392 
THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY, 
In the camp there remained the 3rd Battalion 75th Regiment, 
1st Battalion 163rd Regiment, and both cavalry regiments. 
At 6 a.m. the Russian left flank battery and at 7 a.m. the great 
centre battery opened fire, also, in the course of the forenoon, the 
unfavourably-placed right-wing battery; but it was soon perceived that 
they could do little or no damage to the four well-posted Turkish 
batteries, which were on higher ground, were more under cover, and 
had before and between them, on the terraces rising from the river, no 
fewer than seven rows of shelter-trenches. The Turkish army was 
about 15,000 strong. The artillery combat soon sank into secondary 
importance, as the results obtained by the Russian fire were small, and 
the Turks reserved their ammunition to repulse the infantry attack, 
which was begun by Col. Gurtschin at 9 a.m. The columns, descending 
through the thick woods, were much broken up by them, and, when 
they emerged from under cover of the trees on the bank of the 
Kintrischi, were received by such a well-kept-up and crushing fire that 
it was 4.30 p.m. before the columns were assembled on the left bank of 
the Kintrischi, for the assault of the shelter-trenches. By 7 p.m. 
KozelofFs column had succeeded in capturing three rows of them; 
Tchavtchavatze had won a little more ground, in spite of the attacks of 
irregulars on his flank; still, the strength of both, even after the reserve 
had been drawn in, was so expended, and that of the enemy so little 
shaken, that a further advance was impossible. 
Nor had General Schelemetieff more success against the Turkish left 
in the lower part of the camp, as his own battery could make no im¬ 
pression upon that of the Turks, which was armed with heavy guns and 
supported by the fire of a frigate. His infantry, therefore, could not 
advance beyond a position which they had captured at noon, and whence 
they kept up a combat of small-arms. As the Turks ceased firing 
along the whole line at 8 p.m., and as a counter-attack of the Turks 
during the night was not to be feared, on account of the impassability 
of the ground, General Denibekoff ordered the troops to bivouac in the 
conquered positions, as a retreat to the right bank was not advisable, 
intending to withdraw them to the camp of Khotzubani next morning, 
as the results of the fighting had convinced him that his forces were not 
sufficient to drive the Turks from their camp. 
When the retreat of the Russian infantry began on the morning of 
the 24th, a large concentration of Turks was noticed opposite the right 
and centre of the Russians, which seemed to presage an attack. The 
batteries of the centre and right remained, therefore, in their positions, 
and the infantry retreated partly into the batteries, partly to the 
trenches in front of them, and the right wing was extended as far as 
possible by detaching the two cavalry regiments to the coast plain; the 
whole of Colonel Gurtschin"’ s column was placed as reserve, in rear of the 
centre, as it was seen that the Turks were massing their troops in front 
of the Lesistaia and Stolovaia Hills and the battery on the left of them. 
Both the battalions left in camp on the 23rd June were brought up to 
support this battery. The Turkish attack on the above points was 
carried out with extraordinary bravery. The 2nd Rifle Battalion and 
the Kutais Legion, who defended the right flank, were thrown back 
