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.