, particularly the corps that were detached to reconnoitre the Grand Vizier's army. In the night they were exposed to the rains and winds, without covering, and in the day were continually harassed by fresh bodies of troops, which were renewed by others, who fought with fury to revenge their former losses; whilst we (says the narrative) were obliged, with small fatigued bodies of men, to attack numerous bodies who were reposed in places fortified by nature, and of easy defence.

In another place the narrative informs us, "That when the Russian columns advanced towards Osman's retrenchments, they were furiously assailed by the Spahis that were in ambuscade, who were no sooner dispersed by our artillery, than they were replaced by the Janizaries from the retrenchments, who fell on our right wing with horrible noises, by which means 200 newly enrolled men, unacquainted with their manner of attack, ran off, and put the rest of the corps into disorder; but luckily the last division came on, and, keeping up a continual fire, gave the former time to rally; after which Col. Klitschka took possession of their retrenchments, and not one of the enemy would have escaped, had they not retired into Silistria."

In the camp which the Russians took possession of before Silistria were found the orders of the Grand Vizier to Numan Pacha, which were "for him to fall on the back of the enemy whilst they were attacking Silistria, by which means not one of the infidels could escape; and that, if Numan did not succeed, he had to fear disgrace from the Sultan, and punishment from the Holy Prophet."