The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-12-12
THE FALL OF KARS.

How this Strong Turkish Town WINS
Taken by the Russians-Carf, LIZ the
Fort by Assault.
The New York Herald gives this &C
count of the capture of Kars, in Asia
Minor The fortress was captured by
about fifteen thousand Russians, who
climbed the steep rocks, ramparts and
walls, and followed an equal number of
desperately fighting Turks in q head
long flight over their bitches and para
pets. The escalade had been originally
fixed for the 18th, but it was postponed
owing to bad weather. The principal
attack was made on the southern forts.
General Lazereff commanding the right
wing, consisting of the Fortieth division,
assaulted Fort Hafz Pasha, which
crowns the southern extremity of the
spur of hills, extending into the plain
1890 PAGES from the Karadagh. Gen
eral Count Grabbe's troops, reinforced
with a regiment of Moscow grenadiers
and O regiment of the Thirty-ninth d.
vision, was ordered to simultaneously
attack the center of the line of fortifca-
tions, extending from Fort Hafz Pasha
and inclosing the ~intrenched camp, Fort
Chanli, at the western n OF the
works on the plain, and Fort Suwarri,
situated in the re-entering angle of the
exterior line. Fort Chanli is situated
3,103 PAGES from Fort Hafiz, the entire
line being protected by a ditch and
strong earthworks.
The attack began in the center at eight
o'clock on Saturday evening, when Count
Grabbe in person led his brigade against
the Chanli redoubt, and fell dead at the
first onset pierced by a bullet. Assault
after assault was repulsed, but was al
ways renewed, and q lodgment was ef-
fected before midnight. Captain Kwad-
micki, of the Thirty-ninth regiment, was
the first to enter the Chanli redoubt at
eleven o'clock at night. His sword was
cut clean out of his hand and his clothes
were pierced. The Chanli redoubt sur
rendered before daylight. The troops
Their pushed on for the three towers,
along the line of the old wall of Kars,
known as forts Yussuf Pacha, Chicheck
and Chatlar, en- route for the citadel.
The capture of the towers and the citadel
was only the work of q few minutes.
Almost simultaneously with the capture
OF the Chanli redoubt forts Suwsrri and
Hafz Pacha were carried by assault, and
all the Turkish defences on the south
and southwest melted away.
The Abraham brigade and another
regiment of Moscow grenadiers under
Generals Roop and Komarof, forming
the left wing, assaulted Fort Ingliz, as
the Turks denominate the line Of works
(named after the English officers who
defended the city in 1860 beginning
with Fort Lake on the west, and includ-
ing Forts Churchill, Thompson and
Williams Pacha. These works cross the
entire northern front Of the position in a
northeasterly direction, and only end at
the steep cliffs of tho River Kars Tchai,
opposite Fort Arab. By daylight on
Sunday morning General Lazeraf's
troops had made progress as far us the
capture of Fort Karadagh. The other
forts, especially the Arab-Tabia on the
east and the forts on the Tahmasp hills
on the west, maintained a stubborn re-
sistance until eight o'clock, when all the
garrisons which could escape fled toward
Erzeroum. But these were subsequent
ly overtaken by the dragons and Co.'S
sacks and brought back as prisoners.
The fortress and city of Kars, with three
hundred cannon, stores, ammunition,
money, etc., were in the possession of
the Russian forces. The victorious
soldiers made only trifing booty, and
spared all peaceful citizens and women
and children. The Turks lost 5000
killed and wounded, 10000 prisoners
and many flags. The Russian loss is
about g. 700. General Loris Melikof
directed the battle during the day and
entered the city at eleven on Sunday
! morning. O