‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎49r] (31/42)

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aggravated was now the disorganization of the Turkish troops—so confirmed
is their habitual neglect of the commonest precautions against surprise—that,
about 2 a.m. on the morning of the 29th, their rear guard was overtaken and
surprised by a Kussian force (2 regiments of dragoons,* 2 sotnias of
Cossacks, a rocket troop, and halt a battery of horse artillery) without the
slightest alarm being given of its approach. The village of Hassan Kaleh was
traversed and occupied by the Russians, and many Turkish officers and men,
who had sought shelter in the place, were killed or taken prisoners. The Turkish
rear guard—consisting of the four Kieupri-Keui battalions, under Mohammed
Ali Bey, which had bivouacked separately—was cut off, and had to fight its way
through the Russians, and it was not until daylight that the main body of the
Turkish force could recover from the alarm into which it had been thrown, and
resume its march, without, however, attempting to rescue its rear guard. The
night was dark and wet, and so complete was the surprise that the Turks in
Hassan Kaleh were first alarmed by being fired on by the Russian guns.
According to Russian accounts, some 100 Turks were shot or cut down, and
1 Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. and 120 officers and men taken prisoners. The Russian infantry
occupied Hassan Kaleh at about 5 p.m., and the cavalry pushed on somewhat
further; but so great was the fatigue of the Russian troops that no pursuit was
attempted, and the Turks continued their retreat after 4 ft jdight unmolested.
They reached the Deve Boyun about 11 a.m., with their diminished battalions,
marching in tolerable order; these were now posted at the several points-
pre-determined by Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. . Their rear guard had, however, to maintain
a running fight with the Russians before it was able to extricate itself. One
battalion broke up, and the men dispersed, it was believed, to their homes; the
remaining three battalions eventually reached the Deve Boyun, but a large
proportion of the men were missing. The firing between the Turkish rear
guard and the Russians did not cease till near 11 a.m.
The Russian advance guard pushed forward in the course of the day to
Kuruyuk, distant some 3 miles from the Turkish outposts, where it was joined
on the following morning (30th) by the main body from Kieupri-Keui, with
head-quarters at Hassan Kaleh.
r l he cavalry of Generals Heimann and Tergukasoff had effected a junction
at Kieupri-Keui on the 28th (the same day that Ismail Pasha’s force had quitted
it), and the Russian columns now pushed forward to the Deve Boyun, but so
severe was the fatigue of the troops, entailed by their recent forced marches,
and so great the depth of their columns, that a halt was necessary before their
forces could be sufficiently closed up to undertake active operations against the
Turks now holding the head of their column in check.
Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was now again in command of the Tuikish forces and lost
no time in turning the respite allowed him by General Heimann to account in
strengthening his position, which is described as strong and the line of defence
well planned and armed, especially in the centre and on the right flank.
On the 31st, the Russians reconnoitred towards Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. 's position,
feeling apparently for a road towards the left flank of the Turks, and the latter
at once took the hint and strengthened the points menaced.
Both sides now continued to watch each other till the 4th; the Russians,
on the one side, busily reconnoitring the Turkish positions, and the Turks, on
the other, using every additional hour allowed them in strengthening their
defences. The chances of the latter, indeed, looked better and better every
moment. Their demoralization, it is true, was great, and their fighting qualities
much shaken, but the Mushir was doing his best to revive their confidence, and,
on the 31st, addressed each brigade separately, with apparently good effect.
By the 3rd November, some 3,000 Turkish fugitives and stragglers had
rejoined the colours, and two battalions were expected on the following day
(4th) from Trebizond.
The position occupied by the Turks on the Deve Boyun had the common
fault of being too extended for the force holding it, being nearly 8 miles
in its entire length. Communication between the different parts of the
position, as well as between the position of the reserves in rear and the front
line was moreover difficult, both by reason of the rocky and precipitous nature
* The IGth (Novgorod) and 17th (Sieversk) Dragoons.