230 years ago, in April 1789, Russian general Vilim Khristoforovich Derfelden defeated the Turkish army in three battles. The Turks invaded Moldova with three corps: Kara-Megmet, Yakub-agi and Ibrahim. Derfelden with his division defeated all three enemy detachments - at Byrlad, Maksimen and Galats.
General military-political situation
The brilliant victories of the Russian army and navy won during the campaign of 1788: the capture of Khotin and Ochakov (the fierce battle for "southern Kronstadt"), the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Ochakovo and at Fidonisi (The defeat of the Turkish fleet in the Ochakovo battle; Battle of Fidonisi), did not forced the Ottoman Empire to ask for peace from Russia. Russia's ill-wishers did not sleep. In the winter of 1788 - 1789. the military-strategic situation for the Russian Empire became more complicated. In December 1788, Austria turned to Russia with a proposal to end the war with the Porte in connection with the aggravation of relations between the Austrians and Prussia. Vienna wanted to concentrate its forces against Prussia. Petersburg announced that it was ready to start a war with Prussia to protect Austria, but only after the end of the war with Turkey. The term of the Russian-Austrian union treaty, signed in 1781, expired in 1788. Vienna, interested in helping Russia, wanted to extend the agreement. Petersburg was also interested in an alliance with Austria. Prussia tried to break the alliance between Austria and Russia, but without success.
Turkey was determined to continue the war. In the north, the war with Sweden continued (the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790). A revolution was brewing in France, and Paris could not interfere in Turkey's affairs with the same fervor. Therefore, Prussia and England became the main rivals of Russia in the foreign policy arena. Seeking opportunities to harm the Russians, they settled on Poland, which at that time was in a serious crisis (in fact, in agony) and had already gone through the first partition. Among the Polish magnates there was a strong "patriotic", anti-Russian party, always ready to start a war with Russia. The Polish elite accused St. Petersburg of all sins, could not get used to the idea of the first partition and did not realize that new upheavals could finally destroy the Polish statehood.
The Polish Sejm, easily agitated by the agents of the Western powers, told the Russian envoy Stackelberg that the Russian troops should withdraw from Poland and take out their warehouses, and no longer use Polish territory for the transfer of troops and transports with supplies. The point was that during the war with Turkey in the Danube theater, the Polish possessions were the most convenient for the transfer of troops and the supply of the Russian army. Before the start of the war, the Polish king Stanislav August Poniatowski allowed free passage for the Russian army through Poland. And our main food warehouses were located in Podolia and Volyn, in areas close to the theater of operations and rich in grain. Thus, the demand of the Polish Sejm in the midst of the war put the Russian army in a difficult position. At the same time, it became known that in the Polish lands bordering on Turkish possessions, food was sent to the Ottomans and they refused to sell bread to the Russians. Local Polish authorities began to interfere with the movement of Russian troops.
Petersburg failed to convince the Polish government to restore the previous agreement on the movement of Russian troops and transports. To avoid an immediate war with the Poles, Russia had to yield. Empress Catherine II wrote to Potemkin that "the dirty tricks of the Poles must endure for the time being." They began to carry cargo to Kremenchug and Olviopol. Warehouses from Podolia and Volhynia were transferred to Moldavia and Bessarabia. Transportation was carried out mainly by ships. Also, cargo was mainly lowered along the Dniester and from the central regions of Russia.
At the same time, Prussia interfered with the agreement between Russia and Poland. Petersburg could attract Poland to its side, due to territorial acquisitions at the expense of the Turkish Empire. This was what Potemkin wanted. However, Catherine was cautious, fearing a tough reaction from Prussia, with which she would have to fight. The Prussians at this time, taking advantage of the difficulties of Russia, were tough and defiant. Prussian diplomacy encouraged Porto and Sweden to continue the war with Russia. The threat from Prussia was so obvious that Petersburg had to gather troops in the western strategic direction, which diverted significant forces of the Russian army from the war with the Turks and Swedes.
The assault on Ochakov. Engraving by A. Berg, 1792. Source:
Plans for the 1789 campaign
To further strengthen the positions of the Russian Empire in the Northern Black Sea region, the Russian armed forces needed to seize the Bender fortress on the Dniester and at the mouth of the river - to take Akkerman. Thus, the Russians would control the course of the Dniester - an important natural boundary and river communication. Along the Dniester, various reserves for the army could be directed to the sea and further to the mouth of the Danube, where the main enemy forces were located, and where the main operations of the Russian army were to take place. It was also necessary to clear the lower reaches of the Dniester - from Bendery to Akkerman, from enemy troops in order to secure the flank of the Ukrainian army under the command of Rumyantsev.
The Yekaterinoslav army of Potemkin (80 thousand people) was supposed to occupy the Dniester line. She occupied the Novorossiysk and Yekaterinoslav provinces, positions on the left bank of the Dniester and had a headquarters (headquarters) in Elizavetgrad. Potemkin himself arrived in the army from St. Petersburg only at the end of June. The headquarters was in Iasi. The Ukrainian army under the command of Rumyantsev (35 thousand soldiers) was located in the region of the Seret, Dniester and Prut rivers, in Bessarabia and Moldavia. Rumyantsev's army was supposed to act in cooperation with the Austrians and advance on the Lower Danube, where the vizier with the main Turkish army was in the Izmail area. It was believed that the Austrians would invade Serbia and divert the main forces of the Turkish army to themselves, which would facilitate the movement of Rumyantsev's army. For communication with the Russian army in Moldova, the Austrian command allocated a corps under the command of the Prince of Coburg. In fact, Potemkin took on the largest army and the easiest task. The small army of Rumyantsev was clearly assigned an overwhelming task. Rumyantsev's troops, remote from Russia, after the ban on using the territory of Poland for communication, experienced great difficulties with replenishment. In addition, the soldiers were mowed down by disease.
The Tauride Corps of Kakhovsky defended the Crimean Peninsula. One division defended the Kherson-Kinburnsky region. The Turkish fleet was based in Anapa. In this area, the Turks planned to collect a significant army and threaten the Crimea with a landing. Therefore, the Kuban-Caucasian corps (about 18 thousand people) under the command of Saltykov had to advance on Anapa. The Sevastopol ship fleet was supposed to fight for domination in the Black Sea, and the rowing flotilla was supposed to guard Ochakov.
The Turkish high command, knowing from the experience of the previous campaign that it was harder to fight the Russians than the Austrians, decided to concentrate the main forces against the Russian army in the lower reaches of the Danube. The main attention should be paid to the defense of Bessarabia and Moldova. High Vizier Yusuf Pasha planned to concentrate an army of 150,000 in the Lower Danube region. An auxiliary 30-thousandth army was supposed to deliver a diversionary blow from Brailov to Moldova, at this time the main army would make a roundabout maneuver, cut off the allies from each other, push back the enemy's forward detachments and defeat the main forces of the Russians. The Austrians in Serbia were to be stopped by a separate army and a garrison in Belgrade. The Vizier believed that a strike on the Austrian corps of the Prince of Coburg in Moldova and the severing of ties with the allies would lead Austria out of the war. To distract the Russian forces, simultaneously with the offensive in the lower Danube region, the Turkish fleet with a landing was to threaten the Crimea from the Anapa side.
Turkish offensive. Rumyantsev's army actions
The High Vizier, being in Ruschuk in winter, sent out significant detachments to harass our troops between the Prut and Seret. This led to a series of skirmishes in the border strip. Rumyantsev strengthened the protection of the border. In the spring of 1789, the Turkish command moved from the area of Ruschuk, Brailov and Galats to Moldova three detachments - Kara-Megmet (10 thousand people), Yakub-agi (20 thousand people) and Ibrahim (10 thousand soldiers). The Austrian corps hastily retreated. Then the Russian commander Rumyantsev moved the 4th division of Derfelden to the rescue of the Austrians. He was an experienced combat commander who had already distinguished himself in the 1768-1774 war. (later on as a military ally of Suvorov). Also, for the immediate support of Derfelden, Rumyantsev sent the 1st division, and allocated a reserve from the 2nd and 3rd divisions. The reserve under the command of Colonel Korsakov consisted of 2 carabiner and 1 Cossack regiments. Then Rumyantsev sent the 2nd division to Chisinau to distract the enemy and weaken his advance from Galati.
Turkish troops overturned an advanced Russian detachment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Trebinsky, which was carrying patrol between the Prut and Seret. To help Trebinsky, Derfelden allocated a detachment of Major General Shakhovsky - the 3rd grenadier regiment, 2 infantry battalions, a Cossack regiment and 100 rangers. The advanced forces of the Turks attacked Shakhovsky's detachment while moving along the gorge and from the dominant heights in the Radeshti region. Our troops suffered losses. Only a counterattack by the rangers threw back the enemy. Then Shakhovsky discovered the superior forces of the enemy and did not dare to attack him. He asked Derfelden for reinforcements. After that, Derfelden's division and Korsakov's reserve began rapprochement with the enemy. Traffic was slow due to poor road conditions, spring thaw and a shortage of ships on the Prut. As a result, Derfelden's division and Shakhovsky's detachment settled in the Falchi area at the end of March.
Our troops were waiting for the Austrian corps of the Prince of Coburg to join them. However, referring to the bad roads, the Austrians refused to go to Focsani. In reality, having exaggerated information about the forces of the enemy, and knowing that the strong corps of Yakub-Agha was standing against Derfelden, the Prince of Saxe-Coburg was afraid to go forward. Meanwhile, the Turks, taking advantage of the inaction of the Austrians, transferred reinforcements from the Danube and launched an offensive against Coburg's corps, from Focsani and the Russians. The detachments of Yakub Agha and Ibrahim Pasha marched against Derfelden. As soon as the offensive of the Turkish troops was discovered, the Austrians hastily retreated to Transylvania. Thus, the Turks were able to move the main forces against the Russians and gained a significant advantage in forces. Despite this, Derfelden received an order from Rumyantsev to go to Byrlad and defeat the enemy.
On March 31, 1789, Korsakov's detachment arrived at Byrlad. Here the Cossacks found significant enemy forces - 6 thousand cavalry and 2 thousand infantry. These were the troops of the seraskir Kara-Megmet, who planned to attack the Austrians, but finding their flight, turned to Byrlad. The Turks occupied the mound dominating the area, and began to prepare for an attack. Korsakov sent rangers, who, with a bayonet attack, brought down the enemy from the dominant height. At this time, the main forces of the Russian detachment lined up in a square. This is an infantry battle formation in the form of a square or rectangle, which was used mainly to repel cavalry attacks from different directions.
The enemy cavalry several times rushed into the attack on the Russian detachment, but was repelled by the steadfastness and accuracy of the fire of the Russian soldiers. The Arnauts (light irregular troops, recruited from the inhabitants of Moldova and Wallachia) and the Cossacks, after each repulsed attack, counterattacked, cut into the retreating crowds, causing them serious damage. As a result, the Turks wavered and fled, losing up to 100 people. Korsakov's detachment lost up to 30 people killed and wounded.
Victories of the Russian army at Byrlad and Maximen
Kara-Megmet, having reinforced his detachment with 10 thousand people, on April 7, 1789 again moved to Byrlad and attacked Korsakov. After a stubborn battle, the Turks retreated, losing 2 banners and up to 200 men. Our losses are 25 killed and wounded.
On April 10, Derfelden linked up with Korsakov. Having received the news that the enemy had divided the forces - the troops of Yakub-Aga headed for Maksimen, and Kara-Megmet - for Galatz, Derfelder decided to defeat the enemy in parts and continued the offensive. On April 15, Russian troops reached Maksimen. The troops of Yakub-Aga stood without proper security: 3 thousand people on the left bank of the Seret near Maksimen, about 10 thousand people with 3 guns - on the right bank. For communication, ferries and ships were used, concentrated mainly on the right bank.
At 3 a.m. on April 16, Derfelden's detachment began to move to attack part of the enemy detachment on the left bank. Darkness, rain and fog obscured the movement of our troops. Therefore, the attack was sudden for the Ottomans. Panic broke out, the stunned Turks in a crowd ran to the river to cross to the right bank, some by swimming, some in a few boats. The Cossacks of Colonels Sazonov and Grekov cut into the enemy crowds, cutting off the enemy from the crossing. The Turks fled along the coast, the Cossacks pursued them, cut down "no pardon", took few people prisoner. Derfelden reinforced the Cossacks with two squadrons of regular cavalry, sent jaegers to capture the crossing over Seret and allocated part of the forces to defend the left bank from possible attacks from the right side, from where the Turks could come to the aid of Yakub. Derfelden directed the main forces towards Galatz, from where Ibrahim Pasha could come.
Yakub Agha with 600 fighters tried to escape, holding back the Cossacks with rearguards. However, the Cossacks completely destroyed his detachment, the wounded Turkish commander himself was taken prisoner. We also captured 4 banners and 1 cannon. At the same time, the Russian cavalry destroyed individual enemy groups that were trying to escape to the right bank of the Seret. Russian huntsmen crossed the river and captured Maksimeni, seized all the crossing means. The Turks fled. In this battle, the Ottomans lost more than 400 people in killed only, took more than 100 people prisoner.
At this time, a Turkish detachment under the command of Ibrahim Pasha, annexing the defeated forces of Yakub Pasha, took up positions at Galats. Ibrahim Pasha at first wanted to meet the Russians, but upon learning of the defeat of Yakub Pasha, he decided to fight at Galats. Derfelden decided to attack the enemy. On April 18, the Russian vanguard - 4 grenadier and 1 ranger battalion, reached Galatz. On April 20, the main forces of the division joined the vanguard.
Battle of Galati
The Turks took up a strong position and fortified it well. A deep ravine covered the Turkish troops from the front. In the center, near Galati itself, there was a fortified camp. On the left and right flanks were hills, on which the Ottomans set up batteries, covered with trenches and a ditch. The Ottoman corps numbered up to 20 thousand people.
General Derfelden, having reconnoitred the enemy positions, found that the Ottomans could not be attacked suddenly, and that a frontal attack would be very dangerous. Then, taking advantage of the hill on the left flank, which hid the movement of our troops, the Russian general decided to bypass the enemy's right wing. Russian troops bypassed the enemy and deployed a front against the right flank of the position of Ibrahim Pasha. This flanking maneuver, covered by the heights dividing the Russian and Turkish troops, was carried out so successfully that the Ottomans found our troops only when they had already launched an attack on their right flank.
The first to attack were 2 grenadier and 1 jaeger battalion, led by Derfelden himself. When the grenadiers rushed to storm the forward enemy trench, a horse was killed under the general. When he fell, he severely broke his face and was covered in blood. “The general is dead!” The soldiers shouted. "No, guys, I'm alive, with God forward!" It turned out that the Turkish earthworks were covered by a moat. The soldiers went down into the ditch, but could not climb up, as the rains that had been going for several days washed away the clay, and trying to get up, the soldiers broke down. It was impossible to be under fire like that. The attack was thwarted.
However, Derfelden was quickly found, there were several Turkish buildings nearby. They were dismantled, the boards were thrown over the moat. The grenadiers quickly crossed the ditch and with a bayonet attack drove the enemy out of the lower trench. On the shoulders of the running enemy, they broke into the middle one and captured it. At this time, the Turkish cavalry tried to attack the flank and rear of our attacking infantry. But this attack was repulsed by the Cossacks. The grenadiers took the third trench with bayonets, killing 560 Turks.
Having put an end to the enemy's resistance on the right flank, our troops went to storm the Turkish positions on the left wing. Here the Turks, frightened by the fate of the garrison of the right-flank fortifications, capitulated. About 700 people surrendered. The battle for the Galati heights lasted more than 3 hours. When the heights fell, the main forces of Ibrahim Pasha hastily boarded the ships and went down the Danube. In this battle, the Turks lost more than 1,500 people killed, took about 1,500 prisoners, including Ibrahim Pasha himself. Russian losses amounted to 160 killed and wounded. Our troops captured 13 cannons, 37 flags, a large number of weapons, food supplies and a wagon train of the Turkish army.
Thus, Derfelden's division destroyed and scattered the Turkish army under the command of Yakub Agha and Ibrahim Pasha. On April 23, our troops set out from Galati back and on April 28 arrived in Byrlad. General Derfelden's victories were celebrated on May 4, 1789 with the Order of St. George 2nd degree: "In reward for the diligence and excellent courage, produced by him with the troops under his command, which consisted of defeating the enemy in Moldova at Maksimeni and then at Galati for winning a noble victory."
These brilliant victories were Rumyantsev's last operation. Potemkin crushed the entire army under him. Both armies - Yekaterinoslavskaya and Ukrainian, were united under the general command of Potemkin. Rumyantsev was replaced by Repnin. Nominally, Rumyantsev was appointed commander of the western army, near the borders of Poland (in case of war in Poland or with Prussia), but he retired to his estate. The 3rd division of Derfelden was led by Suvorov, who would soon glorify the Russian army with new brilliant victories at Focsani and at Rymnik. Suvorov himself highly appreciated Derfelden's successes. After Rymnik, the Russian commander said: "Honor is not to me, but to Vilim Khristoforovich. I am only his disciple: by the defeat of the Turks at Maksimeni and Hawats, he showed how to warn the enemy." Suvorov always spoke well of his colleague. Later, Derfelden honorably took part in the Italian and Swiss campaigns.
Russian General Vilim Khristoforovich Derfelden (Otto-Wilhelm von Derfelden)
