[Footnote 142:  W.W.  Herbert, The Defence of Plevna, p. 81.]

[Footnote 143:  For these qualities, see Turkey in Europe, by “Odysseus,” p. 97.]

In accordance with the original design of Abdul-Kerim, Osman had for some time remained passive at Widdin.  On receiving orders from the commander-in-chief, he moved eastwards on July 13, with 40,000 men, to save Nicopolis.  Finding himself too late to save that place he then laid his plans for the seizure of Plevna.  The importance of that town, as a great centre of roads, and as possessing many advantages for defence on the hills around, had been previously pointed out to the Russian Staff by Prince Charles of Roumania, as indeed, earlier still, by Moltke.  Accordingly, the Grand Duke Nicholas had directed a small force of cavalry towards that town.  General Kruedener made the mistake of recalling it in order to assist in the attack on Nicopolis on July 14-16, an unlucky move, which enabled Osman to occupy Plevna without resistance on July 19[144].  On the 18th the Grand Duke Nicholas ordered General Kruedener to occupy Plevna.  Knowing nothing of Osman’s whereabouts, his vanguard advanced heedlessly on the town, only to meet with a very decided repulse, which cost the Russians 3000 men (July 20).

[Footnote 144:  Herbert, The Defence of Plevna, p. 129.]

Osman now entrenched himself on the open downs that stretch eastwards from Plevna.  As will be seen by reference to the map on page 213, his position, roughly speaking, formed an ellipse pointing towards the village of Grivitza.  Above that village his engineers threw up two great redoubts which dominated the neighbourhood.  Other redoubts and trenches screened Plevna on the north-east and south.  Finally, the crowns of three main slopes lying to the east of Plevna bristled with defensive works.  West of the town lay the deep vale of the little River Wid, itself the chief defence on that side.  We may state here that during the long operations against Plevna the Russians had to content themselves with watching this western road to Orkanye and Sofia by means of cavalry; but the reinforcements from Sofia generally made their way in.  From that same quarter the Turks were also able to despatch forces to occupy the town of Lovtcha, between Plevna and the Shipka Pass.

The Russian Staff, realising its error in not securing this important centre of roads, and dimly surmising the strength of the entrenchments which Osman was throwing up near to the base of their operations, determined to attack Plevna at once.  Their task proved to be one of unexpected magnitude.  Already the long curve of the outer Turkish lines spread along slopes which formed natural glacis, while the ground farther afield was so cut up by hollows as to render one combined assault very difficult.  The strength, and even the existence, of some of Osman’s works were unknown.  Finally, the Russians are said to have had only 32,000 infantry men at hand with two brigades of cavalry.