The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-05-24
SIEGE OF KARS.

THE reported fall of the almost impreg.
nable fortress of Kars recalls wildly the
memorable siege tina! occurred at that
place in 1855. The Asiatic campaigns of
1858 and 1854 had been. in the main, un.
fortunate ones for the Turks. There was
nothing but reverses for them after the
capture Of Fort st. Nicholas, the same
point which few days ago was lombard
ed by the Russian gunboats. The Turks,
in 1854, were defeated at Akhaltzik, re.
duced to a demoralized condition, and
cheated and starved by their officers. The
troops returned to Kars more like mill.
tary rabble than disciplined army. The
entire army was in a wretched condition.
No organization can be said % have ex.
listed. 1t may readily be supposed that
an army in such state of neglect and de.
mobilization was but little skilled in drills
of any sort; indeed, from the early part
of August to tine arrival of the British
Commissioner, Col. Williams, at the end
Of September, the troops had never gone
through the most ordinary exercises. Col.
Williams was then regarded as a highly
distinguished officer, and an able scien.
tific engineer and diplomatist, since es-
teemed as one of the most meritorious
heroes of that war. On the Gath of Sep
temier, 1854, Col. Williams went from
Erzeroum to Kars, which in past times
was considered the key to Asia Minor,
where he was received with all the honors
due to his position; for the corrupt Turk
ish officials were by no means aware what
a rigid military refOrmer and disciplinar-
ian they had received among them. Kars
was fortress partly in ruins. 1t was
built by Armurath I'LL, in the latter part
of the sixteenth century, and obtained in
Asia reputation for impregnability on
account of the garrison within, it having
in 1875 repulsed all the efforts of the
famous Nadir Shah at the head of 1000
Persians, after ne had defeated 100000
Turks in its vicinity.
Kars, to-day, is one of the gates be.
tween Turkey and Persia, AMI opens to
the invaders road to the great route to
Teheran on the southeast; toward Ere.
roum and the Euphrates on the southwest;
and, most important of all, to Trebizonde
on the east-which could not be long de-
Tended by land, and which, once invested
by the Russians, could render effective
assistance to the Cars Black Sea squad.
ron. Kars, is, in fact, the key to Russian
success in Asiatic Turkey. Its fortifica.
tons cover an area Of ten square miles,
The town is on plain nearly 1000 feet
above the sea, and is surrounded on three
sides by rugged hills which form natural
bases for defense. A little stream of the
same name flows by on the southeast. The
population is about $4,000, chiefly Ar
menian, who make q scanty living out of
the through trade between the East and
the West. The climate is so severe that
travellers are glad to get on the road again,
nd f1,n 1suc hsl1c
tality for so large bands of robbers that
stocks to the plains. The city was the
Turkish conquest, Ottoman administra-
ton, and taxation by the Porte have re.
duced it to mere halfway house.
In the summer of 1855, following the
arrival of Gen. Williams at Kars, the
Turks began throwing up fortiHcations
about the place, Is Gen. Mouravieff. Of
the Russian Army, was threatening it.
Early In June, the Russians made short
march from Gumri and appeared prepared
to advance upon Kars in great strength.
The position OF the 8urkish Army could
not be regarded without apprehension.
The REGULAR troops amounted to about
fifteen thousand men, who had been
familiarized with defeat and scoureed by
fever and the scdrvy. In addition to this
their provisions were insufficient to enable
them to sustain siege of any considera-
bic duration, and their stock of ammuni.
ton was very small. On the 9th of June
between twenty thousand and forty thou
SAND Russians encamped within five
leagues OF Kara. The soldie1 in the fort
ress slept at their posts and double lines
81 senttnels were placed around the woke
On the 10Th there was . ercat risins az ~
inhabitants of the town. Who vere Ses;r'
GUS TO aid in ito defense, and annlied -
Gen. Williams, or Williams Pasha no he
was then termed, having teen raised hv
the Sultan to the rank Of Ferik. or Cen
eral. The Russian troops made several
sorties upon the City Of Kan with the hone
OF capturing the place, but they were q
repeatedly repulsed by the soldiers there.
who displayed Considerable Rallantrv.
The Russians then turned their attention
to destroying all the Turkiah supplies thew
could find, and having . Gordon OF troops
around the entire works were successful
in keeping out all the stores which were
intended for the place. The time passed
hrdtly IN for the defender Of Kara, and
many skirmtshes took place, In many Of
which the Russians were successful. On
the 18th Of July the place mas fairly
blockaded. The horses, being on shoft
rations, fell sick, and great di11culty was
experienced In KEEPING them alive, tn