Armenia, and the Campaign of 1877. ... With ... maps and plans

Front matter

ARMENIA, AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 1877. ARMENIA, AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 1877. BY C. B. NORMAN, LATE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OK "THE TIMES" AT THE SEAT OF WAR. WITH SPECIALLY-PREPARED MAPS AND PLANS. Cassell Pettee _ Galptn: LONDON, PARIS $ NEW YORK. [all bights reserved.] TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR AENOLD KEMBALL, C.B., K.C.S.I., ROYAL ARTILLERY, WHOSE CAREER IN PAST DATS AS A BOMBAY HORSE AltTILLERYMAN, IN THESE NO LESS STIRRING TIMES AS A SOLDIER DIPLOMATIST, TESTIFIES ALIKE TO HIS TACT, ENDURANCE, AND GALLANTRY — WHOSE NAME ADDS ONE MORE TO THE LIST OF THOSE INDIAN HEROES OF WHOM EVERY ENGLISHMAN MAY BE JUSTLY PROUD — THIS VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, THE AUTHOR, A

Preface

. My apology for launching yet another book on the world must be that I am aware the history of the war in Armenia is but imperfectly known in this country. More vivid interest attached to the scenes nearer home, Plevna and Schipka eclipsed Zewin and Kars in both honour and gallantry, and though British interests were more sensibly affected, according to party cry, by the events in Asia, yet popular interest was more visibly affected by the deeds upon European ground. I landed at Trebizond an advanced philo-Turk, and deeply impressed with the idea that Turkish misrule and Turkish maladministration had been grossly exaggerated. Being a novice in the profession of journalism, I was not bound to adhere to my former opinions for the sake of consistency in my future articles; and being entirely unfettered in my instructions, I determined to write fairly and honestly wha^ came before me, and endeavour to the best of my ability to uphold the Ottoman cause.

I have seen misrule in native states in India; I have seen Oriental vice and profligacy amongst the higher classes of Her Majesty's Eastern subjects ; I a THE CAMPAIGN IN ABMENIA. VIII have studied the Oriental character for some years, and flattered myself I knew a little about it. These pages will show how soon my views changed ; how soon I learnt that no words could exaggerate the amount of misrule that exists in Asiatic Turkey, where Christian and Mahomedan alike groan under an intolerable yoke. I learnt, too, that the debauched rajah is an innocent compared with the majority of pashas. As regards the Turkish army, I never saw a Nizam battalion that could hold its own with our worst drilled regiment of Bengal Infantry. Our native officers are as a rule infinitely superior to the Ottoman regimental officers, few of whom, in Lord Napier of Magdala's regime, could have qualified educationally for promotion to naiek.

Some few among the superiors — how few the campaign shows — were good men. It is no exaggeration to say that the success of the earlier portion of the war may be traced to the exertions of less than half a dozen men — Ahnied Mukhtar, Djameel and Faizi Pashas, Halit, and Captain Mahomed Bey. Remembering what the Ottoman army did in the Crimea, fighting by the side of our own men, and remembering what our native troops in India have done at* Lucknow, Delhi, Chillian wallah, Punniar, Jellalabad, Grhuzni, and a hundred other places — com paring these acts with those of the present campaign, we ought, at an}r rate, to feel satisfied that if with their faulty organisation, bad officers, ignorant staff, and lack of pecuniary resources, the Ottoman armies have been enabled to hold Russia at bay for eight long months, we with our well-trained troops, and

PREFACE.

. IX our inexhaustible native reserve (every whit the equal in physique and gallantry of the Osmanli), need have no fear should we unfortunately be drawn into war. If the Czar's armies have taken two-thirds of a year to march from Alexandropol to Erzeroum, and seven months from Goornri to Kars, they may abandon all hope of ever reaching Peshawur, of ever ruling in Hindostan. I have not touched on the political view of the Eastern Question, for I know little about it. I am aware that the war is entirely due to the machinations of Russia. I know that her agents fomented rebellion in Bulgaria ; that her ambassador persuaded the Porte to suppress the revolt with Bashi-Bazouks, and to repudiate her loans. I am aware that, behind the flimsy pretence of the amelioration of the Christian subjects of the Porte, the real reason for the war was love of aggression, and that the Czar still hopes to see the Cathedral of St. Sophia the head of the Greek Church.

Thus, though I know the conduct of Russia to be indefensible on every ground, I cannot but feel that if the war is the cause of granting a good government to the subjects of the Porte, if it strangles the rule of the pasha and the zaptieh, the Czar will deserve as much credit for the invasion of Turkey as for the emancipation of the serf. As for British interests being affected by the annexa tion of Armenia, I fail to see the point. Alexandropol and Erivan are nearer the Persian Gulf than Kars and Erzeroum, Samarkand and Khokand nearer the Punjaub than either. Those who advance the theory that the TEE CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA. X Mahomedan tribes of Hindostan would join Russia were we involved in hostilities with her, because we failed to support the Sultan in his hour of need, forget the lesson taught in 1857, just one year after the Treaty of Paris, one year after the Crimean War, when we sacrificed 100,000 men and £100,000,000 to bolster up the Ottoman Empire, the Bengal army mutinied, and our bitterest foes in that dire struggle were the Maho medans of Northern India.* Before these pages see the light we may be at war with Russia.

A large section of the people seem urging the Government to defend "British interests;" but not a man seems able to define the term. Should unhappily we find ourselves called upon to defend either of the two points laid down by Lord Derby as debatable ground, I feel no fear for the result. We know Russia's armed strength : the events of the last few months have thoroughly opened our eyes to the exaggerated views we formerly held of her power. She has no idea of our power; and as this war has proved the value of infantry, the uselessness of un trained artillery fire, so if we go to war will we prove that our infantry are the finest-trained soldiers in the world, even as they ever have been. I have no doubt in my mind that a battalion of native troops, organised * I recently read a lecture given by a Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers, in which it was deliberately stated that the capture of Kars in '55 weakened our hold of India, and was one of the primary causes of the Mutiny.

This is as amusing as the statement gravely made by Sir H. Hoare to Lord Derby, that our first news of the capture of Kars on the 18th November was derived by telegraph from Cabul ! Truly, as Lord Salis bury remarked, the study of large scale maps is most desirable — a little knowledge is a dangerous thing !

PREFACE.

. XI as they now are, would prove more than a match for any battalion the Czar could put against them ; and, as far as the cavalry of the army of the Caucasus is concerned, our Indian irregular cavalry, I am con vinced, could walk round them. If Russia, overpowered by conceit at her recent successes, rushes into war with us, she will, I believe, emerge a crippled and a third-rate Power. In my correspondence to the Times- I made it a rule to report nothing but what came under my own personal observation, or facts confirmed by European evidence ; in the re-publication of my letters I have adhered to that rule. I have endeavoured to write impartially, neither glossing over the faults of the Turks nor imputing glaring atrocities to the Russians ; in truth I may say that I failed to obtain one authenticated case of cruelty committed by the army of the Grand Duke, and in this statement I am borne out by the despatches of Sir Arnold Kemball, published in the recent Blue Books on the Eastern Question.

Of the conduct of the Turkish administration no one could speak too strongly : in making no provision for their sick and wounded ; in sanctioning the employ ment of irregulars ; in failing to punish the perpetrators of deeds which roused the indignation of every honest man ; and in circulating the most barefaced falsehoods about Russian cruelty, notably the statements of the treatment of prisoners at Ardahan, and of the inhabit ants of the Alashgird plain. Such acts as these must inevitably alienate the support of those who feel for a gallant people fighting for effete rulers. THE CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA. XII In conclusion, I have to offer my heartfelt thanks to many, but for whose kind assistance I should have been unable to lay before the public what I venture to trust will be accepted as a truthful history of the Armenian campaign.

To Dr. W. H. Russell, the king of war correspondents, I am indebted for much help — hints as to kit, and warnings as to the danger that besets the unwary correspondent ; to Mr. Wylde for his invaluable help in the compilation of the map which accompanies this volume; to Mr. Zohrab, Her Majesty's Consul at Erzeroum ; Mr. Biliotti, Consul at Trebizond ; Mr. A. Magack, of Erzeroum, all and each of whom vied in kindness and hospitality, placing not only their houses and libraries at my disposal, but aiding me in collecting news of hostilities and facts concerning the history and administration of the country ; without their help I should have been powerless. To Sir Arnold Kemball and his indefatigable aide-de-camp, Lieut. Maitland Dougall, R.N., I owe more than words can express. I can only hope that they retain as pleasant a re miniscence of our united efforts to rub along under discomforts of no ordinary kind, on the sunny slopes of Ararat, as I ever shall. PAGE 1 CONTENTS.

Chapter I. London To Trebizond

Austrian Custom House — Travelling Companions — Misseri's Hotel — Search for Horse-flesh — Krikol, Possum, and Mr. Vincent — Early Impressions of the Turkish Arm}- — Defences of the Bosphorus— Redif and Raouf — Turkish Volunteers — Trebizond and Her Majesty's Consul — Trade in the Black Sea — Sport and " Polly " — Djameel Pasha — The Abkhasians

Chapter II. Tbebizond To Erzero-m

Djameel Pasha at Work— The Sword of my Escort — Turkish Troops pushing on to the Front — Anatolian Trout — The Zigana Pass — A Night's Lodging — " Eiz-au-gras " — The Pests of Armenia — Guns and Volunteers — Comfortable Quarters — Esprit de Corps — Monsieur Magack — Erzeroum — Its People and Defences — Its Drains and Dirt — Its Shepherd— Its Trade 19

Chapter III. The Hostile Armies

The Turkish Army, and its Changes during the Present Century — Thirty Years' Stagnation — Abdul Azeez's Reforms — Equality of Race as regards' Military Service — Nizam, Ichtayat, Redif, and Mustahnz — Military Districts — Administrative Staff — Sappers and Miners — Artillery — Guns — Equipment of Mounted Branch — Horses — Pay of all Grades — Cavalry Equipment — Horses — Men — Pay of all Grades — Infantry Staff — Uniform and Equipment — Arms and Pay — Rations and Quarters — Scarcity of Officers — Mukhtar's Forces — Russian Arm}- — Composition — Artillery — Position of Turkish Army — Position of Russian Army THE CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA. PAGE

Chapter IV. The Story Of Ardahan

Ismail Kurd's Invasion of Russia — Discontent in;the*City — The Petition to the British Consul— Mr. Zohrab— Russian Designs on Armenia- Alacrity in following up the Declaration of War — Capture of Bayazid —City Canards— Ardahan— Captain Mehmed Bey — Sabri Pasha — Gallant Defence of the Emir Oghlou — Flight of Sabri — Capture of the Town 59

Chapter V. On The Way To The Front

Fugitives from Ardahan — Sabri Pasha again — Conduct of Russians— Retreat from Olti — The Herman Dooz — Kuipri Kui and its Defences — Suspicious Death of a Christian — Khorassan — The Fight at Beghli Ahmed — First Impressions of Circassians — Ahmed Mukhtar Pasha — The Zewin Dooz — Disposition of Turkish Troops — Apathy of Ismail Pasha — The Kurds — Discontent among Troops at Erzcroum — Appeal for Help from England — Visit to the Camp at Delibaba — The Pass — Turkish Officers — Re-occupation of Olti — Our Kurdish Escort — Sortie from Kars — Faizi Pasha's Opinions — Other Versions of Beghli Ahmed — The Head-quarter Camp — Talked-of Court-martial on Sabri Pasha — Want of Cavalry — Position of Russian Forces — Position of Turkish Forces 76

Chapter VI. The Battle Of Taghir

A Fatal Omen! — With Sir Arnold in Search of a "Scrim" — Mahomed Pasha wishes to Fight — Our Breakfast Interrupted — View the Ground — Kurds and Circassians — -A Rough Time of it — Russian Intentions — Disposition of our Troops — Description of the Ground — Wild Firing of the Turks — Gallantry of their Gunners — Pluck of the Tcherkess — Excellence of Russian Infantry — WTaste of Ammunition — Our Flank Turned — Yahvash ! Yahvash ! A Run from the Cossacks — Hospital Arrangements — Reflection on the Fight — The Energetic Djameel Pasha — Turkish Losses . 104

Chapter VII

A LULL IN THE STORM. Ismail's Canards — Halit Bey — Disorganised state of Turldsh Right Win"- A Russian Scare — A Fish Dinner — Position of the Hostile Armies CONTENTS. XV PAGE 130 143 Re-oceupation of Bayazid by Faik Pasha— Mukhtar Pasha reinforces and assumes Command of Right Wing — Ismail the Kurd joins Central Column — Moussa Pasha — News of a Turkish Success at Eshek Khaliass — Awkward Position of Tergukassoff — Faik Pasha's Division

Chapter VIII. The Moslem At Bay

Leave Erzeroum once more for the Front— The Battle of Eshek Khaliass— Conduct of Turkish Cavalry — No Ammunition! — Wounded Men — German Doctors — Hand-wounds — True Missionaries — Sir Arnold Kemball — Fresh News of Eshek Khaliass — Turkish Losses — Fate of Skirmishers against Shelter Trenches — More Fighting — Another Stampede — Tcherkess Heroes — A Christian Village — Reinforcements for Zewin — Rumours of a Fight — "Perish India" — Outrages on Christians — Faizi Pasha's Victory — Enthusiasm of the Turks — Ismail and the Koran — Russian and Turkish Losses — Value of Turkish Cavalry — Value of Turkish Casualty Returns — Melikoff' s Returns

Chapter IX. In Pursuit Of The Russians

Visit from the Mushir — Complications in Daghostan — An Advance on the Enemy — A Cold Night — Inefficient Quartermaster-General's Department — The Bivouac on the Mellidooz — Treatment of Sir Arnold Kemball — March to Sara Kamysh — A Turkish Camp — Turkish Hospitals — Rations of the Turkish Soldier — Discipline on the Lino of March — The Peabody-Martini Rifle — Russian Letters — The Opinion expressed in them of the Conduct of the. War — Russian Retreat from Zaidikan — Desecration of the Graves of Russian Dead — Stripping the Dead — Disposition of the Army — Rumour of Russian Retreat — Turkish Reverse near Ardanutsch — Kurdish Atrocities — Lawlessness of the Circassians — Russian Wounded killed on the Field — Murder of Two Karapapak Irregulars — A new Mushir with Reinforcements — Detail of our Army- Officers of Redif Battalions on the Line of March — Stories of Russian Cruelty — Not borne out by Facts — Plunder of Christian Villages by Circassians — Vairan Kale — A Late Dinner 174

Chapter X. The Relief Of Kars

We enter the Fortress — The old familiar Names — Turkish Forts and Turkish "Obstacles" — Losses during Bombardment — Round-headed Shell — Russian Siege Batteries— Changes in our Staff— The Town well supplied with Provisions — Fortress with Ammunition — Description of the place from the MosL-orsliya Vedomosti THE CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA. PAGE

Chapter XI. Camp Life In Front Of Kars

Massacre at Bayazid— Kurdish Atrocities— Conduct of Faik Pasha— Murder of a Russian Doctor near Kars — His Diary — Russian Opinion of Battle of Khaliass— Strictures on Heimann— The Siege raised — Yet one more instance of the value of Turkish Cavalry— Siege Batteries— Move our Camp to Vezinkui — Beggars on Horseback — Success of the Turks deemed only Temporary — Conduct of the Officer in charge of Hospitals — An Interruption to our Breakfast— An Interchange of Civilities on the Slopes of the Yagni — Kindness of the Consul at Erzeroum — Energy displayed hy the new Governor there — News from Van — Treatment of Christians throughout Armenia — Russians change their Camp — Their Kindness to Turkish Prisoners at Ardahan — A Flag of Truce fired on, and Bearer killed, by the Russians — The Polish Legion — Cavalry Skirmish near Sahatan — Turkish Opinion of Kurds .... 220

Chapter XII. On The Watch

Shift our Camp once more — Strength of our Forces — Stoppage of Telegrams — Hospitals in Erzeroum — Relief of Bayazid by Tergukassoff— That General's Operations during the WTar — The Kurds once more — Courtmartials on Faik and Sabri Pasha — Turkish Accounts of the Relief of Bayazid — Circassian Account of same Affair — Losses in the Engagement — Russian Punishment of Kurds — Pleasures of Camp Life — Expectations of a "Scrim" disappointed — Turkish Reconnaissance into Russian Territory — The Enemy's Attempts to cut it off — Peace and War — Russian Reinforcements at Tashkale — Hailstones and Pigeons' Eggs — Spies' Tales of Bayazid — British Officers' Accounts of Scenes in Bayazid — Sir Arnold Kemball's Endeavours to stop the Kurdish Atrocities — Mukhtar Pasha's little Affair with the Circassian — His stern Ideas of Discipline — Russian Atrocities in Armenia — Utterly False — Disposition of Russian Troops . ....... 244

Chapter XIII. Head-quarters, Fourth Turkish Army Corps

The Russian Retreat — Machinery of Turkish Staff — Medical Department — An Amateur Opinion on Russian Reconnaissances — A Skirmish on the 28th— Cossacks left to bear the brunt of the Fight; — Dash of the Circassians — More Russian Reinforcements — Story of a Deserter — Strength of the Invading Army— Demoralisation after Defeat at Zewin — Russian Casualties — Projected Assault at Kars — Value of our Cavalry Russians occupy Ani unobserved — Mukhtar attacks them — Fresh Details CONTENTS. XVII PAGE 305 from Bayazid — The Instigators of the Massacre — Sir Arnold Kemball Demands their Punishment — Positions of Ismail Pasha and Tergu kassoff — Turkish Official Telegrams — Their close Adherence to Truth —Interchange of Civilities between Melikoff and Mukhtar — Ahmed Vefyk Pasha and the Stafford House Surgeons 264

Chapter XIV. Moslem And Christian

Return to Erzeroum — Russians evacuate Ani — Incompetcncy of Commanders of Turkish Right and Left Wings — Christian Harvest and Moslem Reapers — Disinterred Russians — Behaviour of Kurds in Head-quarter Camp, and in the Right Column — English Hospital at Erzeroum — War Preparations at Erzeroum — Ani once more reoccupied — Conduct of the Russians in Armenia — The Kurds of Shoragel, Mehded, and Youssouf Bey — The Kurds in Alashgird — At Moosh — At Bitlis — In Van— The Treatment of American Missionaries — Of Armenian Villages— Apathy or Sympathy of Ismail Pasha — Skirmish at Taouskui — Another at Hiersai Bulak — Engagement on 18th August — Preparations for a Winter Campaign — War Taxes, and prompt Payment of subordinate Officials 281

Chapter XV Turkish Successes

Battle on the 18th August — Attack on the Nakharji-Tepe unsuccessful — Russians fail to press home any of their Assaults — Turkish Losses — Stripping the Dead — Skirmishes between Ismail and Tergukassoff at Khalifin and Abazgool — Battle of Kizil-Tepe — Successful Assault of the Hill by Mehmed Bey — Gallant Attempt of the Abkhasian Prince to retake it — He is Wounded — Sheremetieff succeeds to the Command — Melikoff arrives with Reinforcements — Defeat of the Russians — Losses on both Sides — Reinforcements called for by both Mukhtar and Ismail Mr. Zohrab' s position in Erzeroum — Paper Organisation of the Ottoman Army and its actual Condition — Drill and Discipline — Skirmishes and Sentries — Taxation in Armenia — Movements of Ismail Pasha

Chapter XVI. Armenians

— THE TRUE STORY OF BAYAZID. Arrival of Stafford House Stores at Erzeroum — State of Hospitals in Main Army and in Right Wing — Turkish Authorities refuse Permission to amputate— Refuse Carriage for Medical Stores— Our Hospitals in Erzeroum My Ideas of the Armenian— The Exodus to Russian Territory, caused by Kurdish Atrocities — Denial of this by Kuid Ismail THE CAMPAIGN IN ARMENIA. PAGE 322 Pasha— Changes in the Turkish Staff— Jealousy of General Kohlmann —Court-martial on Sabri and Faik Pashas— Hussain Avni, and Zarif MuBtafa— The True Story of Bayazid— Ferocity of the Kurds—Supine ness of Faik Pasha— Neglect of Ismail to Support— Consequent Defeat of the Turks at Bayazid by Tergukassoff— Defence of Mr. Zohrab

Chapter XVII. Winter Preparations

Ghazi Mukhtar Pasha— Promotion of Captain Mehmed Pasha— Further Plans of the Turkish Commander-in-Chief — Condition of the Erzeroum Garrison — Prospect of Famine — Komaroff's Measures for the Defence of Ardahan — Rumoured Reinforcements for Tergukassoff — Winter Clothing for Turkish Troops — The British Ambulance — Reported Violation of the Geneva Convention by the Russians — Conduct of the Turks on the Battle-field — Conduct of the Russians in Ardahan — Explosive Bullets — Desertion of the Circassians — Probability of the Loss seriously affecting Mukhtar — Difficulty of an Advance on Erivan — Successful Raid of Arab Cavalry — Force despatched to Natschevan — Russian Reinforcements — Skirmish at Tcherkgi 344

Chapter XVIII. The Moslem At The End Of His Tether

Skirmish near Zaim — Russians defeated — Plans of the Grand Duke — Mukhtar preparing for a Winter Campaign — His Position near Kars — Skirmish at Natschevan — Battle of the Yagnis on 2nd October — Gallantry of Mehmed Pasha's Brigade — Turkish Success at the Little Yagni — Attack and Capture of the Great Yagni — Repulse of the Russians — Heavy Losses — Misery in Kars — Paucity of Doctors — Hospital Arrangements . . . . . . . . .357 CHAPTER XE£. TURKISH ADMINISTRATION IN ARMENIA. Mahomedans Exempted from War Taxation — Christians Forced to Pay — Pensioners of Turkish Government — Irregular Imposts — The Discontent they Cause — The Hadji — The Caimakam and the British Consul — The Police Station at the Mouth of the Ghiurji Boghaz — Mr. Layard and the Danger to India — American Missionaries' Views on Christian Oppression — Turkish Reforms — Her Hospitals — Dr. Casson on Turkish Atrocities — Employment of the Press by the Porte The Abkhasian Exodus — Treatment of the Bayazid Refugees by the Russians and Persians — Treatment of their own Wounded by Turks Reduction of Unpaid Salaries . 3gg CONTENTS. XIX PKCK 382 396

Chapter XX. The Turn Of The Tide

Russian Reinforcements — Mukhtar draws in his Men— The Grand Duke occupies the late Turkish advanced Posts — Mukhtar's Confidence — Despondency of Turkish Soldiers — Increased Desertions — Russians learn the Value of a turning Movement — The Battle of the Aladja Dagh — Gallant Defence of the Little Yagni — Loss of the Olya Tepe — Extraordinary Conduct of Men sent to support the Position — Russians occupy the Nalband Tepe — Panic on the Aladja Dagh — Flight to Kars — Scene in the Fortress — Hassan Bey's Exertions — Sanitary State of Kars — Mehmed Pasha evacuates the Little Yagni — Mukhtar's Plans — He falls back on the Araxes — Ismail Pasha also retires — Russian Trophies — Retreat through the Kose Dagh — Evacuation of Kuipri Kui — Energy of Faizi Pasha — Ismail surprised at Hassan Kale — Capture of Captain Creagh — Treatment accorded to him, and to Dr. Casson — Turks fall back on the Devi-boyun — Reinforcements from Constantinople and Batoum ..........

Chapter XXI. Operations Round Erzeroum

Turks strengthen bosh Erzeroum and the Devi-boyun — Heimann attacks Mukhtar — Great Gallantry of Mehmed Pasha — Faizi holds the Turkish Right — Heimann tries a Ruse — Faizi tries to rally the Osmanh — Flight to Erzeroum— Turkish Losses — Mukhtar Pasha encourages his Men — His Refusal to surrender — Russians invest Erzeroum — They construct a Redoubt on the Tope Dagh — Relative defensive Value of Erzeroum and Kars — Heimann's ill-judged Attempt to assault the Place — Gallantry of Tarnaieff — Capture of the Medjidieh Lunette — Mehmed Bey retakes it — Death of Tarnaieff — Failure of the Attack on the Kremedli Fort — Coolness of the English — Mr. Zohrab — Dr. Featherstonhaugh — Reginald and Percy Zohrab — Conduct of Turks to Wounded — The gentle Ladies of Erzeroum — Mutilation of Russian Dead .

Chapter XXII. The Third Capture Of Kars By The Russians

Siege of Kars — Capture of Fort Hafiz Pasha — Russians move their Head-quarters — Projected Assault of the Place — Detail of Attacking Columns Success of Lazaroff on the Right — Death of Count Grabbe in front of the Kanli Tabia — Capture of all Works on the Plains — Capture of Karadagh and Citadel — Hussain Hami Pasha Escapes — The Majority of the Garrison surrender — Grand Duke enters the Place in Triumph — Melikoff moves towards Erzeroum — His Column forced to fall back from Olti — Komaroff moves to Ardahan — Thence to Ardanutsch — XX PAGE Skirmish there— Condition of Erzeroum— Treachery at Kars— Hussain Bey, Commandant of Artillery— Osman the Renegade— Hussain's Visits to the Russian Camp— The Circassian Letter-carrier— His Death —Abandonment of the Hafiz Pasha Tabia— Escape of Hami Pasha— The Man whom the Russian General allowed to wear his Sword — Like Father, like Son 410

Chapter XXIII. Paskiewitch's Campaign In

1828-29. Paskiewitch' s Forces— Doubts about Persia — Pankratieff watches her at Khoi— Brigade for the Circassians— The Russian Plans— Their Three Columns— Their Strength and Leaders— InabiUty to Siege Erzeroum in one Campaign — Cross the Frontier 14th June — Detail of Army of Czar— Of that of the Sultan— Kars Captured 23rd June— Akhalkalaki, 24th July^-Hertwitz, 26th July— Akhalzik, 16th August— Ardahan taken same day — Aitzkui, 18th August — Russian Right Column captures Bayazid — The Russian General cantons his Army in Armenia — Turkish Spring Preparations — Endeavour to re-capture Akhalzik — Massacre of Christians — 19th May, 1829, Paskiewitch rejoins the Army — 11th June, he advances — 19th, Battle of Zewin — 20th, Battle of Mellidooz — 28th, Erzeroum surrenders — Treaty of Adrianople 422

Appendix

A.— Organisation of Turkish Army . . . .439

APPENDIX.

B.— Russian Army Organisation 459

APPENDIX.

C— The Armenian Theatre of War . . .469

APPENDIX.

D.— Hussain Avni Pasha 481 LIST OF MAPS AND PLANS. Map of Armenia Frontispiece Plan of the Affair at Taghir to face page 104 Plan of the Engagement on the Zewin Plateau . . „ 162 Map of the Ground between Kars and Alexandropol . „ 305 Plan of Battles of the Aladja Dagh ,, 366 Plan of Erzeroum „ 386 Sketch Map showing Campaign of 1828-29 . . . . „ 405 Map of the Country around Erzeroum , ARMENIA, AND THE CAMPAIGN OF 1877.

Chapter I. London To Trebizond

Austrian Custom House — Travelling-Companions — Misseri's Hotel — Search for Horse-flesh — Krikol, Possum, and Mr. Vincent — Early Impressions of the Turkish Army — Defences of the Bosphorus — Redif and Raouf — Turkish Volunteers — Trebizond and Her Majesty's Consul — Trade in the Black Sea — Sport and " Polly " — Djameel Pasha — The Abkhasians. Trebizond, May \Wi. The evening of Monday, April 30, 1877, was cold and stormy, not such an one as an unfettered traveller would have chosen for the purpose of crossing the Channel ; but, with my head towards Kars, and an ardent longing to reach Armenia before tbe actual outbreak of hostilities, it did not behove me to be too particular about the weather at the commencement of my trip. Breaking my journey to Buda Pesth of a necessity at Vienna, I experienced the annoyance of an Austrian custom-house examination.

It was useless affirming that my saddlery was old ; that my waterproof sheeting was destined for Armenia, not Hungary; that my note-paper was for my own use ; and that I considered soap an indispensable article for my journey. The cadaverous chief carefully examined, weighed, and measured everything, from a spare tooth-brush to a Colt's revolver, and, after a delay of two hours and a half, permitted me to proceed to the Hotel Imperial, where, as usual, everything was most comfortable. At three p.m. on the 3rd of May, I left Vienna for Pesth. A popular colonel of the Scots Guards, bound for Widdin and the theatre of war on the Danube, was my companion. At ten p.m. we parted, he for the Roumanian frontier, I to make some necessary arrangements with a friend, driving straight to the Casino Nationale.

I was present during the reception of the Softa Deputation by re presentatives of the Hungarian nation, the interest of which was much heightened when I was informed that there was not a single Softa in the group of fezzed heads. At six p.m. the following morning I was once more ready for Trieste, and at noon on Saturday, the 5th, embarked on board the Austrian Lloyd's steamer, Diana, for Constantinople. Even on a five days' sea voyage, I think one naturally looks with interest on one's fellow-travellers, amongst whom, no matter of what nationality or creed they may be, an Englishman, I may say invariably, meets with a friend. Among the passengers were a naval confrere, en route to join Hobart Pasha, and relate the doughty deeds of the Ottoman fleet ; two ex-naval officers, about to place their services at the disposal of the Sublime Porte ; a Scotch peer, travelling in search of information, and seeking it even at the cannon's mouth ; an American journalist ; a Prussian nun, who lost her heart during that short water-trip ; and last, though not least, Turfek Bey, the late Chary 6 cT Affaires at St. Petersburg, returning with his suite to Con stantinople.