The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-14 00:00:00

TILE LUSSI AN GISNE RA 12 S R f_POhT OF
TELE ASSAULT €)N KABS.

_
The following is the first portion of General Moura-
viefi's detailed report of the assault on Kars :
ATDE DE CAMP GENERAL MOURAVIEFF'S
REPORT, DATED OCT. 12, 1855.
Informed of the reinforcements received by the Turk-
ish troops in the environs of Batoum, and of the enemy's
intention to advance simultaneously in the Gcuriel and
towards Akhaltzick from one side, and on the other,
from Erzeroutn, in the direction of Kars, I determined
to profit by the existing state of the garrison there, and
on Sept. 27 assembled a council of war. Every member
• pronounced for an attack.
It is necessary to say, by way of preface, that the for-
tress of Kars, which is situated upon the right hank of
the river Kars-Tehai, has been strengthened by new for-
tifications, forming a chain along the heights surrounding
the city. Amongst those fortifications are some re-
doubts, connected by curtains, erected upon the left
bank of the Kars-Tchai, upon the heights of Sehorakb,
nearly three versts from the city. Another line of forti-
fications extends more to the north of the city, also upon
the left bank of the river, and upon the height ofTchakh-
makli. To unite these fortifications, and to protect the
space between them, a redoubt, called a citadel, and
many separate lunettes, have been erected. The Kara-
dagh heights upon the right bank of the Kars-Tchai are
protected by fortifications, and the part of the fortress
on the side of the plain has been strengthened bya triple
range of entrenchments. The space of the whole line of
defence forms a circuit of 13 versts.
Tue greater part of the army of Anatolia, which is
composed of the best troops, was stationed upon the
heights of Schorakb. The fortifications here are feebler,
and the heights command all the others. It was hoped
then that in becoming masters of this part, Kars would
be ours. For this reason it was decided to carry these
heights by an assault, and Sept. 29 was the day fixed.
The following were our arrangements decided upon :
The troops intended to take part in the assault were
divided into four columns.
1. The first column commanded by Lieut.-General
Kovaleski, was to assemble before and at the left of the
Observatory Hill (at the east of the heights of Schorakh),
from whence, after the second column had approached
the fortifications and commenced the assault, it was to
advance and attack the right flank of the enemy's po-
sition.

2. The second column, under the orders of Major-
General Maidel, had for its point of reunion the Stol bill
(at the south-east of the heights of Schorakh) • it was
ordered to be at the foot of the Moukh hill at 4 o'clock
in the morning. It had for instructions, " whether per-
ceived by the enemy or not," and immediately after
arriving at the assigned post, i.e., at a little height on
this side, and a little to the left of the Moukh bill, to
bring forward to this hill the Light Battery No. 1, to
protect two companies of the battalion of the Caucasian
tirailleurs and a company of sappers.
This column was directed, moreover, to continue to
advance in three lines, and, with a division of miners, in
the greatest possible silence, and to take possession
without firing—at least unless forced to do so—of the
battery at the extreme left of the enemy's flank, or mote
to our right.
The commander, Dobrynine, received the order after
our infantry had occupied the enemy's heights to pursue
him and not give him time to re-form his ranks.

In order that there might be more uniformity of action
in the attack of the first and second columns, a column
was placed between them, under the command of Lieut.-
General Gagarine, to follow the first ; its rallying point
was the village of Schorakb, to the left of the Observa-
tory Hill.

3. The third column, commanded by Major• General
Count Nyrod, after assembling at the village of the Little
Tikme, was to advance to the right of the village of
Haut.Karadjouran, and to take up position at 1,000
sagenes from the enemy's batteries.
The column of reserve, under the command of Lieut.-
General Brummer, was to keep watch on the north side
of Kars.

At the same time I caused Major-General Bazine's
detachment to advance near Kars, and place itself in
connexion with Major-General Baklanoff's detachment ;
these two detachments were ordered to act mul taneously
from the side of Tchakhmakh, under the superi•.;r corn-
mand of Major-General Bazine. I pointed out to each
of these columns the disposition and the order of attack.
The general attack was to commence at four o'clock in
the mcrning in order to prevent the enemy from being
able to point his pieces and taking aim.
Wishing to keep my intention of assaulting the fortress
of Kars in the greatest secrecy, I caused our troops to
advance by detnchments on the preceding days, and ac-
cording to the general arrangement, the infantry returned
to the principal camp, and three sotnias of the No. 2. Re-
giment of Mu,sulman Cavalry, and a sotnia of the No. 1
Regiment of the same cavalry, were left in the village of
Nijnie-Kotauly to watch the road on the side of Sagan-
loug.

Here follows the description of the march made by
these columns to reach their respective positions. The
latter were occupied in the greatest order at the hour
appointed—viz., four o'clock in the morning—and where
were General Bazine's and Major-General Balt!anon
detachments, which remained at the toot of the heights
of Teliakmalth up t) half-past four in the morning ;
while the second column, under the command of General
Maidcl, got through the obstructions of its position, and
advanced boldly against the fortifications. It arrived
without being seen up to within 400 sagenes, and the
Light Battery No. 1, with the companies of sappers and
skirmishers which had been attached to it, had already
succeeded in reaching the right declivity of the hiP, when
the Turks fired the first volley from the Fort Tomas-
Tabia. It was three-quarters past 4a m. AU the other
piece> arranged upon the front of this fort then opened
fire, to which was soon added that of the skirmishers and

musketeers of the Turkish infantry, who, upon tVesigrio:l
of alarm, threw thempelves upon the ramparts and in
the f;sses which had been prepared for the skirmishers
in front of the fort.

The infantry of the second column advanced at a quick
step, protected by the Battery No. 1, already in
and whose well-aimed volleys throw the enemy into con-
fusion. Arrived within musket-shot of the fortifications,
General Maidel gave the crier to attack, and our in-
fantry advanced at a run. A part of the Mirgrelian re-
giment, commanded/ by Colonel Serebriakoff, marched
to the space between the two forts, and the rest of the
regiments, under the orders of Major Baum, went to the
rid ht of the redoubt which flanks them, while the C Ira
biuiers, commanded. by Colonel Moller, went towards
their right flank. The let and 21 battalions b-bily ad-
vanced to the ramparts, and the 4th went ;-.lungthe road
t.) get round them. At the same time the hill pieces
taken from the Turks at Peniack, and which occupied
spaces in the first line, opened a fire of grapeshot.
Battalions of the second line advanced at a running
step ; the troops of the first line rushed to the a,satit
with cries of " Hurrah," attacked- with bayonet the Turks
who occupied the outer fosses, leaped upon the ramparts,
ran en muse against the Turkish infantry, who were
there put to the route, and took possession of part of the
guns. At the same time the Carabiniers of the Erivan

regiment, under the chief, De Moller, sprang up)n the
battery, and seized two pieces on its extreme outer angle.
Two other pieces were taken by Major Baum's
Haus upon the side bordering upon the reclouot, °but
here the success of these troops was checked by the bat-
teries erected at the right of these redoubts, and by the
redoubts themselves, the sides of which had been lately
carried up from the side of the gorge to the same height
as those in the front. Following- the battalions of the
first line the second penetrated the fortifications. Tee

captain second in command succeeded in bringing in his
hill pieces. General Maidel himself led his troops upon
the redoubts and batteries still occupied by the Turks,
while the captain of the staff Romanovski caused the
cava'ry and the rest of the infantry to advance, and
turned them partly against the Turks, who fought re-
t eating from the rampart, and partly a7aindt the enemy's
masses commencing to assemble in the camps behind
the fortifications ; the nearest were dispersed at the
point of the bayonet, and pursued even into their very
camps by our infantry. The I..lter then charged the
Turks, who fired upon them from hiding places Lhind
the tents, stone constructions, and from the ravines ;
these Turks were almost all put to the sword. The
first camp was thus carried. Meanwhile the cavalry,
preceded by the noble militia, under the orders of
Prince Tzitzianoff, and by a sotnia of the combined
regiment of the line No. 1, turned to the right of the
first camp, where, charging the masses of Turks com-
mencing to assemble behind the tents, sabred a great
number on the spot, carried off a flag, and then rushed
into the second camp.
In the interim, the infantry, led by Generl Maidel in
person against the 4-gun battery of the centre redoubt,
took possession of this battery, which was taken by
Lieut. Pillar de Pillhau, of the regiment of his Royal
Highness the Grand Duke Constantine's Greuadietrse,
who, in spite of the fire of grape-shot and rifles froalc,ml
redoubt, threw himself upon the battery with
his
took
pany, killed its attendants upon the spot, a, ,
031T1tt
possession of the four pieces, two of which
away, and the other two thrown from the ram eprttim.ePfirro,t-
Ring by this success, General Maidel
battalion of the skirmishers of the regiment n
grelians upon
directedentf the Guard
upon the first central redoubt and th
the second, causing them to be supported by a detach-
rom the side of the
ment which was to watch the enemy

camp=,
During all this time, a part of the Turkish troops oc-
cupying the heights of Sodchowriatkiihtlawndeotlhuemontshoerf nLeiaerliets.t
.
fortifications was
General Kovalevski engagedand
Lieut.-General Prince Gagarm.,
which h Mid
or -General
had commenc_aedtetattack almost at the same tirne
as
These ,:olumns were in front
Maj
as Noon as the
cannonade
_was opened. The two first
lines of attack—the
first column, commanded by Lieut.-
General Sovalevski in person—advanced upon the right
flank of the Turkish fortifications, keeping the left of
the road, while on the right advanced the corps of horse
volunteers,
The. No. 2 Battery Lad opened its fire from
the position which it occupied, and this it continued
until it was masked by the troops, who marched to the
assault.
The troops of the centre column were directed upon
the redoubt which attacked the Mingrelians of the
Maidel column with the exception of a division of the
Battery No. 4 of the fourth battalion of the regiment of
Touts, a company of Sappers, and a company of skir-
mishers, who were left in reserve. The skirmishers
and the second battalion of the Riajsk regiment were
sent to the assault by Lieut.-Gencral Prince Gagarine,
who, on his part, followed with the battalions of the
second line, reserving them to send where need required
Our troops were received by a cross fire of artillery,
first of balls an shells, then grape-shot, then rifle_ and
musket balls. In spite of this, Lieut.-Gen. K
which
o
first line succeeded in reaching the curtain T
unitesk
the two flank fortifications, and upon
his
stepslun of the
advanced
the battalions of the second line. Some
regiment of the Wilna Chameure, Colonel volunteers
Schlikevitch