The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-31 00:00:00

THE WAR.

THE BATTLE AT KOUROOK
DERECH.
RETREAT OF THE TURKS, SIX THOUSAND
OF VIE RUSSIANS KILLED AND TWO
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED WOUNDED.
TURKISH LOSS, SIX THOUSAND.

TREBIZOND, AUG. 12.

Iskender Bey, a Hungarian in the Turkish ser-
vice, who fought so nobly at Soubatan, arrived
here this day at noon, from Kars in four days,
bearer of intelligence of a bloody battle fought on
Saturday, the sth inst., between Hadgi Velikoi
and Kourook Derech. The details, as given by
Iskender Bey, are as follows :
On the 4th root. the Turkish force, with the ex-
ception of five battalions and 24 cannon, left atKars,
marching through Velikoi, and halted before the
Russian outposts at Kourook Derech. The Turks,
counting that evening 30,000 strong, divided into
two divisions ; the first commanded by Kerim
Paella, and the second by Vely Pacha, with Gene-
ral Guyon as chief of the staff, and Zarif Pacha as
commander-in-chief and generalissimo.
Hassan Pacha, commander-in-chief of the Arab-
istani Irregulars, commanded the reserve division
in the field, and Pacha the reserve division
at Kars ; General Kmety commanding the ad-
vanced guard. During the night of the 4th the
Russians advanced to the outposts, took up a posi-
tion on the plain about 400 yards from the Turks,
and exactly over the spot where their outposts stood
the night before. They were commanded by Gene-
ral Prince Bebutoff and General Prince Dolgo-
rouky ; Baralnisky, chief staff-officer.
At five a.m. on the sth a general action com-
menced. At nine a.m. the left Russian wing
commenced giving way, but, being reinforced, soon
recovered. At eleven, both sides got so close that
they charged with fixed bayonets, and at twelve
the action ceased, as if by mutual consent. The
Turks, leaving 6,000 dead on the field, retreated
in a very orderly manner, except a small part of
Kerim Pacha's division, which went rather hastily ;
the whole force got to Kars early in the afternoon,
when the wounded were immediately despatched
to Erzeroum. They amounted to about 3,000. The
Russians left 6,000 dead on the field, and carried
away about 2,600 wounded. One of their generals
was killed, and a great many officers.

Among the Turks killed was Hassan Pacha, of
the reserve division. Among the wounded, Alastapha Pacha. Cochiminsky, a Hungarian colonel,
was wounded in the neck. Iskender Bey had a
horse shot under him, and cut his forehead in the
fall. All the European officers, from Gen. Guyon
downwards, behaved with great coolness, bravery,
and activity. During the battle the Russians had
six guns dismounted, and the Turks ten. The
Russians on the afternoon of the sth surrounded
their guns -with cavalry, and walked the whole 16
guns off to Kourook Derech, after which they re-
tired to their former camp, leaving a small force
at one hour's distanee, and exactly opposite Hadgi
Veiikio, where the Turks left two regiments of
cavalry and some infantry, under the command
of General Kmety. For once the Bashi-bazouks
behaved well, and only about 600 fled to their
homes ; five deserted to the enemy before the
action commenced, and one after all was over.
Several Russian 'deserters went over to the Turks
both before and after the action. Both armies
fought nobly and bravely ; and although in strict
military language the Turks may be said to have
lost the battle, still the Russians suffered greatly,
and every bit as much as the Turks. The
day after the battle Iskender Bey went to Ge-
neral Bebutoff by order of the Mushir, and both
sides agreed to alloW each other to advance and bury
their dead. The Turks and Cossacks consequently
met alongside each other, and appeared quite
friendly. Zarif Moustafa, Pacha's courage and pre-,
sence of mind did much in keeping the army from
giving way. The old man was in the heat of the
fire everywhere. It is much to be regretted that
the Turkish cavalry, from want of proper training,
could not assist in the field. It did little ; and here
the Russians had a great advantage, also, in the
quickness and precision of their manoeuvres, in
which the Turks couldin no way compete with them.
The following is perhaps not an inaccurate statement
of the contending forces in action on the sth inst :
TURKS.—Twenty thousand infantry, four regi-
ments of cavalry (of little use), four thousand five
hundred irregular and (bad) horsemen, one thou-
sand artillery, and fifty-two guns. In reserve at
Kars—Five battalions of infantry, and twenty-four
guns.

RUSSIANS.—Twenty-five battalions of infantry,
two regiments of Don Cossacks, two regiments of
Circassians, two regiments of dragoons, two regi-
ments of irregulars, sixty field-pieces, and two
thousand artillery.
On the Bth the Turkish army at Kars was ready
to take the field again in an hour's notice, if
necessary.

From another source we have received the fol-
lowing :—" Intelligence from Constantinople comes
down to the 21st. At that date confirmation had
been received of a great battle having been fought
in Asia, on the 7tb, which lasted five hours. The
Turks, who were commanded by ,Zarif and Mus-
tapha Pasha, lost 3,000 men. Hassan Pacha was
killed. . The Russians, commanded by General Be-
butoff, lost 1,600." •
Another account says a private letter, received
by the mail from Trebizond, which reached Con-
stantinople on the 19th, gives the following details
of the defeat of the Turkish army of Asia by the
Russians at Kars and Bajazid. The Turks, on
7th August, committed the fault of quitting
their fortified positions and of attacking; the
Russians in camp at Kurook-Derech. The Turks
had succeeded in defeating the right wing of the
Russians, when the Russian General advanced
his reserve and attacked the Turks with his
entire cavalry. The Turkish cavalry gave way,
and the infantry was compelled to retreat for
a league. This movement was effected in good
order, the Turks having with the bayonet success-
fully resisted all the attacks of the Russians.
4,500 men were killed on either side, and, as the
Turkish artillery was admirably served, it is be-
lieved that the Russians suffered most. Ono of
their generals was killed and two wounded. The
Turks lost Hassan Pasha, and Mustapha Pasha
was wounded in the left arm. The Russian dra-
goons captured 2,500 Turks. The Turkish army
still remains in front-of Kars. The advanced guard,
composed of two regiments of infantry and two of
cavalry, is at Ibadj-vel•.Keni, under the Command, of
the Hungarian General Kmety. The main body of
the army is encamped between the advanced guard
and Kars, and the rearguard is in Kars. The army
is, however, insufficiently fed, badly equipped, and
completely discouraged.