The long expected attempt of Osman Pacha to break through the lines of investment took place on December 10. A report was received the night before that the Turks were bridging the Wid, followed at half-past eight the next morning by the news that the besieged were commencing a sally. On hearing that the Roumanians had occupied the second Grivitza redoubt, Prince Charles at once repaired to that vantage-point, and eventually to the heights commanding Bukowa. At half-past eleven Prince Charles reported to the Czar by telegraph: "The battle on the other side of the Wid has come to a standstill. I can clearly distinguish the three lines, the Turks being caught between two fires. The first prisoners are now on their way to me."
The reports which subsequently reached Prince Charles showed that the course of the action was as follows:
The Turks commenced a hot fire from the guns posted near the Wid at half-past seven, just as the thick morning mist lifted; several columns then crossed the river by the stone bridge and that constructed near Opanetz, and attacked the redoubt near Gornji-Netropol with such vigour that the 9th Russian Grenadiers were forced to retire, leaving eight guns in the redoubt. The next redoubt was also taken at the first rush, as the reserves had no time to reinforce the first line. The two Russian Grenadier Divisions, however, prevented any further progress of the attacking columns, though they were unable to regain possession of the lost redoubts. At ten o'clock the advance of the Roumanians against the enemy's right flank caused the Turks to form front to that direction as well. The struggle continued till noon, by which time the Turkish troops were completely surrounded, and their commander, wounded in the left leg by a splinter of a shell, then decided to surrender, as his force could neither advance on Sofia nor retire to Plevna.
A white flag was hoisted on a cottage not far from the bridge over the Wid about 1 P.M., and a staff officer was despatched to find the commander of the nearest body of troops. A Roumanian officer, Colonel Cerchez, was the fortunate man to receive the message that Osman Pacha wished to see him. The Turkish Commander-in-Chief was having his wound dressed when Colonel Cerchez reached the cottage. He declined, however, to receive Osman's sword, as he had no authority to do so, and sent for General Ganetzki. On the arrival of the Russian General, Osman was forced to surrender unconditionally, as his situation was absolutely hopeless. No less than 40,000 men and seventy-seven guns thus fell into the hands of the victors.
An indescribable scene of confusion presented itself to the eyes of Prince Charles, who, on hearing of the surrender of the Turkish commander, proceeded to the bridge over the Wid, where the decisive struggle had taken place. Russian and Roumanian Corps alternated with long columns of prisoners and fugitives from Plevna; thousands of carts, waggons, and horses, laden with the wretched goods and chattels of the Mohammedan population, blocks the Sofia road. A carriage, surrounded by Roumanian troopers, was suddenly encountered, and proved to contain no less a person than Osman Pacha, accompanied by Tahir Pacha, the Chief of Staff, and Tewfik Pacha, the Chief Engineer. "The Turkish Commander is a man of middle height and thick-set figure; his large melancholy eyes lend his face a most attractive expression, and his whole manner is quiet, dignified, and sympathetic." Prince Charles shook hands with him, and expressed his admiration at the heroic defence of Plevna. The Grand Duke Nicholas, who arrived at this moment, also expressed his admiration of this feat of arms, and ordered the distinguished prisoner to be treated with the utmost attention. Prince Charles subsequently returned through Plevna to Poradim to report the course of events to the Czar. The following day the Czar, after attending a Te Deum in the open air in celebration of the victory, sent for Osman Pacha, who had not yet quitted the vicinity of Plevna. The Turkish General was received by his Imperial Majesty in the presence of the Grand Duke Nicholas and Prince Charles. After paying tribute to the heroic courage with which Plevna had been defended, the Czar returned Osman's sword as a mark of esteem, a compliment which the latter briefly acknowledged with true Oriental courtesy.
It was decided by a council of war to reinforce General Gourko, so that the projected advance on Sofia might proceed at once, and Prince Charles's offer to observe Widin with two Divisions, whilst a third escorted the prisoners of war to the Russian frontier, was gratefully accepted, since demands for reinforcements were received daily from all parts of the theatre of war.
Prince Charles took leave of the army investing Plevna with the following order:
"Officers and Soldiers!
"Your endurance and your heroic struggle have been crowned with success. Plevna, which the enemy believed to be impregnable and capable of preventing the victorious advance of his Majesty the Czar; Plevna, which has cost the Christian forces so much noble blood; Plevna has fallen!
"The aim of the investing army, the command of which his Imperial Majesty was pleased to entrust to me, has now been fulfilled, and this order conveys to the Imperial Russian troops, which I had the honour to command, my farewell greeting, and at the same time my gratitude for the self-sacrificing devotion which has been accorded to me by the whole army from general to private.
"You have fought under the eyes of your august Czar and your chivalrous Commander-in-Chief, H.I.H. the Grand Duke Nicholas. They have both been witnesses of your heroic courage, and there is no need for me to add my praise to theirs.
"You have set a shining example of valour and the highest military virtues to my young Roumanian army. The glorious Imperial army has become united with my troops by an irrefragable bond of friendship, and I hope that you will preserve the same friendly remembrance of your Roumanian brothers-in-arms as they will of you.
"I lay down my command with regret, and it is my most fervent wish on taking leave of you that in your future struggles for our holy cause you may achieve as glorious successes as in the past.
"Therefore let us join once more before we part in that joyous exclamation which springs from your hearts: Long life to his Majesty the Czar!"
The Emperor Alexander sent the following official letter to Prince Charles, dated 1/13 December, 1877:
"After a resistance of five months, the combined efforts of our allied troops have been crowned with complete success. The army of Osman Pacha has laid down its arms and Plevna has fallen. Desirous of consecrating the memory of this great success, and the personal part your Highness has had in it, I take pleasure in conferring on your Highness on this occasion my Order of St. Andreas with swords. I beg your Highness to accept the insignia as a mark of my sincere affection, the expression of which I renew.
"ALEXANDER."