XV. 1829. three thousand prisoners, and their whole ammunition and CHAP. provisions, with the loss of less than two hundred men. History furnishes few examples of success so brilliant and decisive, and so obviously the result of superiority in generalship and tactics. It reminds us of the days of Alexander the Great and Pompey, when small European forces, admirably led and disciplined, and inured to war, overthrew forces five times more numerous of the Asiatic monarchies. The campaigns of Napoleon in Italy in 1796, and France in 1814, which they very much resemble from the skilful use made of a central position, and the wonderful effects of rapidity of movement, present 1 Fonton, no results more striking or more demonstrative of the 460, 461. talents of the general-in-chief.1 101. of Paske Hassan ' its fall. Paskewitch had profoundly studied ancient history, and his own experience in the wars of Persia had taught Advance him that the character of the Asiatic people was un- witch changed; that still, as in the days of Cyrus or Mithri- against dates, they passed rapidly from one extreme to another; Kale, and and that entire nations were ready, on decisive events, to range themselves in willing multitudes around the banner of the victor. He set himself, accordingly, in the most vigorous manner, to improve his success, and strike a decisive blow, before the excitable minds of the Asiatics had recovered from their consternation. The position of the Seraskier had become desperate. Of his late immense host only ten thousand horse could be assembled at Hassan-Kale, all in the deepest state of dejection; and with these he despaired of defending its walls against his enterprising enemy. Accordingly, when the Russian outposts, under General Burtsdorff, approached the fortress, he made his dispositions to evacuate it, and withdraw to Erzeroum. When they descended the valleys on the southern side of the Saganlugh, towards the Araxes, they speedily felt the change of climate, and the troops, which had recently shivered on the edge of perennial snows, now were melting under the rays of a burning sun. On XV. 1829. 1 Fonton, CHAP. their approach the troops of the Seraskier mutinied, and, disbanding, fled in all directions. The Russians crossed the Araxes by a noble bridge of seven arches, still entire, constructed by Darius Hystaspes, and speedily took possession of the abandoned fortress, where they found 464, 466 twenty-nine guns, and immense stores enclosed within 385; Paske- the walls, which dated from the days of the Romans. Despatch, Situated on a lofty rock, which commands the whole valley of the Araxes, it is the key of that valley, and may be considered as the principal outwork of Erzeroum. 1 Valentini, witch's Ann. Hist. xii. 89. 102. Fall of Erzeroum. July 20. The advance of the Russians and capture of HassanKale spread the utmost consternation in that capital. The populace loudly clamoured for immediate submission; but the troops still stood firm, and the walls were lined with numerous defenders, apparently bent on a resolute defence. Paskewitch, however, rapidly approached; on the 19th his advanced guard appeared before the capital, and on the day following he himself arrived, with the guns and bulk of his forces. Conferences soon began for the surrender of the place; but as the enemy seemed to be only striving to gain time, he ordered an immediate attack on Top-Dagh, a fortified rocky eminence, commanding both the citadel and the entire town. The Russians advanced to the attack with drums beating and colours flying, and the Turks were so intimidated by their aspect that, without attempting any resistance, they abandoned the post, and fled into the city. This success was decisive of the fate of Erzeroum; further resistance was impossible, for the guns from Top-Dagh commanded every part of the town. A capitulation, accordingly, was agreed on, and the Russian troops entered the capital of Asia Minor on the anniversary of the battle of Pultowa. A hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, six standards, the Seraskier's baton, and immense stores of ammunition and provisions, fell into the hands of the victors, and the 470, 476. Russian standards waved on the ramparts of the capital of the Turkish empire in Asia.2 2 Fonton, XV. 1829, movements. The Russians, however, were not allowed to remain CHAP. long in the quiet possession of their conquest. The pachalic of Bajazeth, as a glance at the map will demon- 103. strate, was extrinsic to the line of operations, and being Further pushed far into the enemy's territories, lay exposed to his attacks, the more especially as the garrison, of fifteen hundred Russian and a thousand Armenian levies, was hardly adequate to its defence. Encouraged by these circumstances, and anticipating an easy conquest, the Pacha of Van, in the beginning of June, collected ten thousand men, with which he laid siege to the town. The Turks at first gained such success that the fall of the place appeared certain. They penetrated, after several assaults, into the works, and made themselves masters of two bastions and several guns. General June 21. Popoff, the governor, deeming further resistance useless, proposed to evacuate the place; but General Panatine, the second in command, though wounded, combated this proposal so strongly that it was resolved to continue the defence. They concentrated the garrison, accordingly, in the strongest points of the town which still remained to them, and there made so vigorous a defence that the Turks, after having been repulsed with great slaughter in several assaults, were compelled to raise the siege, after 476, 484 having lost two thousand men before the place; but one- 389, 390. third of the heroic garrison had fallen during the defence.1 July 1. 1 Fonton, Valentini, So rapid had been the advance upon Erzeroum, and 104. of the Pacha Baibout. so immediate the success, that the Russian reserves were Submission still far in the rear when the place fell, and Paskewitch of Mush, was obliged to suspend his operations till their arrival. and of He turned this necessary delay to good account, by strengthening his position in that capital, and establishing there a central government, under the protection of Russia, which might turn the resources of the conquered provinces. to good account. His administrative measures were so judicious that they gave universal satisfaction, and won for him the confidence of all classes of citizens. So wide XV. 1829. CHAP. spread was the reputation of his probity and just administration, that it soon procured for him the submission of distant provinces, which had never yet been visited by the Russian arms. Among the rest, the Pacha of Mush gave in his adhesion, and withdrew his troops from the Turkish service; and the inhabitants of Baibout, a town situated seventy miles from the Russian headquarters, made offers of submission. Paskewitch at first hesitated to accept them, owing to the distance; but having received intelligence that the Seraskier was levying troops there, he changed his resolution, and sent General Burtsdorff, with two thousand men, to occupy the place. At his approach the Turks, five thousand strong, dispersed, and evacuated the fortress, which was occupied without 485, 491 resistance. This acquisition was of importance, both from its intrinsic strength, and as opening the road to Trebizond and the shores of the Black Sea.1 1 Fonton, Valentini, 390. 105. Disaster before Khart. July 19. The reserves having at length arrived, Paskewitch, after three weeks' inaction, resolved to recommence operations. His advance was accelerated by a severe check which Burtsdorff's division received in an attack upon the fortress of Khart, which was repulsed with the loss of sixty killed and two hundred and seventy wounded-among the latter of which was Burtsdorff himself, who was struck in the breast by a pistol-shot as he was seizing a standard. This disaster opened the eyes of Paskewitch to the danger of any further extension of his operations with the limited force at his disposal; but at the same time he saw the necessity of a vigorous stroke to re-establish the lustre of the Russian arms, which in all wars, but especially those of Asia, is so important an element in success. No sooner, accordingly, did he hear of the disaster of his lieutenant, than, collecting all the disposable forces at his command, he set out himself Ann. Hist. against Khart.2 The Lazes, twelve thousand strong, who Doc. Hist. formed the militia of the country, collected in great force at his approach, and, flushed with their former victory, Aug. 20. 2 Fonton, 491, 499; Valentini, 391, 392; Paskewitch's Despatch, xii. 93, 94; XV. 1829. prepared to defend the place to the last extremity. They CHAP. were posted in an intrenched camp resting on the town; but notwithstanding the strength of the position, and the valour of the Mussulmans, they were utterly routed and dispersed, and the town taken. This important victory insured the immediate submission of all the neighbouring tribes, and opened to the Russians the roads to the important harbours of Livaz and Trebizond. 106. Paske Aug. 21. Notwithstanding this success, and the brilliant prospect of getting the command of the whole sea-coast from Trebi- Retreat of zond to Batoum thus opened to him, which would have witch to established his communication with the sea of which the Erzeroum. Russians were masters, Paskewitch felt the necessity of checking his advance, and securing the conquests he had made, before attempting fresh ones. The better to conceal his design, he detached two columns towards the seacoast, which were entirely successful, and drove the Turks in confusion before them. The fortress of GhumicolKane was occupied without firing a shot, and the light horse were pushed almost to the gates of Trebizond. But the attack on that place could not have been hazarded without at least five thousand men, and such a force could not be spared in the present divided state of the army. 501, 509; The general-in-chief therefore withdrew the bulk of his xii. 93, 94; forces to Erzeroum, and evacuated Baibout, after having xii. 385. blown up its fortifications.1 1 Fonton, Ann. Hist. Doc. Hist. the Turks and subse quent checks sians. While Paskewitch was adopting this wise resolution, 107. General Pankratieff had resumed operations with vigour Defeat of in Guriel, and on the shores of the Black Sea. Surmount- in Guriel, ing precipices and passing by roads deemed impracticable, he attacked and totally defeated eight thousand of the RusTurks in the defiles of Mukha-Estatt, taking sixty-eight Aug. 14. guns and five hundred prisoners. At the news of this defeat, all resistance ceased in Guriel, and the armed Aug. 28. bands in that quarter dispersed.2 But an expedition, unSept. 18. dertaken by General Sacken, the governor of Akhalzikh, 509, 516. against another mountain chief of Adjar, failed from the 2 Fonton, |
