Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829 190 years ago, in June 1829, the Russian army under the command of Paskevich inflicted a severe defeat on the Turks in the Caucasus. The Russian commander got ahead of the enemy, who was preparing to launch an offensive with the aim of taking revenge for the defeat during the 1828 campaign of the year. On June 19-20, Russian troops defeated the Turks in the battles of Kainli and Miliduz and, without giving the enemy time to recover, took Erzurum, the capital of Anatolia, on June 27.
Preparing for the 1829 campaign
The campaign of 1828 for the Separate Caucasian Corps under the command of Ivan Fedorovich Paskevich was victorious. Russian troops defeated the enemy and captured several important fortresses and castles. Thus, the Russian army took the first-class fortress of Kars in June, Akhalkalaki in July, and Akhaltsikhe, Atskhur and Ardahan in August. Separate Russian detachments took Poti, Bayazet and Diadin. The Chavchavadze detachment occupied the Bayazet Pashalyk.
In Russia, the public was enthusiastic about the successes of the Russian army in the Caucasus. The warriors of the Caucasian corps were compared with the miraculous heroes of Alexander Suvorov. Paskevich became a hero of the war of 1828 - 1829. The onset of winter, which is very harsh and unpredictable in the mountains, stopped the fighting. In the occupied territories and in fortresses, 15 battalions, 4 Cossack regiments and 3 artillery companies were left for their protection. The rest of the troops were withdrawn to their territory.
Both sides were actively preparing for the 1829 campaign. The success of the Russians in the Caucasus sparked anger in Constantinople. The command of the Turkish army in the Caucasus was changed. Erzurum Ghalib Pasha and Seraskir (commander-in-chief) Kios Magomed Pasha lost their posts and were sent into exile. The new commander-in-chief was appointed Haji-Saleh Meydansky, he was endowed with unlimited powers. The active troops were led by Gakki Pasha. They received a lot of power and funds, had to mobilize in the border areas, collect a large army and recapture the pashalyks captured by the Russians. Then the Ottomans planned to transfer the hostilities to the Russian Transcaucasia - Guria, Kartli, Mingrelia and Imereti. The Turks were going to return the previously lost territories in the South Caucasus. Akhmad-bek of Adjara, the largest feudal lord in the Akhaltsikh Pashalyk, was preparing a separate offensive on Akhaltsikh.
The Russian command was also actively preparing for the continuation of hostilities. To replenish the Caucasian corps were supposed to be 20 thousand recruits. However, they were supposed to arrive only in the spring, it took time for their training. Therefore, the campaign had to be started in cash. The Russian commander Paskevich planned to advance on the main, Erzurum direction, take the key fortress-base of the enemy - Erzurum, and then go to Sivas in Central Anatolia. With such a blow, the Russian Asian possessions of Turkey in half, intercepted communication to Baghdad.
To strengthen the Separate Caucasian Corps, by decree of the governor, 4 Muslim regiments (500 horsemen each), two Armenian half-battalions in Erivan and Nakhichevan, one battalion in Bayazet were formed from the hunters (as the volunteers were then called). However, the attempt to form a Georgian zemstvo militia to protect Georgia from a possible enemy invasion, in addition to the already existing temporary militia, failed. In eastern Georgia, a rumor spread that the Russians were introducing conscription, people were being taken into soldiers for 25 years. Unrest began. The peasants were ready to go out without exception to repel the Ottoman invasion (the memory of the previous horrors of enemy invasions was still fresh), but they wanted to return home after the end of the war. As a result, the idea of the militia had to be abandoned in order not to provoke an uprising in the rear. Only the voluntary militia (horse and foot) remained, recruited from the nobles and their people.
Also, the Russian command conducted secret negotiations with the Kurdish leaders. The Kurds were a warlike tribe and constituted a significant part of the Turkish irregular cavalry. Some of the Kurdish leaders willingly went over to the service of Russia. Among them was the Mush Pasha. He asked to retain the post of Pasha - Governor-General of Mush and a monetary reward. Pasha promised to field 12 thousand horsemen. This agreement strengthened the position of the Russian army on the left wing.
Meanwhile, the situation in the Persian direction has escalated. In Tehran, the Persian war party, behind which the British stood, organized unrest, and the Russian mission led by Alexander Griboyedov was killed. There was a threat of a new war with Iran, while the main forces of the Russian army were associated with the fighting with the Turks. However, the shah did not want to fight, he remembered well the crushing defeat of Persia in the war of 1826-1828. The matter was settled peacefully. The Persians apologized and offered rich gifts. The Russian government, not wanting a new war in such unfavorable circumstances, went to meet the Persians.
In the spring of 1828, Paskevich had 50 thousand soldiers in the Caucasus. Count Erivansky was able to allocate about 17-18 thousand people to the active corps (19 infantry battalions and 8 cavalry and Cossack regiments) with 70 guns. The rest of the forces were tied to the defense of Georgia, the Black Sea coast, the Persian border, and were garrisoned on the Caucasian line.
Turkish offensive. Defense of Akhaltsikh
The Turkish army was the first to launch the offensive. The Ottomans attacked on their left flank. Akhmad-bek with 20 thousand troops (5 thousand regular infantry and 15 thousand militia) on February 20, 1829, went through mountain passes to Akhaltsikh (Akhaltsykh) and laid siege to the fortress. The Russian garrison of the fortress numbered only 1164 people with 3 fortress guns and 6 field guns. The Russian detachment was commanded by Major General Vasily Osipovich Bebutov. He was an experienced commander who fought against the Turks, Highlanders and French. In the campaign of 1828 he distinguished himself in the Akhaltsikhe battle and the assault on Akhyltsikh, and was appointed head of the Akhaltsikh pashalyk.
The Turkish commander immediately threw his troops into the assault, hoping for a surprise attack and an overwhelming numerical superiority. However, the small Russian garrison bravely met the enemy and repulsed the attack with rifle fire, pre-prepared stones, grenades and bombs. After the failure of the assault, the Turks began to besiege the fortress. The siege lasted 12 days. The position of the Russian garrison, despite the successful repulse of the assault, was difficult. The Turks fired at the fortress and tried to deprive it of water. Akhmed-bey covered himself from the side of the Borjomi gorge with a screen and the Russian command did not immediately learn about the enemy offensive.
After the Russian detachment under the command of Burtsev came to the aid of the Akhaltsikhe garrison, which was able to bypass the Turkish barriers, the Bebutov garrison made a successful sortie. The Turks lifted the siege and fled, losing 2 banners and 2 guns. Russian troops pursued enemy troops, which were defeated and scattered. Russian losses during the siege amounted to 100 people. The Ottomans lost about 4 thousand people.
At the same time, the offensive of the 8 thousand detachment of the Trebizond Pasha, which was supposed to support the uprising in Guria, also failed. The Turks had high hopes for this uprising. The Ottomans were defeated at the Limani tract, near the Nikolaev fortress by a detachment under the command of Major General Hesse.
In mid-May 1829, the Turkish command was preparing to launch an offensive in the main direction, to Kars. Turkish commander-in-chief Haji-Saleh prepared 70 thousand army to defeat the Russians and recapture Kars. At the same time, the Turks were preparing auxiliary attacks on the flanks. On the left wing, the Trebizond Pasha was again to invade Guria. And Akhmed-bey was recovering from defeat at Akhaltsikh and preparing for a new offensive. On the right wing, the Van Pasha was supposed to attack Bayazet.
Russian offensive
The Russian commander-in-chief Paskevich decided to get ahead of the enemy and be the first to launch an offensive, to defeat the enemy army in the Kara-Erzurum direction. For the defense of the Bayazet Pashalyk, only 4 battalions, 1 Cossack regiment and 12 guns were left. The rest of the forces were concentrated for a decisive offensive - about 18 thousand people with 70 guns. The headquarters of the Caucasian governor moved to Akhalkalaki, then to Ardahan. Russian troops were stationed on the front from Kars to Akhaltsikh.
Here the Russian commander received new information about the location of the enemy army in the area of the Saganlug mountain range. The advanced Turkish corps under the command of Gakki Pasha (20 thousand people) was located 50 versts from Kars, on the Erzurum road. Behind him were the main forces of the seraskir Haji-Saleh - 30 thousand people. In addition, 15 thous. the Ottoman corps was preparing an offensive on Akhaltsikh.
The Russian command planned to defeat the enemy in parts - first the corps of Gakki Pasha, and then the troops of Gadzhi-Salekh. However, this idea was not implemented. Bad mountain roads and Turkish barriers prevented the Russians. The Ottomans managed to combine their forces. However, the Turkish plan of attack on Akhaltsikh also failed. The Turks were unable to defeat the detachments of Burtsev and Muravyov separately. The Russian detachments managed to unite and on June 2, 1829, in a battle near the village of Chaboria on the banks of the Poskhov-Chai River, they defeated the superior Turkish troops aimed at Akhaltsikh. The Akhaltsikhe fortress was now safe and reinforced with one battalion. After that, the troops of Burtsev and Muravyov were pulled up to the main forces.
Battle of Kainly
The battle near the village of Kainly on June 19 (July 1), 1829, was one of the largest in this war. Paskevich-Erivansky divided the troops into three columns. The first (main) column (5, 3 thousand soldiers with 20 guns) was commanded by Muravyov. The troops were located on the right flank, north of the Zagin-Kala-su River. On the left flank, the column (1, 1 thousand people with 12 guns) was commanded by Major General Burtsev. It was located south of the river. Behind the main column was a strong reserve under the command of Major General Raevsky (3,500 men with 20 guns). The rest of the troops under the command of General Pankratyev remained in the camp located on Mount Chakhar-Baba. The troops were built by 13 o'clock.
At about 14 o'clock, the Turkish cavalry, which occupied both parallel roads leading to Erzurum, attacked Muravyov's column. To defeat the enemy, the Russian general used well-proven tactics. The Russian cavalry counterattacked the enemy, then quickly retreated, imitating flight, the Turks, inspired by the apparent victory, rushed forward and fell under grape-shot fire. The Turks suffered heavy losses and retreated. Seeing the futility of attacks on his left flank, Haji-Saleh ordered an attack on the weaker column of Burtsev. 6 thousand horsemen of Gakki Pasha were thrown into the offensive. The Ottoman cavalry broke through the line of Russian riflemen, bypassed the square and went into the rear of the Russian column. Burtsev used artillery to repel the attack. In addition, part of the reserve and light artillery were sent to his aid. The Turks on the right wing did not succeed, suffered heavy losses and fled.
After repelling the attacks of the Ottoman army, the Russian troops themselves went on the offensive. The main blow was struck at the central position of the enemy. Heavy fire from Russian artillery and a blow from Russian infantry led to the rupture of the Turkish line. To consolidate the success, the Russian commander introduced the Georgian Grenadier Regiment with 8 guns into the gap. As a result, the troops of Gakki Pasha and Haji-Saleh were separated from each other. The troops of the seraskir were driven back across the Kainlykh-chai river, and the Gakki-pashas were driven back to their camp in the Khan gorge.
Initially, Paskevich intended to relocate the tired troops to rest and continue the battle the next day. However, there was a threat that the Ottomans would gain a foothold in a new position, which would complicate the continuation of the battle. There was also information that the Turks were waiting for strong reinforcements. Therefore, Paskevich-Erivansky decided to continue the fight. A barrier was set up against the troops of Gakki Pasha under the command of Burtsev - 2 infantry and 1 cavalry regiments with 20 guns. The main forces opposed the seraskir. The Russian troops were again divided into three columns. The right column was commanded by Muravyov, the central - by Raevsky, the left - by Pankratyev.
A new offensive began at 8 pm. For the Ottomans, the enemy's new offensive came as a surprise. The Turks thought it was calm before dawn. The columns of Muravyov and Pankratyev began to bypass the enemy camp. Turkish artillery opened fire indiscriminately, but there was no sense in it. Russian troops continued their offensive. The Turkish infantry panicked, threw the trenches and ran, throwing weapons and various property. Russian troops pursued the enemy. The Turkish commander-in-chief barely managed to escape. As a result, Russian troops took about 3 thousand prisoners, 12 guns, all the reserves of the Turkish army. The remnants of the Ottoman troops fled to Erzurum or simply fled in search of salvation.
On June 20 (July 2), 1829, in a battle near the village of Miliduz, the corps of Gakki Pasha was also defeated. At night, the Russian troops made a roundabout maneuver along a mountain road and in the morning went to the rear of the enemy. The Ottomans prepared for battle, they did not yet know about the defeat of the main forces of the seraskir. They were informed of this, which caused a commotion in the camp and offered to surrender. Gakki Pasha agreed to lay down his arms, but asked for personal safety. Paskevich demanded unconditional surrender. The Turks tried to shoot back, however, as soon as the Russian troops launched an attack, the Ottomans fled. Cossacks and Caucasian militia persecuted the enemy, killed many, captured about 1,000 people. Among the prisoners was Gakki Pasha.
Thus, in the battle of June 19 - 20 (July 1 - 2), 1829, 50 thousand. the Turkish army was completely defeated, thousands of soldiers were killed, wounded and captured, the rest fled or fled to Erzurum. The Russians captured all the enemy's field artillery - 31 guns, 19 flags, all supplies. Russian casualties were minimal - 100 people. Turkish plans for revenge and invasion of Russian borders were buried.
Defense of Bayazet
Almost at the same time, the Turks were defeated under the walls of Bayazet, on the left flank of the Caucasian Front. June 20 (July 2) - June 21 (July 3) 1829 14 thous. the corps of the van pasha stormed Bayazet. It was defended by a small Russian-Armenian garrison under the command of Major General Popov (over 1800 Russian soldiers and Cossacks, about 500 Armenian militiamen). For two days, a fierce battle raged: the enemy was repelled with the help of rifle and artillery fire, and bayonet attacks were launched.
As a result, the assault was repelled. The Ottomans retreated to distant heights, but remained at the city. During the two days of fierce fighting, Turkish troops lost about 2 thousand people in killed and wounded. Russians more than 400 people, Armenians only killed 90 people, the number of wounded is unknown.
Until June 30, the Ottomans besieged Bayazet, made separate attacks, and harassed the garrison. Having received news of the defeat of the Seraskir and the fall of Erzurum, the Van Pasha lifted the siege and on July 1 (13) withdrew his troops towards Van. After a day, the Bayazet Pashalyk was cleared of the Turks.
The news of the bloody assault on Bayazet and the critical situation of the Russian garrison was a difficult moment for Paskevich. He received it on June 23, after the defeat of the Turkish army. A detachment of Bekovich-Cherkassky could have been sent to help Bayazet, but this weakened the main forces of the Russian army in the Erzerum direction, where they were still waiting for the continuation of heavy fighting. As a result, Paskevich decided that the defeat of the Turkish army and the fall of Erzurum would force the Van Pasha to withdraw the troops back. It was the right decision. Thus, the offensive of the Van Pasha on the Russian left flank did not lead the Ottomans to victory. A small Russian garrison in Bayazet withstood a heavy assault. The troops of the Van Pasha could not solve the problem of creating a threat to the flank and rear of the main forces of the Russian Caucasian corps, which could greatly complicate the campaign.
Capture of Erzurum. Victory
After the defeat at Kainli, the Turks tried to gain a foothold in the fortress of Gassan-Kale. But the demoralized soldiers did not want to fight and fled further to Erzurum. Russian troops marched 80 miles in three days and occupied Gassan-Kale, captured 29 cannons. The road to Erzurum was open. The Russian command fortified Gassa-Kale, brought here additional captured guns, various supplies, making the fortress the base of the Caucasian corps.
Russian troops reached Erzurum, one of the largest cities of the Ottoman Empire. The city was seized with panic. His garrison was demoralized by the defeat of the army. Seraskir was unable to organize the defense of a strong fortress. Under pressure from the council of local elders, who feared a pogrom of the city during the fighting, the Turkish commander-in-chief on June 26 (July 8), 1828, agreed to the unconditional surrender of Erzurum. June 27 (July 9) Russian troops entered the city. The Turkish garrison at the fortified hill Top Dag tried to resist, but was quickly suppressed.
Thus, the Russian army without a fight took the capital of Anatolia, the rich and populous Erzurum, the main base of the Turkish army in the Caucasus. The Russians got rich trophies: 150 field and fortress guns, all the reserves of the Turkish army, including the fortress arsenal. The Russians occupied the main control center of Anatolia, destroyed and dispersed the Turkish Anatolian army, seized the strategic initiative and were able to develop an offensive.
The offensive of the Trebizond Pasha was also unsuccessful. Russian troops took the Bayburt fortress, in July and September they inflicted two more defeats on the enemy. Further hostilities were suspended due to the stretching of Russian communications, and the insignificance of the forces of the Caucasian corps for an offensive in such a vast theater of operations. On September 2 (14), 1829, the Treaty of Adrianople was signed. Russia returned to Turkey most of the occupied fortresses, including Erzurum, Kars and Bayazet. Russia was left with a section of the Black Sea coast, including Anapa, Sukhum and Poti, the fortresses of Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe. The port recognized the transfer of Georgia (Kartli-Kakheti, Imeretia, Mingrelia and Guria) to Russia, as well as the Erivan and Nakhichevan khanates, transferred by Persia under the Turkmanchay peace treaty of 1828.
