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

.RUSSIAN GENERAVS REPOLT OF ,
TUE ASSAULT ON KABS.

The foro-ving is the first portion of Goneral Moura-
vieff's detailed report of the a‘sault on Kars :
AIDE 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 Gouriel and
towards Akhaltzick from one side, and on the other,
from Erzeroum, 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 bank of
the river Kars-Tchai, 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 Schnrakh,
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 of Tchakh-
makh. 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 by a triple
range of entrenchments. The space of the whole line of
defence forms a circuit of 13 versts.

Tne 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 hill
(at the south-east of the heights of Schorakh) • it was
ordered to be at the foot of the Moukh hill at io'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 hill, 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 fJrced to do so—of the
battery at the extreme left of the enemy's flank, or more
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 simultaneously
from the side of Tchakhmakh, under the superior com-
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 morning in order to prevent the enemy from being
able t 9 pint 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 detachments 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 MuEsulman 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-
long.

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 Baltlanoff's
detachments, which remained at the foot of the heights
of Tchakmakh up t) half-past four in the morning ;
while the second column, under the command of General
Maidel, 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 hill, when
the Turks fired the first volley from the Fort Tomas-
Tabia. It was three-quarters past 4a m. All the other
pieces 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 the signal
of alarm, threw themselves upon the ramparts and in
the fosses 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 position,
and whose well-aimed volleys threw the enemy into con-
fusion. Arrived within mu-ket-shot of the fortifications,
General Maidel gave the orier to attack, and f ur in-
fantry advanced at a run. A part of the Miegrelian re-
gitneut, commanded by Colonel SAesbriakoff, mat shed
to the space between the two forts, and the rest of the
regiments, under the orders of Major Baum, went ts the
right of the redoubt which flanks them, while the Cara
biaiers, commanded by Colonel Moller, went towards
their right flank. The Ist and 23 battalions boldly ad-
vanced to the ramparts, and the 4th went along the road
to 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 grape shot.
Battalions of the second line advanced at a running
step ; the troops of the first line rushed to the a,sault
with cries of " Hurrah," attacked with bayonet the Turks
who occupied the outer fosses, leaped upon the ramparts,
ran en ntasse 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 upon the
battery, and seized two pieces on its extreme outer angle.
Two other pieces were taken by Major Baum's Alingre-
Haus upon the side bordering upon the redoubt, 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. The
captain second in command succeeded in bringing in his
bill pieces. General Maidel himself led his troops upon
the redoubts and batteries still occupied by the Turks,
while the captain of the staff Romanoveki caused the
cava'ry and the rest of the infantry to advance, and
t turned them partly against the Turks, who fought re-
f treating from the rampart, and partly against 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 latter then charged the
Turks, who fired upon thehi from hiding places behind
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 takeei by
Lieut. Pillar de Pillhau' of the regiment of his Royal
Highness the Grand Duke Constantine's Grenadiers,
who, in spite of the fire of grape-shot and rifles fh'rioarn the
redoubt, threw himself upon the battery with
pany, killed its attendants upon the
took
possession of the four pieces, two of
away, and the other two thrown from%
hh
aiscrrhaotawt'eprgaenr
tdc. a Pro
fiting by this success, General Maidel directed the first
battalion of the skirmishers of the regiment of the Guard
ming re I ia n
detach-
ment upon
upon the first central redoubt andthe
the second, causing them to be auPP
which was to watch the enemyrrortmedthbey a
side of the
camps. art of the Turkish troops oe.,
During all this time, a p
copying the heightsoaf St2dchowriatkhhthaendootlhoemootsheoift nearest
fortifications was eng g
General Kovalevski and Lieut.-General Prince Gagarine
which had commenced to attack almost.i at the same time
as Major-General Maidel. These ect MIMS were iu front
cannonade was opened.
as soon as the The two first
lines of attack—the first commanded by Lieut.-
General Kovalevski in person—advanced upon the right
flank of the Turkish fustificatene, keeping
the left of
the
road, while on the right advanced the corps of horse
volunteers. The No. 2 Battery bad opened its firo from
the position which it occupied, and this it continued
until it was masked by the troops, who marched to the
assault.
Tile 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
Tonle, 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.-General 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 ani shells, then grape-shot, then rifle
sznflo
musket balls. In spite of this, Lieut.-Gen. Koviii,:eLities
first line succeeded in reaching the curtain
I the two flank fortifications, and upon his stewnptis:eicdvanced
the battalioni of the second line. Some volas ears of
the
regiment of the Wilna Chasseurs, Came! Mikevi

at their held, and many officers, bad suoceeded even in
getting upon the rampart, but all fell mortally wounded.
The battalions of.the \Vilna regiment maintained thel
po4toon in the fosse, a!though overwhelmed by balls and
huilets at.d pieces of stone thrown upon them by the
Turks. Ere long the latter opened a heavier fire of grape
shot from the two flank batteries against the battalions.
Lieut.-General Kovalevski was here mortally wounded.
Colonel Keeloff, commander of the Belew regiment, wag
also wounded, and a great part of the superior officers of
the two regiments were killed or wounded. Amongst
them Colonel of the Staff Roudanovskii, Quartermaster-
General, Captain of the Staff Raditch. Moreover, all
the officers attached to Lieut.-Gen. Ko valevski were killed
or wounded. Capt.Kagnatchee, of the corps of Engineers
who had beon attached to my person, and whom I had
sent to this column, was pierced with three balls.
Meanwhile the horse volunteers had rushed to the
right of the infantry, and, in spite of a most violent fire,
penetrated the fortifications ' • but the movement of the
infantry of this column not having succeeded, they were
obliged to retire. At the same time the skirmishers of
the centre column, also the second battalion of the
Riajsk regiment, which supported them, reached,
through a terrible fire of grape-shot and musketry, the
enemy's battery. Here the Turks, throwing down their
arms, took to flight.
The battalions of the second line, which had taken-the
left, were received by a cross fire from the central fort
of Tomas-Tabia and its adjacent redoubts. Here Lieut.
General Gagarine and two chiefs of battalion were
grievously wounded. Of six chiefs of the company three
were killed and the others wounded. These battalions,
which had not reached the fort, then joined those of the
first column, which having lost the greater part of its
superior chiefs and officers, began to retreat.
Soon afterwards the enemy succeeded in concentrat-
ing considerable masses of forces against the skirmishers
and the second battalion of the Riajsk regiment, already
enfeebled by its losses. Here were killed Col. Brest-
schinskii, chief of battalion, and Captain Khlioustine,
chief of company; this battalion was then obliged to
abandon the battery it had occupied, and to join the
trrops of the first column.
I then transferred the command of these two columns
to Colonel Prince Dondoukoff-Korsakoff, who, after
bringing them upon the heights which stretch to the
left of the Kourgan, where the Battery No. 2 was, re-
formed them, and made the combined Regiment No. 2
of the Cossacks of the line, and two divisions of Dra-
goons advance to cover their retreat. At the same
time he caused the wounded to be collected by the Cos.
sacks.

The Battery No. 2, which opened its fire against the
enemy's batteries, facilitated these operations. After
the troops had been re-formed, they were arranged in
the following order:—A cotnia of Cossacks, with the
section No. 2 of the battery of fuseens, occupied the
elevation where the No. 2 Battery was ; behind came
the infantry, and more to the left , two divisions of dra-
goons with the horse battery.