‘Russo-Turkish War, 1877. Operations in Asia.’ [‎50v] (34/42)

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Erzeroum,* and at about 6 p.m. the whole of the I urkish force had abandoned
the Deve-Boyun and was making for the town. The attack on the Turkish
rioht was not followed up, nor, fortunately for the Turks, was any attempt at
pursuit made by the Russians, probably owing to the great fatigue of their
troops and darkness setting in, but 36 siege and field guns, all the Turkish
camps, with large quantities of stores and ammunition fell into their bands.
According to General Heimann’s report, the Russians took 8 officers and 300
men prisoners. Their own losses are given as 30 officers and 800 men killed
and wounded.f
The firing ceased at 6.30 p.m., and the Russians bivouacked m the posi
tions abandoned by the Turks.
Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. had been borne away by the general rout of the 1 urkish
centre, and was heard of no more until he reach Erzeroum duiing the night.
Three out of four of his attendants were killed.
When the defeat became known at the latter place the southern gates and
ramparts of the town were occupied by guards with fixed bayonets, and all
ingress refused. The scene which then ensued is described by an eye-witness
as terrible, thousands of men, horses, camels, oxen, &c., in one jammed and
struggling crowd seeking to obtain admission, and pressing against the guards,
who used their bayonets freely, killing several men. Chis continued till
10 p.m., when the guards were withdrawn and the fugitives allowed to enter.
The greatest terror now prevailed in the town, both on account of the
expected bombardment and attack of the Russians and the anticipated \iolencc
of the fugitives in seeking food and shelter.^ No excesses were, however, com
mitted, and tranquility was soon restored with daylight.
Operations before Euzeroum.
With a Russian army numbering some 30,000 men with over 150 guns on
the Deve-Boyun, and flushed with victory, Mukhtar Pasha’s chance of saving
Erzeroum seemed indeed anything but hopeful. Disheartened, however, as he
must have been at bis succession of disasters, he did not give w ay to despair,
but again showed himself to be a leader of energy, resolution, and courage,
and at once set about doing his best to continue the resistance.
On the night of the 5th a Russian Major with a flag of truce was sent to
Erzeroum to demand the surrender of the town within 8 hours, and a Yuzbashi
was sent back with him to ask for terms. The Russian reply was that if the
town were not surrendered by noon on the following day it would be bombarded,
and when captured, handed over to pillage for 3 days. The panic in the town
was soon at its highest pitch, and at a general council it w r as determined on the
part of the townspeople to surrender, but Mukhtar Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. who had in the.mean-
while communicated with the Sultan, refused, and stated his determination to
resist to the last.
The Turkish forces in Erzeroum now numbered 30,000 men in all, but of
these there were only some 10,000 men who could be depended on to face the
Russians. The remaining 20,000 were made up of worn-out Redifs, convales
cents, newly raised Mustaphiz, and Mussulman citizens. This force Mukhtar
Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. divided into 5 brigades—4 to man the forts and enceinte, with one
in reserve. To each brigade was attached some 180 horsemen under a
Yuzbashi.
Fortunately for the Turks, the Russians again showed themselves slow in
following up their success, and time, which was everything to the defeated Turks,
was again allowed them to recover from their disasters.
On the 7th the Russians threw up a work on the summit of a hill some
* The “ Capitan ” saved all his guns, 17 in number.
f The brunt of the fighting appears to have been borne by the Elizabethpol, Erivan, and
Tiflis regiments.
j As an instance of the famished condition of the Turkish soldiers, they are described as
having in one case entered a garden of cabbages and devoured the latter raw. That no violence
under these circumstances should have been offered to the Armenian citizens, speaks volumes for
the Turkish soldier.