12 
ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
Russian infantry. A rose garden pnt in a state of defence blocked the 
way, and the Russians were suffering considerable loss under the fire 
from it. A battery of Horse Artillery was sent round to a flank, and 
when it opened fire “ the effect was instantaneous.” I saw the 
Turkish defenders disappear as if by magic, and riding into the rose 
garden shortly afterwards found it strewn with dead bodies, bearing 
undeniable marks of having suffered from shell fire.” 1 2 
Furthermore, we may note that the defences of Telisch capitulated 
on October the 28th after bombardment for three hours by 66 guns 3 
(according to General Brackenbury, of the new pattern), without any 
infantry attack being delivered at all. The guns in this case were 
brought into action within 1500 yards of the Turkish defences and 
fired principally shrapnel. 
Ardahan was captured chiefly through the effect of the fire of artillery, 
and although the bombardment did not commence till 3 p.m. on the 
17th of May (1877), and although it had originally been intended to 
continue it during that evening and the following day, the fire of the 
guns was so destructive that Loris Melikoff determined to assault in 
spite of the lateness of the hour that very night, and by 9 o'clock 
accordingly the whole place was in Russian hands. 
1000 prisoners, 92 guns (two of which were 8-inch, five 6-inch, and 
the majority of the rest 4-inch Krupp siege guns), and a vast quantity 
of ammunition and stores were captured. 1750 Turkish bodies were 
buried by the Russians, and their total loss was estimated at 3000. 
That is to say that about half the garrison were killed, wounded, or 
taken prisoners. a The losses of the Turks were occasioned almost 
wholly by the Russian artillery, which seems to have been admirably 
served.” 3 
So far had the Russian artillery progressed since Plevna. 
As an example, however, of artillery taking an unmistakeably 
prominent part on the open battle-field, we must turn to one of the 
latest battles of the war, that of Aladja Dagh, fought on the 15th of 
October, the first occasion when modern shrapnel has been employed 
on a large scale in field warfare proper, and one on which guns 
directed with skill and energy once more showed that where results 
are unsatisfactory the blame is less due to the inherent deficiences of the 
arm than to a want of knowledge and appreciation of its powers on the 
part of those who try to utilise it. 
After several more or less successful engagements with the Russian 
force operating under the Grand Duke Michael against Kars during a 
period extending from the latter part of August to October, Moukhtar 
Pasha (whose successes had gained him the name of Ghazi) imagining, 
it is said, that the approach of winter would put a stop to further 
operations, abandoned the ground he held on the Great Yahni, Kizil 
Tepe, and Uch Tepe, and drew his army back to fortified positions at 
1 Vide lecture on “ Field Artillery.” 
2 Greene says there were 72. 
3 Vide Greene’s “ History of the War.” 
