‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎40v] (14/42)

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12 battalions and 36 guns, and the Turkish positions were turned on either
flank,* that their resistance was broken.
It is doubtful, however, whether such was the case in consequence oi the
Russian attack alone, for, on the Turkish centre being pierced by the combined
attacks of Generals Heimann and Lazareff, the Turkish troops on the Aladja-
Dagh were warned of their danger and ordered to retreat, abandoning their stores
and camp equipage; the result was, ot course, that the Russians pressed foi ward
both on the front and flanks of the retreating r I urks and the resistance of the
latter was soon at an end. As the Russian infantry pressed forward, their artillery
had to cease firing, not being able to follow the skirmishers up the broken and
rugged slopes of the mountain; the former, however, took many prisoners, and
whole battalions of Turks, seeing their retreat cut off, laid down their arms.
In the meanwhile the Turks on the Tchift-Tepessi and the heights of
Bazardjik were gradually surrounded by portions ot Generals Heimann’s and
LazarefF’s forces, as well as attacked by detachments of General Roop’s forces
from the Aladja, and finally surrendered. At nightfall, however, portions of
8 battalions, aggregating from 1,500 to 1,800 men, contrived to breakthrough
the Russian lines and make good their way to Kagisman; and a somewhat
larger number, it was afterwards found, effected their escape in small bands in
other directions, but the remainder—about 7,000 officers and men, including
two Ferik and three Liva Pashas, with 40 field and mountain guns—fell into
the hands of the victors, the whole of the Turkish right wing on the Aladja-
Dagh being thus either killed, taken, or dispersed.
" After a final stand at Vezin-Keui, the left wing retired in disorder to
Kars, but the pursuit does not appear to have been kept up for any distance,
nor was the retreat of the forces holding the Lesser 1 ahni apparently cut off,
for, under cover of night, the Turkish forces posted there—10 battalions with
9 field and mountain guns, under “Capitan” Mehmet Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , which had been
more or less surrounded during the day by the Russians—retired in safety,
with its artillery, &c., unmolested to Kars.
It is difficult indeed to account for the small amount of courage,
determination and endurance exhibited by the Turkish soldier on this day
compared with his previous behaviour in this part of the theatre of w r ar, for
nothing like a real stand was made after the fall of the Aulia-Tepeh. The
events and course that affairs took on the Turkish side after the loss of that
important post, are perhaps best given in the words of a competent eye-witness
who accompanied the Turkish General and actually saw how things occurred.
“ My experience of the enthusiasm hitherto animating the Turkish
soldier on the field of battle had not prepared me for the events which hereon
(i.e. after the fall of the Aulia-Tepeh) ensued, nor were the Commander-in-
Chief and his staff less taken by surprise at the apathetic indifference for
which that enthusiasm seemed now to be exchanged. Whether appalled by
the heavy losses they had sustained during the recent engagements and the
miserable untended condition of their wounded comrades, or subdued by the
exposure, suffering, and short rations to which they had been subjected and
which had occasioned wholesale desertions, whether conscious that their
communications were virtually intercepted, or more probably still, disheartened
and demoralised by the first indication of a retreat,t the same men who had
before borne themselves so courageously and held their ground so tenaciously
in many a hard fight now seemed to be utterly prostrated. Nowhere after the
fall of the Aulia-Tepeh did they once attempt to make a stand. As the
Russian batteries advanced, they abandoned position after position without
firing a shot, and neither persuasion nor threat could induce them to await the
enemy’s assault. For the rest of the day, while exposed to the heaviest cross-fire
* On the right by the 152nd (Vladikawkaz) Regiment, and Prince Tch avtchavadze’s irregular
cavalry and 2 squadrons of the 17th (SiSversk) Dragoons, and on the left by the 1 st (Catherianoslav)
Grenadiers and 2 squadrons of the 17th (Sigversk) Dragoons, with 4 horse artillery guns.
f During the attempt on the part of the Turkish officers to check the panic and turn back
the fugitives, the men denounced the retreat from Kizyl-Tepeh, and one of them, attacking an
officer of high rank with his bayonet, asked why they had been required to shed their blood in
rain in capturing that post if there were no intention of retaining it; and this sentiment has, it
appears, been repeated in various quarters to justify or explain the conduct of the Turkish soldiers
on this day.