‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎49v] (32/42)

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of the slopes and the isolated character of the various hills on which the
Turkish troops were posted.
It may be briefly described as consisting in the centre of a large elevated
plateau with precipitous sides, and difficult ot access (held by 12 battalions, with
6 siege and 12 field guns); on the right of a range of hills of considerable
elevation, of which the 4 isolated peaks or mamelons were entrenched or
fortified; and on the left of a still more elevated mountainous block, situated
between the two roads which, coming from the Passin valley, circle round its
base on either side into the plain north of Erzeroum, by Wank and the village
of Mudurgha respectively, i'he defences of the right and centre covered the
only two other roads which lead from the Passin valley to Erzeroum, the one
being the main caravan road from Hassan Kaleh passing the base of the
plateau to the right, and the other a bye road from Kertren, skirting the hill
which formed the extreme right of the position. From that point a wide
gulley runs down the position on each side, embracing beyond the plateau a low
range of hills in front of, and only separated by a deep valley from the line of
defences on the Turkish left.
The whole of these defences were held, on the evening of the 3rd, by
Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , with a force of some 40 battalions with 8 siege, 63 field, and
17 mountain guns, amounting in all to some 20,000 men. The fieldworks and
trenches were, however, far from completed by this date, and had the serious
defect of being constructed of stone with a mere outward facing of earth.
The want of some good cavalry was now severely felt by the Mushir, both
for scouting and harassing the enemy’s communications, but the little that was
left of this arm in the Turkish force appears to have been hardly of any use.
General Heimann had advanced from the Soghanli-Dagh with some
35 battalions and 100 guns, and General Tergukasoff from Igdyr with some
10 or 12 battalions and 40 guns (the latter had left a detachment at Bayazid,
and had, moreover, to watch his communications, again threatened by the
Koords). The combined Russian forces which had moved up to attack
Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. on the Deve-Boyun by the 3rd, consisted of some 40 battalions,
with from 120 to 13u guns, and a general attack was fixed for the following
day.
Battle of the Deve-Boyun.
During the night of the 3rd, large bodies of Russian infantry were pushed
forward and concealed in the hollows at the foot of the Turkish positions, and
by daylight the whole of General Heimann’s and TergukasofTs artillery had
advanced in the plain and was ready to open fire. At about 7 a.m. a body of
Russian cavalry moved towards the Turkish centre, and Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ordered
some Turkish cavalry down the slopes to check its advance. The Russian
cavalry at once retired, followed by the Turks, but the latter were now soon
exposed to a withering fire from some concealed Russian infantry, and
immediately broke and tied. By 8.30 there was a general artillery fire along
the whole line. At about 11 a.m. the Russian infantry began to advance
against the right of the Turkish position, where an artillery and infantry
combat raged during the remainder of the day. By 3 p.m., however, the
Turks, though offering a stubborn resistance, had been gradually pressed back
for upwards of a mile, the infantry on both sides keeping at about 500 yards
from each other and firing from under cover. During the early part of the day
the Mushir was himself here in command and was slightly wounded, and in
the course ot the engagement the Turkish centre was considerably weakened
to reinforce the right, where the Russians were visibly gaining ground.
On the Turkish left, the Russians apparently remained satisfied with
keeping the Turks in check, and though a constant musketry as well as artillery
fire was kept up all day, the Russian infantry did not push forward to nearer
than 1,000 yards from the defences occupied by the Turks.
The battle, however, was decided in the centre. To the left of the road,
at a short distance in front of Mukhtar Pasha’s head-quarter camp, lay the
large, flat-topped, elevated plateau, forming the centre of the position, and
held in the morning by 12 battalions with 6 siege and 12 field guns ; by 3 p.m.
however this detachment had been considerably reduced to reinforce the right,