‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎47r] (27/42)

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the Karabulak pass. It reached Bayazid in safety, however, on the same night,
but subsequently retired, as will be afterwards seen, to Barghiri, on the road to
Van. The day’s march on the 2 . 0 th was to Gerger—a small village on the left
bank of the Euphrates, distant some 23 miles. The march was a long and
trying one for troops in such a harassed condition and impeded with long-
trains ot baggage, and the camp which was on a good defensible position on
the right bank of the stream, was not reached till night. To raise the spirits
of the troops, who appeared to think that the hurried retreat was due to fear
of hussian pursuit, Ismail Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. caused copies ot a telegram to be circulated
in the camp just before starting, to the effect that a Russian General had been
taken prisoner in the Schipka Pass, together with bis army-corps of 50,000
men ! This rumour was generally believed in, and it did not ooze out until two
or three days afterwards that the telegram bad no foundation.
In the course of the day’s march a detachment of Cossacks that had
crossed the Russian frontier near the Balikly Gol, came down by a mountain
track to the neighbourhood of Utch-Kilisseh, near which place they came into
contact with some Turkish regular cavalry and a skirmish ensued in which the
Kol-Aghani* (wing officer) and 2 troopers on the Turkish side were either
killed or taken prisoners. The Cossacks, however, retired, and did not molest
the Turkish retreat. Some 150 stragglers were left behind on the line of
march during this day’s retreat, and great exhaustion was now everywhere
apparent in the force. Gerger was reached in the night.
On this day, Ismail Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was joined at Utch-Kilisseh by the 4 battalions
that had been sent from the camp at Zor on the 14th to join Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. .
Having heard of the disaster at Kars, they remained halted at Utch-Kilisseh
awaiting the retreat of the right wing.
On this day the cavalry of General Tergukasoff’s advance guard
reached TJtch-b ilisseh, and a body of Turkish cavalry numbering some 1,000
sabres (regulars and irregulars), were sent along the road to reconnoitre. Thev
came upon and surprised a Russian cavalry picket at Tachlidgeh; following them
up, they then came on the Russian cavalry in the strength of some 6 or 7
squadrons and sotnias at Utch-Kilisseh, with whom, however, they do not seem
to have interfered. Orders were now sent to the Turkish cavalry to check any
further advance of the Russian cavalry, but the latter appeared nevertheless at
Karakilisseh on the afternoon of the following day (24th). The infantry of
Tergukasoff’s advance guard reached Mussin on the 23rd, their advance being
much impeded by the bad state of the weather and road.
Having now considerably distanced the Russians, none of whom had been
seen following in rear during the day, a halt was made till midnight on the
21st, when the force again retired some 15 miles to a strong position 3 miles
west of Karakilisseh, where it halted for a clear day (23rd) to rest the troops
and allow stragglers to come up. Some 350 or 400 sick and some stores were
now despatched in advance on'ponies to Erzeroum.
Early on the morning of the 24th Ismail Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. again resumed his retreat,
the baggage and ammunition train moving off at 1 a.m., followed at 3.30
by the infantry (24 battalions) and artillery (33 guns). 1 battalion and 3 field
guns were now detached by a southerly and circuitous route to reinforce the
detachment at Bayazid. The rear guard, consisting of 5 battalions and
2 squadrons, finally left the position at 4.30 a.m. 'Hie day was fine and there
was a slight frost hardening the roads, and the head of the column reached
Zeidikan (18 miles) at the foot of the Kosd Dagh about 10.30 a.m. (between
Karakilisseh and Zeidikan there is a gradual rise of some 500 feet). Great
consternation prevailed among the inhabitants of the villages through which
the Turkish army was now retiring, and all who could manage to transport
themselves and their families accompanied the Turkish troops, dreading the
Koords who followed in rear.
A council of w r ar was now held, and reconnoitring parties of cavalry sent
forward along the road to Delibaba, and towards evening the column which had
halted near Zeidikan during the greater part of the day, was directed by the
Djeli—Gedik road on Kurdali—some 6 miles distant—where the troops arrived
* It was generally supposed by the Turks that this man, who was a Caucasian, deserted,
and went over to the Russians during the skirmish.