field, besides those carried off by their comrades.
The central column precipitated itself on the redoubts
of Tahmasb and Yuksek Tabias, where desperate fighting
occurred and lasted for several hours, the enemy
being repulsed in all his attempts to enter the closed
redoubts, which mutually flanked each other with their
artillery and musketry, and made terrible havoc in the
ranks of the assailants; and it was here that Generals
Kmety and Hussein Pasha, together with Major
Teesdale, so conspicuously displayed their courage and
conduct. Lieutenant-General Kereen Pasha also
repaired to the scene of desperate strife to encourage the
troops, and was wounded in the shoulder, and had two
horses killed under him. The right column of the
Russian infantry, supported by a battery, eventually
turned the left flank of the intrenched wing of the
Tahmasb defences, and whilst the Russian battery
opened in the rear of the closed redoubt at its salient
angle, their infantry penetrated considerably behind
our position. Observing the commencement of this
movement, and anticipating its consequences, Lieut.-
Colonel Lake, who had taken the direction of affairs in
the English Tabias, was instructed to send a battalion
from Fort Lake to the assistance of the defenders of
Tahmasb, and at the same time two battalions of the
reserves were moved across the flying bridge and upon
the rocky height of Laz Jeppé Tabia. These three
reinforcing columns met each other at that point, and,
being hidden from the enemy by the rocky nature of
the ground, confronted him at a most opportune
moment; they deployed, opened their fire, which
stopped and soon drove back the enemy's reserves,
which were then vigorously charged with the bayonet,
at the same moment that General Kmety and Major
Teesdale issued from the redoubts at Tahmasb and
charged the assailants. The whole of that portion of
the enemy's infantry and artillery now broke and fled
down the heights under a murderous fire of musketry;
this occurred at half-past 11, after a combat of seven
hours. In this part of the field the enemy had,
including his reserves, 22 battalions of infantry, a large
force of dragoons and Cossacks, together with 32 guns.
Whilst this struggle, which I have attempted to
describe, was occurring at Tahmasb, a most severe combat
was going on at the eastern position of the line, called
the English Tabias. About half-past 5 o'clock a.m. a
Russian column, consisting of eight battalions of
infantry, three regiments of cavalry, and 16 guns advanced
from the valley of Tehakmak, and assaulted those small
redoubts, which, after as stout a resistance as their
unavoidably feeble garrison could oppose, fell into their
hands, together with the connecting breastworks,
defended by townsmen and mountaineers from Lazistan,
whose clannish flags, according to their custom, were
planted before them, on the epaulments, and
consequently fell into the enemy's hands; but ere the firing
had begun in this portion of the field, Captain Thompson
had received orders to send a battalion of infantry
from each of the heights of Karadagh and Arab Tabia
to reinforce the English Lines. This reinforcement
descended the deep gully through which flows the Kars river,
passed a bridge, recently thrown across it, and ascended
the opposite precipitous bank by a zigzag path which
led into the line of works named by the Turks Ingliz
Tabias (the English Batteries). Their arrival was as
opportune as that of the reserves directed toward
Tahmasb, which I have had the honour to describe in
the former part of this despatch; these battalions,
joined to those directed by Lieutenant-Colonel Lake,
gallantly attacked and drove the Russians out of the
redoubts at the point of the bayonet, after the artillery
of the enemy had been driven from those lines by the
cross fire directed from Fort Lake and from Arab Tabia
and Karadagh, by Capt. Thompson. This officer
deserves my best thanks for having seized a favourable
moment to remove a heavy gun from the eastern to the
western extremity of Karadagh, and with it inflicted
severe loss on the enemy. After the Russian infantry
was driven from the English redoubts, the whole of
their attacking force of cavalry, artillery, and infantry
retreated with precipitation, plied with round shot from
all the batteries bearing on their columns. During
their temporary success, however, the enemy captured
two of our light guns, which the mortality amongst
our horses from famine prevented our withdrawing
from their advanced positions. He also carried off his
wounded, and many of his dead; yet he left 363 of the
latter within and in front of these intrenchments: and
his retreat occurred at least an hour before the
assailants of Tahmasb were put to flight. During this
combat, which lasted nearly seven hours, the Turkish
infantry, as well as artillery, fought with the most
determined courage; and when it is recollected that
they had worked on their entrenchments, and guarded
them by night, throughout a period extending to nearly
four months, I think your lordship will admit that they
have proved themselves worthy of the admiration of
Europe, and established an undoubted claim to be
placed amongst the most distinguished of its troops.
With regard to the enemy, as long as there was a
chance of success he persevered with undaunted courage,
and the Russian officers displayed the greatest gallantry.
Their loss was immense; they left on the field more
than 5,000 dead, which it took the Turkish infantry
four days to bury. Their wounded and prisoners in our
possession amount to 160, whilst those who were carried
off are said to be upwards of 7,000. As the garrison
was afflicted with cholera, and I was apprehensive of a
great increase of the malady, should this melancholy
duty of the burial of the dead be not pushed forward
with every possible vigour by our fatigued and jaded
soldiers, I daily visited the scene of strife to encourage
them in their almost endless task; and I can assure
your lordship that the whole battle-field presented a
scene which is more easy to conceive than to describe,
being literally covered with the enemy's dead and dying.
The Turkish dead and wounded were removed on the
night of the battle. The dead numbered 362, the
wounded 631. The townspeople, who also fought with
spirit, lost 101 men. His Excellency the Mushir has
reported to his government those officers who
particularly distinguished themselves—a difficult task in
an army which has shown such desperate valour throughout
the unusual period of seven hours of uninterrupted
combat. I have, &c, W. F. WILLIAMS."

The battle is thus described by the private
correspondent of the Times:—"On the morning of the
29th, or rather at midnight, the distant rumble of guns
was heard by the sentries on Tahmasb, and General
Kmety at once called all the troops in that direction
under arms, but after this a long interval of silence
ensued. About an hour before the dawn sundry
suspicious noises were again heard, and at last, by the
feeble light of the crescent moon, a large dark moving
mass was observed advancing towards a battery in
which was Captain Teesdale, a most gallant young
soldier; at once the guns were opened on the column,
when a loud hurrah arose from enemies unseen, who
had almost surrounded the whole of the north-west
works. All suspense was now at an end, the corps of
Turks in this position found themselves assaulted in
front and flank, while a column was moving round their
rear. It was still nearly dark, so that in this, the
commencement of the action, very little of our powerful
artillery could come into play. The Russian columns,
advancing with wonderful steadiness, were met by
volleys of musketry at point-blank range, directed
from flanking breastworks, while from time to time
Teesdale's guns poured out murderous grape. At the
extreme point of Tahmasb the enemy actually
penetrated into the batteries and were at once bayoneted.
While this murderous struggle was going on, a vigorous
artillery fire from the enemy was kept up on Kanli
Tabia, in the plain, far removed from the real point of
danger. This, of course, was but a feint. Fort Lake,
the key of the whole position on the north, and the
English batteries immediately behind the town, which
I have mentioned, were now attacked, and the latter
being defended by a very weak force, chiefly irregulars,
were carried by assault, and the enemy then began
shelling the town. But daylight now showed clearly
each position and movement of the enemy. General
Williams despatched two or three companies of Rifles
to the English Tabias under one of our best officers,
Kadir Bey, and these, with troops from Fort Lake,
charged the Russians, and fairly drove them out of the