Zimnitsa

(now Zimnicea), a city in Rumania on the left bank of the Danube River, where, on June 15 (27), 1877, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, Russian troops forced a crossing of the Danube. The crossing was successfully accomplished by Major General M. I. Dragomirov’s detachment, the 14th Infantry Division and the 4th Rifle Brigade—approximately 17 battalions, six sotnias (detachments of 100 men), and 64 guns. During the night and morning, seven pontoon crossings were made, and around 2 P.M.the Russian troops crushed the resistance of the Turkish brigade and seized the city of Sistovo (now Svištov), which ensured the crossing of the main Russian army forces. The Russians lost 812 men, the Turks 640.