THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY. 
393 
into the batteries. Four Turkish attacks, however, against the position 
on the right flank failed, the 1st Battalion 161st Regiment having 
come up; so that by 7 p.m. the enemy drew off unpursued to his former 
camp. The Turkish attack on the centre against Colonel Prigara's 
battalions was also at first successful, and three battalions of the 
151st were brought up. These drove the Turks out of the batteries, but 
the latter established themselves within range, and, opening fire, awaited 
the arrival of reinforcements; but the second attack failed entirely, so 
that till evening they were only able to keep up a rifle combat. The 
left wing was also slightly attacked by the inhabitants, while the 
position of the two cavalry regiments was shelled by an ironclad 
without effect. 
In expectation of a renewed attack, Denibekoff remained ready in his 
position on the 25th June; the Turks, however, did not attack, but 
remained so near the Russian position that when the Russian Sanitary 
Detachments advanced on the 25th to bury the dead, who were mostly 
Turks, they were much hindered in their work of humanity by the 
Turkish infantry fire. 
Having now recognised the insufficient strength of his forces for 
offensive movements, and the weakness of the Khotzubani position in 
the midst of a hostile population, also in consideration of the eventual 
necessity of detaching more troops to Abchasia, General Oklobjio ordered 
the retreat of the Kabulet Column to the fortified camp of Mukha 
Estate. Without annoyance from the Turks, the retreat was begun on 
the 28th June, and on the 30th the entire army was concentrated in 
the camp. 
(b) Akhaltzikh Column. 
The crossing of the almost impassable frontier range of mountains, 
which attain 2300 metres, during constant rain and wind, offered con¬ 
siderable difficulties to the Akhaltzikh Column, which advanced from 
Akhalkalaki. The advanced guard, which advanced by Karzakh and 
Zurzuna, reached Bekra-Kothun, 20 kils. east of Ardahan, on the 
28th May. As no pacification of the inhabitants, who at once sub¬ 
mitted, absorbed the strength or time of the column, two small 
detachments of cavalry were at once sent by different roads to Kars, 
to establish communication with the Alexandropol Column, both of 
which entered Zaim on the 1st May. 
Ardahan lies in the valley of the Kur, which is 19 kils. long and 
13 broad, at the foot of the hills which bound it on the east, and is the 
point of junction of the Akhaltzikh-Olti and Batoum-Kars roads. Till 
1872 Ardahan had only a citadel and a town-enceinte; in that year a 
system of redoubts was created round the old worthless fortifications, 
viz :—On the right bank, in a semi-circle from west to east. Forts 
Mekhrab and Diuz, which were connected with one another, and the 
isolated Forts Akhali, Singher, and Kaz Tapassi, all lying in the valley 
and completely commanded by the strong advanced Fort Emir Oghlu, 
3 kils. to the south-east on the Giilawerdi Hill. Opposite this, on the 
left bank of the Kur, on the height commanding it on the north-east, 
51 
