General situation
After the successful actions of the detachments of Golitsyn and Kutuzov, the Danube Flotilla of Ribas, the high Russian command decided to continue the offensive on land and at sea in order to finally break the stubbornness of the Port and force her to accept peace. Therefore, the Caucasian corps of General Ivan Gudovich, reinforced by part of the troops of the Crimean corps, received an order to take the fortress of Anapa.
It was a tough nut to crack - "Caucasian Ishmael". The Anapa fortress was erected on the eastern coast of the Black Sea by French engineers in 1781. The stronghold was erected on a promontory protruding into the sea, and it was covered by the sea on three sides. One eastern side adjoined land, where a deep ditch and a high rampart were prepared. The rampart and the moat were partially paved with stones, and four bastions were erected on the rampart. There was also a powerful fortification to protect the gate.
The strong fortress became a strategic foothold for the Ports in the Caucasus, providing Turkish influence over the North Caucasian peoples, and a base against Russia in the Kuban, Don, and Crimea. In addition, Anapa was a major center for the slave trade in the region. Therefore, during the war, a powerful garrison was located here, reinforced by the mountaineers. The fortress had up to 100 cannons. The harbor was usually occupied by armed ships and vessels.
The Russians have already been burned twice on this Turkish bastion in the Caucasus. In 1788, a detachment of General Peter Tekeli tried to take the fortress, but after a stubborn battle near Anapa, the Russians abandoned the assault and retreated. The second trip to Anapa in 1790 under the command of General Bibikov, in general, ended in complete failure. The time for the operation was chosen extremely unsuccessfully (winter), they did not conduct reconnaissance of the area, they could not establish supplies. The winter campaign was accompanied by constant skirmishes with the mountaineers, difficulties in overcoming hard-to-reach terrain, where there were practically no roads, and a lack of provisions. Bibikov was advised to return, but he stubbornly went forward.
On March 24, Russian troops entered the Anapa Valley, where they were met by the Turks and mountaineers. In the course of a fierce battle, the enemy was defeated. Inspired by his success, Bibikov decided to storm the powerful fortress on the move. At the same time, the assault was not prepared, there were not even stairs. As a result, the assault ended in complete failure. The Russians suffered heavy losses. The retreat was also accompanied by constant attacks by the mountaineers, difficulties in overcoming rivers and rivers, and hunger. About half of the troops returned to the base (about 8 thousand went on the campaign), and another third of the detachment were sick or with wounds. Many have died. After this setback, the hostile activity of the hill tribes increased markedly.
Upon learning of this campaign, the Russian Empress Catherine II wrote to Potemkin:
“He must have lost his mind if he kept people in water for 40 days, almost without bread. It's amazing that anyone survived at all. I suppose very few returned home with him; tell me about the losses, I grieve with all my heart for the lost. If the army refused to obey, I would not be surprised. Rather, one has to wonder at their endurance and patience."
An investigation was carried out, Bibikov was dismissed. The soldiers of the Caucasian detachment were awarded a special silver medal on a blue ribbon, with the inscription: "For loyalty."
Gudovich's hike
On May 4, 1791, the corps of I. V. Gudovich, consisting of 13 infantry battalions, 44 cavalry squadrons, 3 thousand Cossacks and 36 guns, set out on a campaign. To strengthen the Caucasian corps from the Crimea to Taman, 4 infantry battalions, 10 cavalry squadrons, 400 Cossacks and 16 guns were transferred under the command of General Shchits. The total forces of the corps reached 15 thousand people.
The operation was carefully prepared this time: the most convenient time was chosen, the supply was established, communications and a chain of small fortifications were arranged in the rear, and transport was prepared. Part of the troops remained to protect rear communications and fortifications.
Gudovich acted methodically and faithfully. On May 29 (June 9), the corps crossed the Kuban over a pontoon bridge. On June 5 (16), the troops erected a fortified camp in one passage from Anapa. On June 8, reinforcements from the Crimea arrived. On June 10 (21), reconnaissance of the fortress was carried out, on June 13 (24), the first siege battery for 10 guns was laid. The Russians cut off the Anapa fortress from the area, where the highlanders helped the Turks. The garrison was deprived of the support of the mountain warriors, who had previously greatly interfered with the Russian troops with their sorties. By June 18 (29), four more batteries for 32 guns were erected. Russian artillery carried out severe destruction in Anapa, knocking out most of the Turkish guns. On June 20 (July 1), there was a strong fire in the city.
Storm
However, it was impossible to drag out the siege. There were no large-caliber artillery and engineers. Large masses of mountaineers acted in the rear. An Ottoman fleet with strong reinforcements was to arrive at Anapa. Therefore, Ivan Vasilyevich decided to go to the assault.
Five assault columns were created. Four columns (each with 500 fighters) were to strike in the southern part of the city, which had the most damage. And the fifth column (1300 soldiers) had to make a roundabout maneuver and break into the fortress from the sea side, at the left end of the rampart, using the shallow water in this place. Behind each column was a private reserve to strengthen and develop the attack. The 1st and 2nd columns were led by General Bulgakov, the 3rd and 4th - by General Depreradovich, the 5th column - by General Shits. For communication between the left and right flanks, a reserve was allocated under the command of Brigadier Polikarpov. All cavalry and 16 guns were allocated to a general reserve under the command of General Zagryazhsky (4 thousand people) in case of an attack by the Circassians from the rear. The marching camp (Wagenburg) was defended by several hundred Cossacks. As a result, 6, 4 thousand people from 12 thousand corps took part in the assault.
On the night of June 22 (July 3), 1791, our artillery began a powerful shelling of the city. Under the cover of artillery, the troops reached their initial positions. Then the shelling was stopped, the enemy calmed down. The Turks did not expect that there would be an assault on that day, they thought it was an ordinary shelling. Only the guards and gun crews were left in positions. At 4 o'clock in the morning, the assault began. Having achieved surprise (the Cossacks and gamekeepers quietly removed the enemy's forward posts), the Russian soldiers burst into the ditch and began to climb the rampart and walls. The battle was marked by extreme ferocity. The Turks fought back fiercely.
Meanwhile, up to 8 thousand highlanders descended from the mountains in the rear to strike the Russians in the rear. If it were not for the foresight of Gudovich, who left a separate detachment of Zagryazhsky, the Caucasian corps would have found itself between two fires. The Circassians attacked the Russian camp, which was defended by the Greben and Terek Cossacks, but were thrown back in a stubborn battle. Then Zagryazhsky struck with all his might. The Taganrog Dragoon Regiment of Lieutenant Colonel Lvov cut into the masses of the enemy, who was trying to bypass the fortified camp. The highlanders could not stand a direct battle and scattered. The Russian cavalry pursued the utterly defeated enemy, who fled to the mountains and was no longer able to help the fortress.
The first left-flank column of Colonel Chemodanov captured the extreme, right bastion of the fortress. Suitcase, who was in front of his soldiers, was wounded. Colonel Mukhanov's second column also burst onto the rampart and captured the battery. Mukhanov was wounded. The head of the third column, Colonel Keller, helping the second column, was seriously wounded and fell from the rampart into the ditch. The soldier was led by Prime Major Verevkin, who was also soon wounded. Colonel Samarin's 4th column also successfully burst onto the rampart.
As a result, Russian troops, despite strong enemy resistance, occupied the right side of the rampart, which adjoined the city gates. But in order to hold the occupied positions and repulse the enemy's counterattacks, all the reserves of the columns had to be brought into battle. Taking a breath and regrouping their forces, all four columns resumed their attack, knocking the enemy out of the city buildings and pushing them to the sea.
Shits' 5th column on the right flank did not act so successfully. Instead of going up to the rampart and rounding it, the general put 50 rangers on boats, ordered them to sail away from the coast and open rifle fire to distract the enemy. Meanwhile, the column under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Apraksin was to climb the rampart, which was the strongest in this place. The huntsmen began firing and only ahead of time did they initiate the Turks, who opened such powerful buckshot and rifle fire on the 5th column that the soldiers did not even reach the ditch and retreated. Shits put the column in order and prepared for the second attack. But at this time, the 4th column captured the gate and lowered the drawbridge. Gudovich ordered Shits to take to the left and go through the gate. The 5th column passed through the gate and reinforced other columns, which continued to press the enemy. Even earlier, Gudovich threw 600 musketeers and 3 squadrons of dismounted cavalry into battle from the reserve. The reserve helped the 4th column to take and open the gates.
The Turks continued to stubbornly fight back on the right side of the city. Then, through the gates, the entire cavalry of the main reserve was thrown into battle under the command of Colonel Nelidov. She entered the city partly on horseback, partly dismounted. The squadrons cut their way to the sea. The entry into battle of the 5th column of Shits, the reserve cavalry, the squadron sent from the detachment of Zagryazhsky, and 100 gamekeepers decided the outcome of the case. The organized resistance of the Ottoman garrison was finally broken, the enemy fled to the sea, to ships. Many threw themselves into the water and drowned. Others threw down their weapons in droves and surrendered. The fortress was taken.
Victory
In the course of a fierce battle, up to 8 thousand people were killed, over 13, 5 thousand people were captured, including their commanders (among them was the famous Chechen preacher and military leader Sheikh Mansur, who since 1785 worried the mountain tribes and waged a fight against Russians). Many drowned at sea, only a small part of the garrison escaped on ships. There were so many killed that many had to be "buried" at sea. All the fortress artillery was captured or destroyed, 130 banners were taken. Large stocks of firearms, edged weapons and gunpowder were seized. The total losses of the Russian corps - more than 3, 6 thousand people.
The Russian troops once again showed their high martial art. The number of those directly storming the fortress was 4 times less than the number of defenders, but the “Caucasian Ishmael” was taken. Gudovich proved himself to be a brilliant commander.
The Turkish fortress Sudjuk-Kale was located nearby. Gudovich sent a detachment to her. The Turkish garrison burned down the city and fled into the mountains, throwing 25 cannons. Two days after the assault, a Turkish squadron approached Anapa, and began to prepare a bombardment and a landing. However, the soldiers and crews, seeing a huge number of corpses, panicked and refused to go into battle. The squadron returned to the open sea.
By order of the Russian general, all the fortifications of the Anapa fortress were torn down to the ground, the batteries were blown up, ditches and wells were filled up, houses were burned. In memory of the assault, only the city gates (Russian gates) were left. The civilian population (up to 14 thousand people) was relocated to the Crimea.
The fall of the most powerful fortress in the North Caucasus was one of the reasons for the Porta's decision to go to peace. Anapa was returned to Turkey in the Yassy world. Finally, Anapa became part of Russia in 1829 according to the Peace of Adrianople.
