‘The Russo-Turkish War. 1877. Operations in Europe.’ [‎10r] (19/66)

19
III.
RUSSIAN ARMY DETAILS.
Information, received in January, gave the following details respecting Jan. 1877.
the Russian army.
There were four corps on the line of the Pruth with head-quarters at
Kischinev.
The advanced guard was thrown forward to the frontier, and had with it
two pontoon trains, each with a verst of bridging.
The siege train reserve and ammunition columns were at Bender, the
Engineer head-quarters at Kischinev.
A fifth Corps was mobilized at Odessa, and a sixth in the Crimea.
There were at Moscow and Kiev reserves to take the places of the four
corps of the field army when they move forward.
The information respecting the condition of the army in Bessarabia and
its strength, received in the month of January, was very conflicting, the
general tendency being to exaggerate numbers.
The most trustworthy information respecting the distribution of the forces is
that given in an official statement, which represents w T hat was known on the
15th January of the disposition of the Russian troops, composing the armies
of operation and observation on the European frontier of Turkey, under the
command of His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander-in-
Chief, whose head-quarters were then at Kischinev, and of Lieutenant-General
Semeka, whose head-quarters were at Odessa, which agrees with the statement
already given.
In addition to what have already been detailed were the following troops,
not forming part of the Army-Corps, but under the direct orders of the
Commander-in-Ohief.
Escort of the Commander-In-Chief. —Two squadrons of Kuban and two of
Terek Cossacks; one squadron of each pair being of the Guard, and the other
of the Line ; at Kischinev.
Two companies of Kuban Rifles.
4th Brigade of Rifles, Major-General Zvietzinski, at Varzareshti,
3rd Brigade of Sappers at Kojnshna.
1st Brigade of Sappers (the Guard). —A detachment of 100 men : 50
Sappers at Kischinev, and 50 men of the Galvanic company at Odessa.
Vnd Brigade of Sappers. —Its 3rd and 4th half-battalions of pontoniers, at
Kischinev.
Special Battalion. —For construction of military roads, &c., in course of
formation at Moscow.
Sailors of the Guard.'—Two companies, at Kischinev.
Sailors from the Black Sea. —A detachment of 200 men, at Kischinev.
Terek Cavalry Militia. —Four sotnias, at Kischinev.
Artillery. —Two newly formed mountain batteries at Kischinev, a siege
park of 400 guns in course of formation at Bender, and a Horse Artillery Park
attached to the Cossacks, not forming part of the Cavalry Divisions, at
Kischinev.
Division of Cossacks of the Don. —Major-General Shumsheff; chief of the
Staff, Colonel Ivanoff; usual head-quarters, Riazan; present head-quarters,
Duhno ; composed of the following details :—
21st regiment of Don Cossacks, at Papeluha; 23rd regiment of Don
Cossacks, at Koduma; 2Gth, at Gorodishtchi; 29th, at Comrat; 30th, at
Taraklia ; 31st, at Enikinbei (Kubei); 34th, at Labutna ; 35th, at Jabokritshi;
37th, at Serhi; and 40th at Gaidar ; besides the following—8th battery of
Don Cossacks, at Tomdi; 9th battery of Don Cossacks, at Pestchanka ; 10th,