A Military Tour in European Turkey, the Crimea and on the Eastern Shores of the Black Sea ... with maps

Front matter

A MILITARY TOUR in EUROPEAN TURKEY, THE CRIMEA AJTP ON THE EASTERN SHORES OF THE BLACK SEA rMxroiMj ROUTES ACROSS THE BALKAN INTO BULGARIA, AND EXCUTiSI'iN* IN THE TURKISH, RUSSIAN, AND PERSIAN PROVINCES OF THE CAUCASIAN BANoE ; ilillitb strategical (Obscrbattons OB IHI. PBOBiBIE SCENE OF THE OPERATIONS nF HIE ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, ;;i MAJOR-GENERAL A. F. MACINTOSH. K-H^ F.R.G.S., F.G.S. WITH MAPS. IN TWO VOLUMES.— Vol. I. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. 1854. LONDON. PRINTED BY VT. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

Preface

. The following pages have been written solely with the view of furnishing inform ation on those countries which are now, or are likely to be, the scene of hostilities arising out of the present war. They are drawn up from memoranda made on the spot, chiefly in reference to military oper ations, and in anticipation of a future struggle between hostile armies. Hence more regard has been had to a careful delineation of the features, capabilities, and local peculiarities of the various regions described, and to the manner in which these may be turned to account in military operations, than to the composition of an amusing book of travels.

PREFACE.

. As regards the names of places mentioned in the several tours, and which no two European nations spell alike, it may be well to explain that in the case of well-known places, the spelling ordinarily used in Eng land has been preserved ; and all other names have been so spelt as to convey to the ear, when pronounced by an English man, the proper native designation. Great caution has been used in respect to the names of official persons with whom the author was brought in contact, or from whom he received information, as indiscre tion on this point might seriously compromise individuals to whose kindness and hospitality he holds himself indebted. June, 1854. CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

Chapter I

Page Shores of the Dardanelles — Land Defences— Gulf of Saros — Hostile Advance from Adrianople — Landing-places — Straits of the Dardanelles — Batteries at Nagara — Town of the Dardanelles — Kootnkaleh — Excursion into Bul garia — Chifliks — The Chekmagees — Irruption of Attila — Victory of Belisarius — Inaccurate descriptions of Baron Valentini ......... 1

Chapter II

Aqueducts and Reservoirs — Chatsalda — Passes — Landing-places — Proposed Batteries — The Bosphorus — Buyukdereh — Buyuk-Liman — Kilia — Belgrade — Levend Chiflik — Roomeli-Hissar — The [Asiatic Coast — Line of Defence — Blockhouses ....... 23

Chapter III

Silivria — Karristan — Bulgarian peasants — Kuseli and Apsa — Adrianople —Route to Shumla — Yamboli — Carnabat — Site for Encampment — Ford of the Kamchik — Advance Post— Shumla 51

Chapter IV

Anastasian Wall — Encamping ground — Visa — Boonar- Hissar — Kirklissa — Road to Faki — Faki — Marshy ground — Gulf of Burgas — Occupation of Sizeboli — Line of coast — Roads— Bay of Varna . . . . . CONTENTS. VI

Chapter V

Page Passes of the Balkan — Ternova— Shumla— Fortifications of Shumla— Intrenched Camp 90

Chapter VI

The Last Russian War— Defeat of Redschid Pasha— His Retreat from Pravadi— Conflict -with Marshal Diebitsch —Defences of Pravadi— Road to Varna— Bay of Varna — Fortifications of Varna . . . • • .107

Chapter VII

Belgrade — Current of the Danube — Frontier defiles — Orsova — Trajan's Bridge— Widdin — Nicopolis — Position of Passage — Sistova — Rustchuk — Giurgeva — Silistria — Turtukioi — Ibrailoff and Galatz — Matchin — Tulcha — Ismail — Readjustment of Boundary — The Dobrudsha . 124

Chapter VIII

Sinope— Trebizond — Starting for Erzeroum- -The Dereh Beys — Mountain Paths — The Ten Thousand — Crossing the Snow — Stavros — Silver Mines— Ghumesh Khaneh — Baiboot — Route to Batoom — Necessity of Defences — Pastoral Country — Erzeroum — Hassan Kalleh . . .15

Chapter IX

Persian Caravanserais— Korassan — Fording the River — Pass of Barduze — Strong Position— Kars — Koordish Horsemen — Turkish Cupidity — Armenian Village — Ani and its Ruins 199

Chapter X

Position — Works of Goomri — Turkish Frontier — Salt Rocks — Ferry of the Aras — Khagasman — Gelalee Koords — Route to Hadgi-Bairamloo ...... CONTENTS. VII

Chapter XI

Page Moslem Procrastination — Koordish Chief — Native Warrior — Ascending the Mountains— Stationary Guard — Hostile Party — Preparations for Action — Koordish Challenge — Snow-Drift — Thunder-storm — Toprak Kalleh — Visit to the Governor — Persian Caravans ..... 238

Chapter XII

A Sultan's Camp — Koordish Shepherds — Russian Predilections — Oriental Habits — The Persian Language — Tumuli — A Troublesome Escort — Persian Horsemen — Incident of the March — Persian Horsemanship— Diadeen — Persian Songs — A Halt ...... 259