Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 17th November 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1095, Untitled Article

Page 1095
Page 3
3 of 24

On this page

  • Text (3)

      Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      THE WAR .

      Untitled Article

      Nov . , 1855 . ] THE LEADER , 10 , 95

      Untitled Article

      AtfOTHEB defeat of the Russians by the Turks brings the war news of the past week—otherwise of a very meagre character—to a grand climax . The 5 th of November—a day memorable in the history of the present war as being the anniversary of the repulse of the Russians at Inkermannwas the day on which this new discomfiture of the Czar ' s troops came to pass . From the brief telegraphic despatches already received , it appears that about 20 , 000 ^ Russians were encountered by Omar Pacha on the river Ingour , in Mingrelia ; and , after five hours of hard fighting , were routed with great slaughter . Che Turkish Commander forced the passage of the river at four points , against superior numbers , and has since pushed on to Kutais . Omar , who , on receipt of the news of General Williams ' s victory at Kars , had set out at once in considerable force from Souchum-Kaleh , has thus added another brilliant ornament to his previous achievements , and has rubbed off the rust which several months' inaction had gathered round his name . In addition to Omar Pacha ' s movement on Kutais , we learn that Ferdar Pacha has advanced towards the same place with 10 , 000 men . The Russian troops in Georgia ae said , to amount to the same number ; and it is positively stated that they are evacuating Lower Georgia , and entrenching themselves in mountainous positions . It is also said that they are making preparations to raise the siege of Kars , having sent the greater portion of their baggage to Alexandropol ; and that the Turks in the former city are still enabled to keep their communications open . Rumour , moreover , speaks of the Russians having abandoned Kutais and retired on Tiflis . Without relying implicitly on all these assertions ( which , however , are not improbable ) , it is quite certain that the enemy is placed in a very serious position by the triumphant advance of Omar Pacha , and that the prospects of the beleagured Turks are greatly brightened . Le Nord publishes the following : — " Aide-de-Camp General MouraviefF announces , under date of the 1 st ( 13 th ) of October , that , inconsequence of the strict blockade of Kars , desertions have reconir menced ; the Lazis , with their chiefs , desert in numbers ; more than 100 have been taken by our troops , who also captured some banners . The inhabitants of Kars are distressed for provisions ; as regards the Turkish troops , they are on half-rations of bread , -with a small allowance of meat . The cholera is very bad in the town . " A ide-de-Camp-General Mouravieff announces , in conclusion , iliat the G , 50 () men . hors de combat , convalescents , are dnily returning to the ranks , so that the regiments arc giaduully being completed . "Among the severely wounded , Lieutenant-General Prince Gagarin , Major-General Bronevsky , and Colonel Se re ' briakoff . give hopes of recovery . " Among the 4 , 000 Turks killed and wounded are two commanders of regiments , some superior officers , and a Pacha . " The full Russian report of the battle of Kars is published in the Invallde Russe of the 9 th of November . It says that the ltussians took twentythree cannon , but could only carry away four ; and that they took fourteen nags . They give their own loss in killed and wounded at 6 , 517 men ; that of the Turks at 4 , 000 . The news from the Crimea is exceedingly scanty . The " season " is over ; and preparations for the ¦ winter , combined with the institution of a kind of police for keeping watch upon the enemy , are almost all that the chronicler has to report . The Allies have completed some very important works near Fort St . Nicholas , and have increased the number of batteries bearing on the northern forts . A sharp look-out is kept on the Tchernaya , some liutsian deserters having reported that Prince Gortscnakofi' would attempt a general action before making a retreat ; and the Allies every night reinforce their advanced posts , and support them with field artillery . The fire on both sides of Sebastopol is warm , the Allies and their enemy exchanging shots eretty freely ; but there is no sign of the Russians avin ^ either the Crimea or the northern forta . The 1 rench troops have returned to their cantonments from txhe , Upper Belbek , where the country was becoming impracticable , and more troops have been sent to Eupatoria . Admiral Lyons has orn . ved at Constantinople ; and Admiral Bruat was

      expected on the 10 th , with all his sailing vessels , bringing 8 , 000 of the Imperial Guard , on their way to France . Fifty vessels laden with corn , from the Sea of Azoff and the Black Sea , have passed through the Bosphorus . A letter from Kamiesch , bearing elate October 25 th , gives the following particulars of the projected winter arrangements : — " A . portion of the English cavalry only is to remain in the lints which are being built near Balaklava , and the rest will be conveyed to Constantinople , whence it will be sent to Ismid and Silistria . You may accordingly expect very soon the landing of 3 , 000 cavalry at Constantinople . The allied fleets are not to remain in the Black Sea . They are to winter , with the exception of a few screw ships , in the Bosphorus . The transports about to start for France -with troops will not return to Kamieseh or Balaklava . It is even said that a portion of the fleet will proceed directly to France . " The Duke of Newcastle left Trebizond on the 1 st inst ., for Constantinople . He is expected to return to England about the commencement of December . With reference to the operations on the Dnieper , we read as follows in a telegraphic despatch from Prince Gortschakoff , dated Nicholaief , Oct . 31 st : — " The camp on the spit of Kinburn , between the suburb and the fortress , has been broken up by the enemy . It is still impossible to determine exactly the strength , of the garrison they have left in Kinburn . Their light vessels , though in smaller number , continue at their anchorage in the Bay of Otcbakoff , or cruise in the liman , entering the embouchures of the Bug and Dnieper , and taking soundings , but without ascending very far up those rivers , or even to the points they reached when they first appeared . The fleet , the number of which has again slightly decreased since yesterday , is moored in the same position . " THE ACTION BEFORE KARS . General Williams has communicated to Lord Clarendon the annexed detailed account of the ziiemorable defeat of the Russians before Kars on the 29 th , of September : — Kars , Oct . 3 . " My Lord , —I had the honour to announce to your lordship , on the evening of the 29 th ult ,, the glorious victory gained on the morning of that day by the Sultan's troop- ; on the heights above liars , over the Russian army commanded by General Mouravieft * , and I now beg to furnish your lordship with the principal incidents of that sanguinary battle . " Your lordship will perhaps recollect that in my despatch , No . 123 , of the 28 th of June , I stated that the Russian General , after his second demonstration against the southern face of our intrenchments , which is flanked by Hutiz Pacha Tabia and Kanli Tabia , marched South , and established his camp at Bugah Tkiine , a village situated about four miles from Kars . Knowing that General Mouravieff served in the army which took Kars in 1828 , I conceived his last manoeuvre to be preparatory either to a reconnaissance , or an attack upon the heights of Tahmasb , from whence the Russians successfully pushed their approaches in the year above cited . " Whilst , therefore , the enemy ' s columns were in march towards Bugah Tikme , I visited those heights with Lieut - Colonel Lake , nnd after studying the ground decided upon tlie nature of the works to be thrown up ; these were planned and executed by Lieutenant-Colonel Lake with great skill and energy . I enclose for your lordship ' s information a plan made by that officer , of tho town and its neighbouring heights , which are situated on the opposite side of the rivor of Kars Chu'i , over which three temporary bridges had been thrown to keep up our communications . As all verbal descriptions or bird ' a-eyo views of ground convey but an imperfect idea of any locality , I beg to enclose a sketch made by Mr . Churchill , which will , I trust , tcud to elucidate my description . " Your lordship will observe that whilst our camp and magazines in the town were rendered as sufo as circumstances would allow , the hills above Kars commanded nil , and were therefore the keys of our position . * ' Tlia intrenchmonts of Tahmasb , being those nearest the enemy's camp , domanded the greatest vigilance from all entrusted in their defence ; General Kmety , a gallant Hungarian oilicer , commanded tho division which occupied this eminence ; he waa assisted by Mujor-General Hussein Piicha and my aide-de-camp , Mujor Toendalo , who has acted aa his chief of tho stuff . .... 44 At four o'clock on the eventful morning of the 29 th , the enemy ' s columns -wore reported to bo advancing on the Tahmasb front . They were throo in number , supported by 24 guns ; the first or rig ht column being directed on TahmaBb Tubin , the second on Yukaek Tabiu , nnd tho third on tho breastwork called Renninon Linea . Aa t-oou as the / Irat gun announced tho approach of tho enemy , the roaervea wore put under arms in a central position , from which succours could bo despatched cither to Tahmasb or the English lines . 41 The mist and imperfect light of tho duwning day induced the enemy to believe that ho "was about to surprise us ; lie advanced with Jtia usual steadiness and intrepidity ; but , on getting within range , ho was saluted with ft I

      crushing fire of artillery from all points of the line . This unexpected reception , however , only drew forth' loud hurrahs from the Russian infantry as it rushed up the hill on the redoubts and breastworks . These works poured forth a fire of musketry and rifles , which told with fearful effects on the close columns of attack ,- more especially on the left one , which , being opposed by : i battalion of 4 oO Gliasseurs , armed with Minie rifles , was , after long and desperate fighting , completely broken , and rent headlong down the hill , leaving 850 dead on the ik-kl , besides those carried off by their comrades . " The central column precipitated itself on the redoubts of Tahmasb and Yuselc Tabias , where desperate righting occurred and lasted for several hour * , the enemy being repulsed in all his attempts to enter the c ' osi-d redoubts , which mutually flanked , each other with tlieir artillery and musketry , and nude t < rrible havoc in the ranks of the assailants ; and it was here that Generals ICmety and Hussein Pacha , together with Ma or Teesdale , so conspicuouslv displayed their courage and conduct Lieutenant-General Keeen rPacha also repaired to the scene of desperate strife to encourage the troops , and was wounded in the shoulder , and had two horses kilic . l under him . " The right column of the Russian infantry , supported by a battery , eventually turned the left ILuik of the intrenched wing of the Tahmasb defence . " , and whilst the Russian battery opened in tho rear of tho closed redoubt at its salient angle , their infantry penetrated considerably behind our position " Observing the commencement of this movement , and anticipating its coaseqin- 'iices , Lieut .-Col . Laic :, who had taken the direction of affairs in the English Tabias , was instructed to send a battalion from Fort Lake to the assistance of the defenders of Tasmasb , and at the same time two battalions of reserved were moved across the flying bridge and upon the rocky height of * Laz Jeppe Tabia . These three reinforcing columns met each other at that point , and , being hidden from the enemy by the rocky nature of the ground , confronted him at a most opportune moment ; they deployed , opened their fire , which stopped and soon drove back the enemy ' s reserves , which were then vigorously charged with the bayonet , at the same moment when General Kmety and Major Teesdale issued from the redoubts at Tahmasb and charged the assailants . The whole of that portion of the enemy ' s infantryand artillery now broke and fled down the heights under a murderous fire of musketry : this occurred-at half-past eleven , after a combat of seven hours " In this part of the field , the enemy had , including his reserve , twenty-two battalions of infantry , a large force of dragoons and Cossacks , together with thirty-two guns . " Whilst thia struggle which I have attempted to describe , was occurring at Tahmcsb , a most severe combat was going on at tho eastern position of the Hue , called the English Tabias . "About half-past five o'clock a . m ., allussian column , consisting of eig ht battalions of infantry , tlirca regiments of cavalry , and sixteen guna , advanced from tho valley of Tohukmak , and assaulted those small redoubts , which , after as stout a resistance as their unavoidably feeble garrison could oppose , fell into their hand .-, together with the connecting breastworks , defended by townsmen and mountaineers fromLazistan , whose clunnisli tings , according to their cujtorn , were planted before them , on tho epaulments , and consequently fell into the enemy ' s hands ; but ere the tiring had begun in thi . s portion of the Ibid , Captain Thomson had received ordero to send a battalion of infantry from each of tho height * of K iradagh and Arab Tabia to reinforce the English linen . This reinforcement descended the deep gully through which ( lows the Kars River , paaseil a bridge , ruccixiiy thrown across it , and ascended the opposite pivcipitoun bunk by a isigzng path which led into tho line of worKu named by tho Turks Ingliz Tabias ( the J . 'lnglish liatioriu . s ) . Tlieir arrival was aa opportune us that of tho reserves directed towurd Tahmasb , which I have bad tho honour to describe in tho former part of thia despatch ; these battalions , joined to those directed by Ijieutenam-Uoloiicl Luke , gallantly attacked and drove tho ttiiHninn . 1 out of tho redoubts at the point of tho bayonet , after tho artillery of tho enemy had been driven from thobo liner * l > y tho croes lire directed from Fort Luko and from Arab Tabia and Kurudugb , by Captain Thompson . Thin ofllcur deserves my best thanks for having seized a fuvouraUu moment to remove a heavy gun from the eastern to the wcntcni extremity of Karadagh , and with it inflicted auvore loan on tho enemy . "After tho Russian infantry was driven from tho Kngitah redoubts , tho whole of their attacking force of cavalry , artillery , and infantry , retreuted with pruuii > l ( . uti <> n , plied with round shot from , all tho batteries buurlng on tlieir columns . During tlieir temporary hucccwh , Iiom over , this oncmy captured two of our light gun * , whlvh tno mortality amongst our horsen from famino prevented our withdrawing from their advanced posliloim- U" ««» carried off his wounded , ami many of W * « 1 «» ' « i 3 « t » ° loftiMJSof tho latter within « n « l in /¦• ' ¦•» " » /'" I " . '" trenchmento : and his retreat occurred . a lea-t " hour before tho assailantH of Talnuaab won . put I ,, « » »«• ' ^ " With roirunl to tho enttiny , «« ' <> " « ¦ ' « ' »• " «•• ' w " nhance of euK | , neraevered with undaunted courage ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 17, 1855, page 1095, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2115/page/3/