The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-15

Russian Report of the Cam
paign and Conquests.
Operations After the Capture of
Samarcand.

j -Ao A"hoWiu8 military Duleun, containing the
latest intelligence from Central Asia, appeared in
tue husska Invalid August q, the Official organ OF
the Russian War ONCE
After the occupation OF Samarcand, Aide-de- Camp
General Kaufman left the detachment of Major
| Baron Stempel in the town and marched forward,
| ~ we nave already announced In order to attack
.nc nam BODY OF the Emr's forces, which were re-
Rorted 10 be at Kermine on the Zerboulak heights
linus uuIng the time that the principal corps was In
the Held the garrison OF Samarcand had during
eignt successive days to Withstand and repel the
ASSAULTS Oh superior forces OF the enemy. We are
defence.
The detachment of Major Baron stempe which
remained In the town and was composed OF four
companies OF infantry and one company OF eng-
neers win Two pieces OF ordnance, was six hundred
ana hy-eght men strong including the soldiers hOrs
rdn0s, the invalids able to bear arms and ninety
Jour artillery men. Besides these two guns the de-
tacnnent mad two hafpood mortars, four hundred
grenades nlnety-hve rockets, twenty -four BOkharlan
cannon captured In the affair OF the 18th OF May,
ana ninety pools Of powder.
Inc troops had full supply of cartridges, and in
addition reserve OF TO- 900 cartridges of seven lines
anu 100 700 or SIX lines. They had, moreover, pro-
VISION Oh nour ana meal for two months and biscuits
lor zen davs Four Bokharlan cannon, which still
might be useful at pinch, were unspiked, put into
serVlceable shape and remounted; $50 Bokharian
nali-po0d grenades were loaded and wooden cheva-
lets constructed for the rockets. Hand grenades
were also thrown during the SIEGE
ms numerically Insignificant detachment was
about to deal with Schakhrssab army $1,000
StrOng, as was afterwards discovered, and COM
maaded by Djour Beg and Bah Beg, with $4,000
klptcnak Chinese, under the orders of Adj Oath,
and besides these, corps of 15 900 men, commanded
by Hussan Beg, Abdul Hated Beg and Omar Beg, and
composed chiefly OF the inhabitants OF Samarcand,
the nelghboring villages and several small tribes
Immediately on the departure OF the main BODY on
| necessary precautions against attack the part
OF the enemy. The ponds within the citadel were
| niled with water, so that later good water was
plentiIul throughout the whole duration of the SIEGE
Az the same time well OF spring water not far from
the citadel was cleaned out and restored TO proper
| conultloh; the weak parts or the defence were
| strengthened In order to shelter them from any
| attempt at escaading; two batteries were con-
gate, and the place called Sarbazski Dvor was
adapted Tor the reception OF cannon, this last work
| June. -
The line OF the citadel fires formed an irregular
polygon two yersts and half long all the points OF
whch II was OF course impossible to occupy at the
same time without a break by reason of the paucty
OF the defenders. Luckily the citadel walls, which
are from twenty to thirty feet high and In some parts
as nuch as forty EIGHT, made the task OF escaladng
difficult and allowed the garrison to concentrate the
! defence on the most accessible points. These were
o. the Samarcand aud BOkhara gates and the breaches
n near hem the cemetery, the Sarbazski Dvor and the
- part Of the forincatons opposite our provision
~ )epot Before the eneny's attack our ordnance was
10 IOsted as fOllOwS:-rwO BOkharian cannon on the
Arbettes Of the cemetery and mortar on the bar
u Nte planted at the Sarbazsk Dvor the two Russian
IN ns, the second mortar and the other two Bokna-
-, \ n cannon were in reserve.
~ Iosties began, as usual, by an act OF perndy on
ar l'ipart or the BOkharians.
~ the 18th June the aksakals (eders ancents) OF
A. atiodJa Aarsk gate came TO the chief OF the de-
d Inent 10 complain that the Schakhrissi abs were
10 ne city gates and wanted to force their way into
% snarcand- Major Albedil being sent to the gates
A. tnuire into the truth of this statement asserted
a. nn ~ aksakals had lied, and that there no
% ona3rissiab troops at the gates whereas in the
n raShorho0d, on the Tchapan Attn heights, consd-
- a were visible, as well as the natives OF the
,, ~ ragetr round about.
Next lay the aksakals came back and preferred the
~ wy COMPLAINTS TO the commander OF the garrison.
20 20 MOT Slynpe yielding to their request, went down
< W ana, MIN TWO companies and two guns anu
m Snrsa aot fired The aksakals then besought the
or not direct his artillery TO the right hand Of
nj because, they sad there were on that side
H. i%s loiks rom Samarcand who had taken no part
" cis ne :. business, whereas 1t shown that pre-
~ III enisdirection there were compact masses OF
~ SStckhrlssiass In fun march against us Major
the ~ ,nernpon went after these troops overlook
M sar sim Purled them along the Bokhara road AZ
~ iar the site u our former camp AFTER which be-
1e hns assare OF the treachery Of the Inhabitants
re | him. $3.50 ~ 'e s"'es po"nu
cr an an hour afterwards drums trumpets ana
Trn ., UuI our resounded throughout the streets
~ he VI .e eheny, having entered the town with
~ | 49, sapnahts, wire now hurrying from all sides
rca h .e eade with the evident Intention OF
- Ave nrst signal 0alarm troops ran 10 occu-
psrt p1 tnn ABOVE Mentioned, e. the weakest
7, pany platoon OF the 1lird and the invads of The
nmi,rc n remanel in reserve. The western
a aeaendea py te sther nyalids the soldiers
~ sp'yo anu the COssatks OF the artillery tram
N | me - Russian guns were planted one AGAINST The
Is .emsry ana tne other towars the Bokhara gate
D, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES surrOund,l the citadel In com
pact lasses and the engagement began M Mi the
2oin! anu Is only owing TO the want OF united ac
c ION Dwn by the enemy that our brave troops were
= | .iaDi 10 mold their ground Throughout running
n | honle point menaccd TO another
{, lneokhara gate, defended by MAJOR AIbedi with
n Wen!six uraleurs, commanded hy Ensign Tone
| lcvsl anu forty men OF the First Company under
Lnsia Anltchkon, was attacked twice w thick bat
aoloi Scnakhrssiabs, who tried to force n or sci
n on e. but were repnsed each atteIrrot Al the
e s,conassau II being necessary to repel ths enemy
e uiuet wen sustained lire from his marksnen wing
IL alnsh In some sakls Tor huts great nul.,r Of
IS or DNe soldiers fell; among others Major Alb,dlI
e W., Wo " wounded and IN consequence gave over
VIZ cnInand 10 Ensign Anitchkon. After this at-
tsu enemy attempted two more, which were like
: l'we, 'pused by the help OF platoon OF the third
cofpay, under the orders of Ensign SdOron who
ma IN UP with all speed after having defeated The
enthlat another point
i hatime the gate took fire, and the commander
OF n garrison sent down COMPANY OF enQineers
WI lieutenant Colonel Nazaroff who had hardly
e rec,eed from Illness The sappers found the gate
v entey burned; Notwithstanding Sub .ieutenaDts
Tchlasson and Voronets with the help OF their sap-
7 perscceeded In constructing, under sharp dre
Iroi The enemy, an epaument Of sacks OF earth
whea gun was placed whose IRE caused the enemy
10 real. IN the night three new assaults
: | pei, by our exhausted troops, and the Bokhara
i | gatenained I'm our possession.
Iibreach at the left OF the gate also attacked
oy pies OF me enemy who. seeing the impossiblllty
: | Oh esading the earthwork sought TO destroy Il,
= andlving partially succeeded. mounted the open
ing, were repulsed by the sappers and the conya.
iescs or tue Ninth battalion, following Colonel
! Nazsd. The enemy twice during the day and sew.
er;l ees during the night renewed ms attempt, but
| edoh nc in vain. Our naDu grenades and mOrtars
| waender these circumstances OF the greatest use
| 70 VI troops. At the Samarcand gate Ensign
Manr, with thirty men, made brilliant resistance
10 'haitacks OF superior force. During assault
| Emie sidoror ran with platoon Of the Third com.
paiyThich was In reserve helped 10 repulse the
atuc anu tnen went as we have seen, to the AZ
sishIe OF Major Abedil at the Bokhara gate
ShTr after Ensign Sidoron had left the samarcan nd
| gat tptain Chemetan1 came there 10 rejoin the
| dencnent OF Ensign mamine, overthrow an assault.
| lDgc0inn OF I'VE hundred men and extinguished
| the hDing Of the gate TO which the enemy mad sef
| fire. Nv
| Dung the rest OF the day and night the enemy A.
| hnpn tne escaade, but was each time thrown pre-
c.pthy BACK and forced TO retire, with barely time
| TO car away tile dead
| Thfmetery, defended by Sub-IJeutenant Lepek.
bine IN company OF the Sixth battalion. the con.
1 vhesots OF the Firth, two Bokbarian pieces OF
ordnSe and Russian cannon had 10 support the
nfsi gel OF the enemy, who, restrained by brisk
Ius,lis anu tne hre OF our three cannon, could not
Il nnl 10. IL.