The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-09-27
Correspoadencc Of the London Morning Herald
THE BATTLE NEAR LAKE KARS.
Erzeroum Auu 1874

THE BATTLE NEAR LAKE KARS.
Erzeroum, Aug. y, 1854.
Tariff Mustapha Pasha was anxious for an
opportunity to draw down vengeance upon the
Russians for the last surprise which they gave
10 the Turkish encam2ment on the Turko Per-
sian frontiers, and to effacr by a bloody battle
the shame with which his colleague, Selim
Pasha, was then covered by his flight which lef,
The Russians masters Of Bayaz,d and its envi-
roas.
The Turks quilted Kars on the 4th Of Aug ),
leaving in all five battalions and "a pieces oil
cannon as a reserve. and followed by all the rest
Of their forces, passed throu Oh Vely Kuev, and
did not stop till they came up with the advanc-
ed posts OF the Russians, encamPed at Kurnk-
dere. They divided their army, amounting To
abou, &c 600 infantry, 4.5O0O irregular cavalry
and 900 artillery, with SO field pie es in o two
bodies. The first was commanded by Veiy
Pacha, the second in command being Gen.
Guyon chief of the staff; and the 9th by Tariff
Mustapha Pa-ha, co'nmanderin chief and gener-
alisimo, and Kerim Pasha.
Hassan Pasha, a, the head Of the regular troops
of Arbistan, had his corps in reserve in the rear
Of the army, ready to supp ri those whose losses
might occasion them to fall back lsmail Pasba
co nmanded the advanced guard.
During The night of the 4,h, the Russians, on
the first movement Of the Turks, came out Of
their entrenchments, and took position on the
plain about league distant from the rurks, in
the same place where their advanced pots had
been the previous night. Gen. Prince Bebou.-
off, seconded by Gen. PRICE Dolgernuki Bar
iatinski, was at their head. Next morning tow :
ard o'clock the two armies were in presence
Of each other; the first signal was made by the
Turks, and the action began The battle soon
become general, and it was dreadful to behold
and terrible to hear, more than lo0 field pieces
laundering forth, scattering showers OF balls,
and carrying death into the ranks upon both
sides. The discharge of the battalions continued
without interruption; and the Turks, command
ed by Hassan Pasha, attacked with impetuosity
the left wing of the enemy, which evinced symp-
toms of disorder and If Il had not been for the
succor rendered to it by q reinforcement, its de
feat would have been complete.
Toward IL O'Clock, the artillery suddenly
ceased, the greater number OF the pieces hav .ng
been dismounted. The Turkish soldiers paid
no attention to the commands Of their officers
bu, fixing their bayont t.. they threw Themselves
into the thickrst ranks of the enemy. A fright.
full carnage followed for both sides fought with
an obstinacy and courage OF the most desperate
nature A barrier Of dead bodies soon separat.
ed them, and weakened and terrified on DO
sides by their losses, and the cries of the wound
ed, the two armies began to slscken in their ef-
forts, and soon after retreated from each 9th, r
The battle had lasted for hours.
The retreat of Turks followed that Of the
Russia ns-one battalion after another, in gonc
order, and ready and able il it was required ts
recommence the combat-lsaving 5000 deae
on The field of battle. In the afternoon, all the
Turkish troops, preceded by ambulances convey
IN, he dod In md Aor
were sent on afterward to Erzeroum.
The Russians in spite OF their superior NUN
hers, composed of "a battalions of infantry,
regiments of regular and 2 of irregular cavalry
60 pieces of can aol, with 1000 artillery, suffer
ed heavier loss than the Turks, their killed
amounting to betw cen 5000 and 900 besides
having $500 wounded. Among the killed wa.
a general, whose name has not transpi:ed, ane
some superior officers.
The Turks had to regret the loss Of the brave
Hassan Pasha, who commanded the ieserve, ant
Vely Pasha received a mortal wound, 10 die
Cochiminsky, who was shot through the neck
The Russians in the evening sent detach-
ment Of cavalry to bring away six pieces o
cannon, which for want Of horses they left OF
the field, and profiting by the solicitude aroun.
them, carried off nine pieces left by the negli
gence Of the Turks, and which had been dis.
to prevent them, and the Cossacks dragged
them off to Kurukdere, leaving a part Of cavalry
and some companies Of infantry who had taker
possession in the morning, under orders of lsmai
Pasha.
In this engagement the Bashi- Bazouks actee
with great bravery, and Of their whole number
only 500 or Goo took to fgt. On both side.
there were some Ceserters.
II is impossible to say on which side the vic
tory was declared. The two armies fought
bravely that Of the Russians however, wa.
superior in numbers, and the Turkish cavalry
could render no aid to the rest of the army
While we must attribute great part of the los:
of the Turkish soldery to the Cossacks, Cir
cassians and dragons, who went up to the very
ranks of their infantry 10 attack them, thougl
defending themselves with bayonet we mus
adm that the Turkish soldiers tough. the best
and that they made up for any deficiency il
their numbers by the greater quickness ank ex
acti.ude Of their maneuvers.
The two parties a.reed to an armistice of TIVE
days, in order To bury their dead. Thus, al
though the Turks and C.'ssacks again met OF
the field, it was with very different mission
and they regarded each other very TRANQUILITY
and like old friends.