20 
ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
think it was a deliberately planned ruse. Both describe it much as 
follows :— 
While success seemed thus certain for the Turks a stroug cavalry 
division was seen advancing up the road straight on the entrenchments. 
Moukhtar at once sent an infantry column, supported by two Horse 
batteries, down the road to drive off what he regarded as a rash recon¬ 
naissance. The eager Turks, snatching at the chance, poured out of 
their entrenchments, and rushed forward after the retreating horsemen 
till they were checked by some of the Dragoons on foot. The 
cavalry gave way little by little, and their pursuers, wild with success, 
went headlong after them. Suddenly from the hills that bordered the 
road heavy musketry broke out, and the Turks realised too late that 
they were hemmed in on either side and in rear. Cut off as they were, 
panic soon spread amongst them, and the contagion reached their 
brethren in the entrenchments behind. 
The Russian batteries rallying to success spring eagerly onward aud 
upward, a steep slope screens them as they draw near, and their artil¬ 
lery supports their efforts loyally with a fire which is described as 
(( deadly.” 1 2 
Strong reserves are steadily poured forward, and the attacking line 
fed from behind forces its way forward perseveringly. The spell in 
fact is broken; a sort of waver begins to show itself everywhere through 
the lines that guard the long hill, and, carried away by a gust of panic, 
the Turks finally give way and fly. 
The rest of the story is soon told. 
Although a gallant stand is made by Mehmed Pasha on the left till 
sunset, and the Turks hold out on the right also stubbornly, all that can 
be accomplished is to minimise defeat. Moukhtar is carried off in the 
rout of the centre, and the whole Turkish army retires in confusion to 
Erzeroum as night closes in. 
Their entire camp, 400 prisoners, 43 guns and much ammunition are 
left in Russian hands, while 4000 men killed and wounded lie scattered 
on the mountain side. 3 The victors lost but 823 killed and wounded, 
amongst whom were 41 officers. 3 
Thus, in what was the final battle of the campaign in Armenia, guns 
once more played a leading part in the action, and nobly sustained the 
reputation they had made three weeks before. 
While we are far from wishing to set up any fictitious claim for 
what the artillery on either side achieved during this, the latest, war 
on the continent, we yet believe that we have not been wide of the 
mark when we stated that the results as regards artillery were not to 
be taken en Hoc as disappointing in the manner in which they have 
often been regarded. The engagements we have referred to show that 
the expectations of those who have watched artillery progress during 
the last ten years have every promise of being realised in the future. 
1 Daily News Correspondent. 
2 This is according to Greene’s and yon Sarauv’s account, but Norman says it may safely be 
assumed that the Turks lost 3000 prisoners and 42 guns, while between 2500 and 3000 men were 
either killed or wounded. “ Armenia and the Campaign of 1877,” page 400. 
3 “ Dev Bussisch-Turkisclie Krieg, 1877-78,” by yon Sarauy. 
