‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎51v] (36/42)

106
letters from Turkish prisoners to Erzeroum, and in tire course of the day 4
Turkish battalions arrived from Trebizond, 2 more with a field battery being
due on the following day. , , i kaa Turks in
On the 11th General Heimann despatched some 500 wounded lur
arabas from the Russian camps on the Deve-Boynn into hi zeroum. ■
all been well cared for and kindly treated, a strong contrast to the conduct
the Turks, who invariably butchered their prisoners without mercy.
On the evening of the 12th, at about 7 pm., a body ot Russian cavalry
made a reconnaissance in the directoin ot the eastern works, and drove in some
Turkish Norsemen, the latter losing 31 men, but on theform^o lowing m
mu-suit, an indiscriminate tire was opened from nearly every 1 urkish tort or
battery so much so indeed that two of the western forts threw several shells
into the Turkish cavalry that had issued by the southern gate, and indicted
.w.»*«>-b™.. m
heavily On this day a body of Russian cavalry pushed forward to Mudnk to
the north of Erzeroum, but the setting-in of winter now practically broug
matt Onttiis day ^Russian deserter entered the Turkish lines. He was a pure
Russian and gave a pitiful account of the state of the Russian camps. Gmnng
as he did at such a moment, and giving an account of the state of affairs on
the Russian side, which was contradicted by the villagers, it was generally
suimosed in Erzeroum that he was sent there by authority.
11 The supply of provisions, See., in Erzeroum was now extremely scanty,
partly on account of the inundations which cut off access from th ® T '“ a | es “
the north of the town, and partly on account ot the roving bands of l.ashi-
Bazouks that infested the neighbourhood and effectually stopped all traffic.
On the 18th it was determined to bring back the Government archives,
&c and military chest, which had been sent to Baiburt after the defeat of the
Deve Boyun, and confidence in being able to resist the Russians now grew
stronger every day.
Operations of the Turkish Left and Russian Right Wings (Ardahan).
Early in September the Turkish left wing at Pennek, which had recently
been reinforced to 6 battalions of infantry with some irregular cavalry and
6 mountain guns, advanced to Tchermak, where it was joined by 2 battalions
and some new levies from Ardanutsch, and threatened Ardahan, which was
weakly garrisoned by the Russians ; the latter, however, instead °f evacuating
the place as was expected by the Turks, reinforced the garrison with 3 | batta An extra allowance of pay granted to soldiers involved in special field service or to public servants on special duty.
lions from Akhalzick and General Oklobjio’s force before Batoum* the
Turks now made a feint or reconnaissance towards Ardahan, but finding it
strongly occupied, again withdrew to Tchermak, and the detachment belonging
to the Batoum command being withdrawn to Ardanutsch, the b battalions and
6 mountain guns again took up a strong position at Pennek; this force
Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. intended in the last days ot September to reinforce fiom vars
with a field battery. Events, however, made him alter his decision and he was
obliged, in consequence of the severe fighting early in October before Kars, to
order 5 battalions of the Pennek force to that fortress.
On the 13th the Russian force occupying Ardahan had been reinlorced to
16 battalions of infantry with 4 batteries of field and 2 of mountain guns,
under General Komaroff, and about the 25th, a force consisting of 6 battalions,
12 sotnias. and 8 guns were moved via Zarshat to Parget, to reinforce the
Russian force before Kars. m i • i i xv • x-n
Nothin" now occurred on the Russian right or Turkish left wings till the
Ctb October 1 when 5 of the battalions with 2 mountain guns, stationed at
Pennek were ordered to Kars by Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. ; the remaining battalion
with 4 mountain guns, joined the Mushir in bis retreat from Kars at Hun-
The Olti line was now quite denuded of Turkish troops, and on the 16th
* According to some accounts 16 battalions of the Rion Corps were also moved to Ardahan
the 15th September.