Rallying in Kars
The fortifications of Kars took the form of unbroken breastworks linking with natural obstacles and strengthened at intervals by redoubts - these became strongpoints or forts where the threat was considered most serious. These fortifications are shown on this plan. All the strongpoints coloured brown had the Turkish word for fort, 'Tabia', after their names - I have omitted this to avoid cluttering the plan with text. As seen from the engraving, the town lies south of a range of rocky hills running east to west. The eastern end is less than a mile away - it falls away steeply and makes a natural point of defence. It was known as Karadagh Tabia and Lake had fortified it strongly. The western end of the range descends in gentle slopes from a hillock Tachmash. The river Karshai runs through the fortified area from the north curving westwards and traversed by several bridges. North of the gorge a defensive line ran roughly parallel to the river. It was heaviest fortified at the western end by what was known as Lake's Fort, containing eight guns. its eastern end terminated at the gorge with Teesdale Tabia. This was in mutual support with the Arab Tabia directly to the east of the gorge which in turn was in mutual support with Karadagh to the south. The defensive line had to be extended beyond the flat plain to the south of the town to a range of east- west running hills which dominated it. This resulted in a roughly rectangular configuration with the strongest point Hafiz Pasha Tabia in its south east corner. This is likely to be the pre-existing gun position featured in the left foreground of the engraving, even though the angle looks wrong; they can be deceptive.
The fortifications were well developed and constructed, the greatest advantage being the siting of the bulk of the artillery in mutually supporting positions. The great disadvantage was the sheer length of the perimeter which could not be effectively defended at all points simultaneously given the size of force available.
The dust from Muraviev's force was visible from Kars at first light on the morning of the feast of Bairam - 16th June, and the light cover of Turkish picquets was driven in by the Russian light cavalry. Muraviev lost no time in testing out the defences, at 6.30 am sending his advance guard of three Cossack regiments to try to force entry to the eastern side of the town from the line of march. They were hotly engaged by the gun batteries in the three tabias The Russians cut the road to Erzerum and destroyed a supply depot at Yenikoi some fifty miles along that road. Rather surprisingly the equivalent of two months supply of biscuit, wheat and barley for the Kars garrison had been left sitting there.
Latest Articles
