Silistria

A strongly fortified town of Bulgaria, in Turkey in Europe, on the right bank of the Danube. Here in 971, the Byzantine emperor, John Zimisces, routed the Ru ians under Sviatoslav. It was taken by the Ru ians, June 30, 1829, and held some years by them as a pledge for the payment of a large sum of money by the Porte, but was eventually returned. In 1854 it was again besieged by the Ru ians (30,000 strong), under Prince Paskewitsch, and many a aults were made. The Ru ian general was compelled to return in consequence of a dangerous contusion. On June 2, Mu a Pasha, the brave and skillful commander of the garrison, was killed. On June 9, the Ru ians stormed two forts, which were retaken. A grand a ault took place on June 13, under Prince Gortschakoff and Gen. Schilders, which was vigorously repelled. On the 15th, the garrison a umed the offensive, cro ed the river, defeated the Ru ians, and destroyed the siege-works. The siege was thus raised, and the Ru ians commenced their retreat as Omar Pasha was drawing near. The garrison was ably a isted by two British officers, Capt. Butler and Lieut. Nasmyth, the former of whom, after being wounded, died of exhaustion. They were highly praised by Omar Pasha and Lord Hardinge, and Lieut. Nasmyth made a major.