‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎44r] (21/42)

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tlTLft Tur t kish P 0sUi0n ’ t 1 W0 more bein S employed day and night on
ne lelt tront as opportunity occurred at road making-.
tint anV]™n™ eri | in "m f k thC 27 > th jt Wa f docided at the Turkish head-quarters
overlonWifr.^ Ar 10U d b ? ’? ade at , Illldnl ght on the extreme left to a position
nrev ondv S 16 ^ USS .?~ Igd y r road ’ about one mile *0 the west of the position
fen, nr y 0 CCU H d ’ bls movement thus enabling the Turks to connect their
,®"h e. ra 0' roads for their artillery with the main road above mentioned. A
ttaiion ot Chasseurs, 4 companies of an infantry battalion, and 4 — 4 -pounder
guns accordingly took up a position on the front of a spur, on the left of which
was the broad, deep, winding ravine along which the main road runs, and on the
right another ravine, deep, but narrow. The Turks immediately threw up stone
parape walls along the face of the spur, but made their usual mistake in
neglecting to look after their flanks while making their front nearly im
pregnable. J
• u ^ uss ^ ans apparently received intelligence of this movement durino- the
night, for they attacked the Turks early in the morning with 4 battalions and
4 heavy field guns. I he Turkish guns which were posted somewhat in rear of
their infantry were compelled after firing a few rounds to retire to a safer posi
tion, and strong bodies of Russian skirmishers pushing unperceived up the
ravines on either side of the spur, took the Turks holding it in flank and
reveise. the latter now beat a hasty and somewhat disorderly retreat, after
which the Russian infantry occupied the stone entrenchments which they had
constructed in the night. Their further advance, however, was checked by the
arrival of 2 Turkish battalions, who at once occupied some entrenchments pre
viously thrown up (the same which the Turks had successfully defended on the
20 th), about 1,000 yards from the position held by the Russians.
heiik Mustapha Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. arrived on the scene at 11 a.m., and was met in
succession by the retreating guns, a good many wounded stragglers, and finally by
several companies of infantry, retiring in the greatest confusion, accompanied
by a disorderly mob of Bashi-Bazouks. The Ferik at once assumed command,
rallied the fugitives, and led them in person against the Russians.
He first despatched several hundred Bashi-Bazouks to the other side of the
main ravine on the I urkish left—thus not only getting rid of this element of
confusion, but threatening the Russian flank—and next succeeded in getting
2 guns into action, which on opening fire soon drew that of the Russian guns, now
icinforced to six. The remaining 2 Turkish guns soon afterwards came into
action, and a sharp musketry and artillery combat ensued. The Russian
skirmishers now tried to push up a ravine on the Turkish right, but were checked
by a heavy fire and did not get nearer than 600 yards. Skirmishing was now
kept up between both sides for at least two hours, and 2 Turkish battalions (weak)
arriving in support at 2 p.m., the Russians retired to the position they had taken
in the morning, being threatened in flank by the Bashi-Bazouks, who, however,
only approached to within about 1,500 yards and kept up an unceasing but use
less fire for several hours. The Turks made no attempt to drive them from
this position, but the skirmishers on both sides continued to keep up an un
ceasing rifle fire till dark at a range of about 1,000 yards, doing little or no
damage on either side. Just before sunset a Russian ammunition wagon ex
ploded. After nightfall the Russians abandoned the position they had taken
and held during the day, but the Turks made no attempt to reoccupy it.
The Turkish loss in this affair is given as 30 men killed and some 100 men
wounded.*
In the meanwhile, on the Turkish right, the Russians brought 4 guns into
action near Khoshkhabar, and 8 near Khalifalu, which village they occupied with
2 battalions, with 1 battalion and 4 squadrons or sotnias in rear of it, and
covered their front with skirmishers. 3 battalions and 4 squadrons or sotnias
were also brought out from Yokari Cherik-Jileh, as if to support an attack on the
Turkish right. At 10 a.m. the Turks opened fire from 6 guns in their advanced
batteries, and the Russians at once replied vigourously. The fire was now
taken up by another Turkish battery, giving 12 guns on either side, and after
* Among- the killed was Ibrahim Agha, commanding- the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, and
among thewoun lei Mehemet Agha, commanding the 2nd Battalion, 6th Regiment (previously
wounded at Ihiyazid).
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