Narrative of the Defence of Kars, historical and military ... From authentic Documents and from Notes taken by the several Officers serving on the Staff of Her Majesty's Commissioner with the Ottoman Army in Asia Minor. Illustrated by Lieut. Col. C. Teesdale C.B, and W. Simpson [With plates and...

Front matter

THE DEFENCE OF KARS. " Dietinet hostem Agger murorum." — Æneidos Lib. xi. line 381. *' Harubre y frio, entregan al hombre h su enemigo." — Spanish Proverb. " Hanger and cold deliver a man up to his enemy." JaUX * X fruited at cAr Zpa/nmfoial JCl Slot ' Depm U'a,- flepurtmau . 1W /As.* s.' Otli Jen-it Ourrfo- TURKISH INFANTRY SOLDIERS NARRATIVE OF THE DEFENCE OF KARS Ifbtnriml imtr Htxlrtarg. BY COLONEL ATWELL LAKE, C.B., (unattached) ; ONE OF HER MAJESTY'S AIDES-DE-CAMP, AND LATE OF THE MADRAS ENGINEERS FROM AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS, AND FROM NOTES TAKEN BY THE SEVERAL OFFICERS SERVING ON THE STAFF OF HER MAJESTY'S COMMISSIONER WITH THE OTTOMAN ARMY IN ASIA MINOR. ILLUSTRATED by Lieut .-Colonel C. TEESDALE, C.B., and WILLIAM SIMPSON, Esq. LONDON: EICHAED BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET DnMJsjja in ©rtmtarg to fa Paj«ig. 1357.

LONDON ■ PRTTTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, sTAUFORD STREET. TO MAJOR-GENERAL Sir W. FENWfCK WILLIAMS, Bart., of Kars, K.C.B. it'C. &c. &c. SRIjost J)£tos' APPRECIATED BY HIS QUEEN AND COUNTRY', AND WRITTEN IN THE HEARTS OF THE SOLDIERS WHOM HE LED, REQUIRE NO EULOGY BETOND THEIR SIMPLE RECORD. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED BY HIS ATTACHED COMPANION IN ARMS, ATWELL LAKE. London, April, 1857. b

Preface

. On taking up a volume purporting to be a " Nar rative of the Blockade of Kars," the general reader may very possibly ask the question, " "What can " we now be told on this subject with which we " have not aheady been made acquainted ? " It is very true that several works have lately been published, giving an account of much that took place during the blockade ; but, as yet, no connected history of all that occurred in Asia Minor, having reference more particularly to the defence and ultimate surrender of Kars, has been offered to the public. I wish most sincerely that the task which I have undertaken bad fallen into abler hands, in b2

PREFACE.

. order that more justice might have been done to a subject which has occupied the attention and elicited the approbation of the people of England. A perusal of the following pages will show the reader that there has been no attempt at any flowery or overstrained description. My desire has been to state facts simply as they occurred, to bestow praise where it has appeared to be de served, and to abstain (as far as is consistent with that truthfulness which is expected from every annalist) from throwing blame on those who may have reasons, unknown to me, for their actions. I consider it the duty of every Engineer Officer, as far as it lies in his power, to contribute, when ever an opportunity may occur, to the cause of science in fortification ; and there are few officers to be found who are unwilling to gain information, however trifling, from the experience of others.

As regards the Defences of Kars, there may, perhaps, be no great novelty in their construction, but they, at least, contain a lesson upon the value of field-works, thrown up in great haste, and under difficulties of no ordinary nature.

PREFACE.

. IX My original intention was to write a purely professional work, trusting that it might be read with attention by members of the Corps of En gineers, both in the Koyal and Indian Armies, as well as by other military officers, to whom, generally, the art of fortification has, of late years, become an interesting study ; but I was induced, at the solicitation of many whose opinions I value, to make the volume more comprehensive, by giving an account, in detail, of all that occurred in Asia Minor in connection with the operations at Kars. To enable me to carry out this project with greater accuracy, I was under the uecessity of seeking* for information from those officers who were employed at a distance from the more immediate scene of action. It has been mentioned, in my former work on Kars, that when General Mouravieff was in formed that I had destroyed a plan of the fortifi cations, which I had made at intervals, prior to and during the continuance of the blockade, he most kindly offered to give me a copy of one

PREFACE.

. X which he had ordered his own Engineer Officers to prepare. This generous intention, however, the Eussian Commander was unable to fulfil, owing to my departure from Tiflis before the plan was com pleted. He nevertheless so far redeemed his pro mise as to give me a plan of Kars, as it stood before the field-works were added to the existing fortifications. Soon after my arrival at Penza — the town wherein I was destined to pass the period of my captivity — ■ I accidentally found some papers, the existence of which I was, up to that moment, perfectly ignorant of, containing the angles and other notes I had taken whilst making the survey ■ so that I was enabled to pass my leisure hours in making a new plan, similar, in every respect, to the one I had destroyed. I must here offer my best thanks to Mr. H. A. Churchill, Private Secretary to Sir Fenwuck Williams, who afforded me his valuable assistance, whenever his other duties permitted him, in sketch ing the surrounding country, and thus enabling me to render the survey more complete than I could

PREFACE.

. XI otherwise have made it, owing to the numerous calls on my own time. To the Eight Honourable Lord Panmure, Her Majesty's Secretary of State for War, my warmest acknowledgments are due, for having obligingly offered me the use of the establishment belonging to the Topographical and Statistical Depot ; and to Lieutenant-Colonel Jervis, the Director of that Institution, for the satisfactory manner in which he has lithographed the several plans and drawings which illustrate my book. To Major-General Sir Pen wick Williams, who has kindly permitted me to have access to many official documents in his possession, and to Lieut.- Colonel C. C. Teesdale, whose aid has been inva luable in enabling me to supply from his jour nal many facts and dates which the loss of my own deprived me of the means of referring to, I beg to offer my sincere thanks.

I beg also gratefully to acknowledge the aid I have received from Majors Stuart and Cathcart, and from Captain Cameron, in furnishing me with many interesting details connected with the pro-

PREFACE.

. ceedings which took place at Erzeroom and at other places in the neighbourhood during the time that Kars was closely blockaded ; and I offer my best thanks to Mr. W. Simpson, the talented Crimean artist, for the spirited sketches which he was good enough to draw expressly for my work. I have only to solicit the kind indulgence of the Public for all errors and defects which will doubtless be discovered in this volume. I ask them to look upon it as the production of one whose sole object has been to give to the world a true and unvarnished record of events, on the result of which the safety of Asia Minor depended. While many an able writer has been found to chronicle the gigantic and glorious operations that took place in the Crimea, no one has hitherto come forward to give a detailed and authentic account of the proceedings which occurred, on a much smaller scale, in Kars and its vicinity.

I therefore took up my pen to supply the omis sionand, in so doing, my object has been to fulfil a duty which I owe to those brave officers and soldiers in the Turkish service who gallantly

PREFACE.

. XIII stood by my countrymen and myself in the hom os danger; and who, under great hardships and privations, evinced an endurance which has justly gained for them the admiration of all Europe. To the critics and reviewers who may deign to notice my book I will only say, that if they treat me with as much leniency as they were pleased to extend towards me when, on a former occasion, I appeared before the public in the character of an author, I shall be more than satisfied. Atwell Lake. London, March 1857. i ■2: i CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page

Appointment of General Williams as British Commissioner in Asia Minor — Officers of his Staff — Defeat of the Turks at Kuruk-D6re — State of the Ottoman Army at Kars — Corruption of the Pashas — Ismail Pasha — General Guyon — Muster of Turkish Troops — Condition of the Officers and Men — Major Teesdale — Kerim Pasha — State of the Garrison at Kars .___.___i

Chapter II

Health of the Soldiers — Worthlessness of Shukri Pasha, Commandant — Merit of Kerim Pasha, second in command- Appointment of more British Officers — Colonel Lake arrives at Kars — Exertions of General Williams — Insurrection in Koordistan, suppressed by General Williams on his own responsibility — Surrender of Izzideen shere Bey CHAPTER HI. Description of the Fortress of Kars in 1855 — New Works planned and executed by Colonel Lake - - - CONTENTS. TAGE

Chapter IV

Fortifications completed to a certain extent — Pontoon Bridges thrown across the river— Duty of English Officers- Strength of the Garrison— Description of the manner in which promotion takes place in the Turkish Army — General Williams and his Aide-de-camp employed at Erzeroom — Routes by which Erzeroom is approachable from Kars — Fortifications at former place — Provisions sent _to Kars —Reports of Russian advance— Arrival of Vassif Pasha— His character — Camp pitched at Kars - - - 58

Chapter V

Increase of Kars Garrison — Sickness very trifling — State of Hospital — Enrolment of Bashi-Bozouks — Laz Riflemen collected — Their character — Ramazan — Mushir's unwillingness to issue orders on the subject — He is at length persuaded to do so — Arrival of General Williams at Kars, June 7th — Intentions of Enemy no longer doubtful — His Movements — Turkish Outposts attacked — Advance of Russians against the Lower Works, June 16th — Enemy repulsed and forced to retire — Account of Stores and Magazines — Grain at Kupri-keui taken by the Russians - - - - 72

Chapter VI

Russian Army advances — Halts at Magharadjik — Appearance of the Force — Army of the Caucasus described — Enemy sends to Chiplakli and destroys Grain — Post taken — Private Letters sent into Garrison — Works extended and described — Staff of Kars Army — Feyzi Pasha — Commissariat — Peculation discovered — Townspeople are armed — Reconnaissance by the Enemy, 26th of June — Again on the 13th of July — General Mouravieff on the 1st of August proceeds towards the Soghanli-Dagh — His return to Kars - CONTENTS. XVII 129 178

Chapter VII. Page

Skirmishes take place daily — An Ambuscade is planned, and fails — Reasons given for passive resistance — Enemy attacks Kanli Tabia, August 7th, and is repulsed — Tachmasb Heights fortified still further — Other Works constructed — Stone Bridge thrown over Kars-Tchai — General Kmety — Hussein Pasha — Inner Line of Defence on the Plain — Construction of Fortifications necessarily rude - - - - 116

Chapter VIII

Enemy pitches Camps at Boskali, Chalgour, and Ainalli — Desertion commences to take place — Punishment awarded — Deserter taken and Shot — Laz Riflemen become mutinous — Their punishment — Horses sent away for want of food — Veli Pasha's Force — Correspondence between General Williams and Colonel Lake — Instructions given to Veli Pasha — Erivan Force advanced, and Veli Pasha retired — A Turkish Spy found and executed — Batoom Army — Heavy siege-guns arrive from Gumri — Kanli Tabia strengthened — Correspondence about Transport — Seven hundred Horses killed

Chapter IX

Garrison attacked by Cholera — Turkish medical subordinates not well educated — Post arrives September 23rd — News from the Crimea, and from Omer Pasha — His Advice to the Garrison — General Williams writes to Sheikh Shamyl, and receives an answer — Three British Officers arrive at Erzerooni — They attempt in vain to get to Kars — Their subsequent Movements ______ 155

Chapter X

The Enemy attacks Pennek — The Turks take to an ignominious flight — Captain Cameron's description of it — Disappearance of Ali Pasha — Reasons for the Attack — Supposed connivance on the part of the Turks — Major Stuart and Captain Cameron remain at Erzeroom — Major Peel arrives September 21st — News of the fall of part of Sebastopol arrives at Erzeroom — Proceedings at Kars — The Blockade continues — The Cherkess and Assatin described — Cruelty to a child — Steps taken for protecting foraging parties CONTENTS. PAGE 195 211 234

CHAPTER XL

The Enemy advances, September 29th— Preparations to resist the Attack — Action commences— Yarim-Ai Tabia taken — Yuksek Tabia in danger — General Kmety— General Kavalieffsy killed— Vassif Pasha and Tek Tabias open fire— Fight at Tachmasb — Chasseurs — Attack on English Batteries — They are taken by the Enemy — Fire opened from Fort Lake and Karadagh — Reinforcements sent to former Battery — Enemy is driven out of English Batteries — Russians retreat

Chapter XII

Not a shot fired from the Citadel — Action continues at Tachmasb — Daring act of a Russian Battalion — Order given to the Enemy to retire — Retreat is commenced — Impossibihty of pursuit — Gallant conduct of Officers — Messrs. Zohrab and Rennison — Names of Officers who distinguished themselves — Conduct of Turkish Troops — Gallantry of the Enemy — Burial of the slain — General Williams notices conduct of his Staff — Probable loss on the side of the Enemy — Hospital arrangements — General Williams' official Despatch regarding the Battle --------

Chapter XIII

Cholera again breaks out — Gloom spread over the Garrison — Omer Pasha's silence — Officers receive the Medjidiye' — Turkish rank conferred on British Officers — Provisions begin to run short— Difficulty of sending out a Post — Evil resulting from neglect of orders — People caught in their attempt to escape from Kars — Turks found lying dead on the road — Increasing sickness of Troops — Addition to the Works

Chapter XIV

Parapets raised in places — Sentries withdrawn from the front — Reported advance of Selim and Omer Pashas — Effects of starvation — Cold becomes intense — Difficulty of carrying fuel to the Heights — Conduct of Feyzi Pasha — Enemy begins to hut himself — Attempts made to keep up the strength of the Troops — Annoyance from the Enemy at night — Garrison kept on the alert — Barrack constructed - CONTENTS. XIX PAGE 260

Chapter XV

Orders sent to Erzeroom by General Williams — Interview between Major Stuart and Veli Pasha — The latter declines advancing without orders — He refuses to state the number of his Troops — The Condition of his Army — The State of Selim Pasha's Force — Veli Pasha at length advances — Major Stuart visits Selim Pasha — Reputed character of the latter — Excuses made by him for his delay— General Williams writes to him, and offers him some advice — He is urged in v ain to advance — Impossibility of collecting Bashi-Bozouks

Chapter XVI

English Officers continue to visit Selim Pasha daily — False account of expected reinforcement — Major Stuart writes to Selim Pasha — His reply, and statement of his Force — The Pasha's arguments not well founded — General Williams writes to Major Stuart — Mr. Consul Brant's opinion of Selim Pasha — He urges the expediency of sending up another General — Some account of Omer Pasha's movements — The feasibility of a retreat from Kars is discussed — It is at first decided upon — All hope of succour is at an end, and a retreat is at length found to be impossible — The vigilance of the Enemy is increased ______ 274

Chapter XVII

An Aide-de-camp is despatched with a flag of truce to the Russian Camp — General Williams visits General Mouravieff — He announces the surrender of Kars to Lord Clarendon — - Terms of the capitulation — Approval of Her Majesty's Government — General Mouravieff appreciates a brave defence — Terms are approved of by the Mushir, but objected to at first by the Turkish Officers — All is at length arranged satisfactorily — Generals Kmety and Kollmann escape — Reception of the Turks by their Enemy — Destination of British Officers — Peace is concluded _ - - - 293

Chapter XIX

The means which were undertaken for succouring Kars — Nothing required but food and ammunition to enable the Turks to hold Kars — Omer Pasha's first arrival on the coast — His movements — The rainy season puts a stop to XX CONTENTS. PAGE his campaign — General Mouravieff continues to blockade Kars — The two courses which were open to Omer Pasha — Objections of the Consuls to the proposed plan — General Mouravieffs ideas on the subject — The opinion of Her Majesty's Government conveyed in Lord Clarendon's letter 323

Chapter XX

The practicability of the route between Trebizonde and Erzeroom — Particulars of the route — Letter on the subject from Mr. Consul Stevens — No necessity for heavy guns — An advance by way of Batoom considered — Objections to such a proceeding — General Mouravieff 's ignorance of the amount of ammunition — Concluding remarks - 336 ILLUSTRATIONS. Turkish Infantry Soldiers - To face title. Turkish Cavalry Soldiers ----,, page 60 Russian Bashi-Bozouks - - - - ,, „ 91 Russian Infantry Soldiers - - - - „ „ 100 View of the Russian Camp at Chiftli-Kaj-a ■- „ „ 294 Plan of the Fortress of Kars - In pocket. View of the Town and Fortress of Kars - „ NAEEATIVE OF THE DEFENCE OF KARS. CHAPTEE I. Appointment of General Williams as British Commissioner in Asia Minor — Officers of his Staff — Defeat of the Turks at Kuruk-D^rd — State of the Ottoman Army at Kars — Corruption of the Pashas — Ismail Pasha — General Guyon — Muster of Turkish Troops — Condition of the Officers and Men — Major Teesdale — Kerim Pasha — State of the Garrison at Kars.

When the late war with Eussia, which commenced in the year 1854, exceeded the limits to which it was at first earnestly hoped it might be confined, Her Majesty's Government naturally turned its thoughts to the state of affairs in Asia Minor, particularly as related to its defences, so vital in importance to the security of the British posses sions in the East, and therefore determined to send out a Commissioner to serve with, and report upon the proceedings of the Turkish armies in that country. Colonel Williams, C.B., of the Eoyal Artillery (now Major-General Sir Fenwick Williams, Bart., 1! APPOINTMENT OF GENERAL WILLIAMS. of Kars, K.C.B.), was nominated for this important situation. A better selection could not possibly have been made. This officer had served for many years on the Turco-Persian frontier, and his intimate knowledge of the character of the Turks, combined with no ordinary talent for diplomacy, rendered him in every respect a most competent person to undertake the duty.

The following extract of a letter from the Earl of Clarendon contains his nomination and instructions : — " The Earl of Clarendon to Lieutenant-Colonel Williams. (Extract.) " Foreign Office, August 2, 1854. " I have to acquaint you that you have been selected as the officer to attend, as Her Majesty's Commissioner, the Head-Quarters of the Turkish army in Asia, and to act in that capacity in com munication with, and under the orders of Lord Eaglan ; and to perform whatever services, in con nection with that army, his Lordship may see occasion to prescribe to you. " You will accordingly proceed with as little delay as possible to Lord Eaglan's Head-Quarters, communicating on your passage by Constantinople with Her Majesty's Ambassador, who will be in structed to obtain from the Turkish Government all possible facilities for your performance of the duties intrusted to you. EARL OF CLARENDON'S