‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎45v] (24/42)

94
liger, and 1 battalion from Khoshkhabar to Oba. The Russian cavalry, with
the exception of the squadrons mentioned, remained in camp.
The Turkish losses in the affair are given as 1 officer and 3 men wounded.
Those of the Russians are not known, but were probably as insignificant.
The Russian troops engaged, according to their own accounts, were the
150th (Taman) and 75th (Sevastopol) regiments, 2 squadrons of Caucasus
dragoons and 3 sotnias of Caucasus Cossacks.
As a demonstration to compel the Russians to show their strength, these
proceedings on the part of Ismail Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. w r ere futile. There was an absence of
reality about them which must soon have been as evident to the Russians as to
the Turks themselves, and no more was seen by the Turks than was every day
visible in camp, while beyond the appearance of the single battalion at Oba,
there was no indication on the part of the Russians to what extent they
occupied the villages.
On the 13th or 14th, a large force of Russian cavalry was detached and
made a reconnaissance or demonstration in the direction of Kagisman and
Nachdshevan, with a view to interrupting the Turkish reinforcements on their
way to join Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
Retreat of the Turkish Right Wing to Kieupri-keui.
On the morning of the 16th a general parade of all the Russian troops
under General Tergukasoff took place, and a salute of 101 guns was fired in
honour of the victory before Kars. On the same evening a telegram in cypher
was received at the Turkish head-quarters from Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. announcing his
defeat, and ordering an immediate retreat to Kieupri-keui.
The contents of the telegram were kept secret, but a council of war was
at once held in Ismail Pasha’s tent, and at 8 p.m. orders were issued for a
general retreat to the positions that were occupied before the 16th September.
The baggage was now hastily packed, and at 9 p.m. the tents were already
being struck. At 7 p.m. the Turkish head-quarter camp was struck and sent
up the mountain. The greater part of the artillery on the right wing w r as
moved across the ravine near Ghinudi towards Zor, as soon as possible after
the issue of orders—or about midnight. A half battery remained on the
ground in front of head-quarters till 3 p.m., when it also retired to take up a
position near Ghinudi, but all the infantry, except 6 battalions, continued
to occupy the advanced posts in front of each wing till early morning,
when they followed the baggage trains to the rear, the advanced posts being
finally withdrawn shortly before sunrise.
The distance to be got over was short—two hours’ march by daylight—but
the night was dark, and the road bad, especially wdiere the deep and precipitous
Zor ravine had to be crossed, so that the day was well advanced before the
troops were settled down in their old position near Zor, which they had
occupied for six weeks immediately after crossing the frontier on the 6 th
August (some 1,650 feet above the position they had just quitted).
The night was fortunately fine, and the arrangements for the retreat ap
pear to have been well considered. Everything was carried out in an orderly
manner and without confusion, and the retreat was unmolested by the
Russians.
On the 18th the Turkish force amounting to 24 battalions of infantry, 2
regiments of cavalry, 36 field and 13 mountain guns, and a large body of
irregulars remained in the Zor position. Of these, 10 battalions and 2 field
batteries occupied the Mussin Pass, village, and surrounding heights, and the
remainder the positions that w ere held some six weeks previously. Throughout
this day all w 7 as quiet on both sides. In the afternoon the Russian outposts
were pushed forward to the edge of the plateau on the right bank of the Zor
ravine, and on to the ground occupied on the previous day by the Turkish
head-quarters. After sunset the Turks fired a few shells at the Russian
bivouac fires.
During the night the Russians struck their camps near the village of
Chiraka, and before daylight on the 19th the whole of their force was advancing
in two columns towards the Turkish position. On the right a column, consisting