a wedge into Wallachia, added to the firm possession of Widdin at the western extremity, the Turks had a favourable opportunity of continuing their proposed winter campaign.

Between sickness and the sword, these operations in European Turkey are stated to have caused Russia the serious loss of more than 40,000 men; and, according to the accounts received at Bucharest, at least 30,000 horses died. The Russian statements, as might be expected, make it far less; but when the prolonged exposure during the sieges of Brailow, Schumla, Varna, and Silistria, are taken into account, in addition to the ravages of sickness and the defects of the medical and commissariat departments, these circumstances go far to account for so great a loss to an army that was kept more or less complete by reinforcements from time to time. At Bucharest alone the deaths were 19,000: that is, 7,000 of the army, and 12,000 of the inhabitants.

CHAPTER VI.

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1828 IN ASIATIC TURKEY.

Limits of the seat of war-Persian war in 1826-Winter campaign in Northern Persia→→ Acquisitions of Russia-Preparations for, and commencement of the campaign of 1828--Fall of Anapa-Description and fall of Kars-Storming of Akhalkalaki-Fall of Hertwiz-Mistakes of the Seraskier Description of Akhaltsikh-Defeat of the Seraskier Obstinate defence of Akhaltsikh--General Paskevitch burns the townSevere loss of the Turks and Russians-Capitulation of Atskur and Ardagan-Result of the campaign of 1828 in Asia--Disadvantages of the Turks at its commencement.

THE campaign of 1828 in Asiatic Turkey, which immediately followed the conclusion of peace with Persia, was confined to the territory lying between the Euxine and Caspian Seas.

The tract in question-to which belongs the expedition. of the Golden Fleece, together with so many other ancient. myths and traditions-extends from the 37° to the 45° of North latitude. The Caucasian chain runs from side to side of this tract at the northern boundary, and from Jebel Judi and the river Tigris to the Araxes at its southern extremity. The eastern limits touch those of Persia, and its western, the mountainous country bordering upon the Black Sea; whilst Ararat and various secondary chains, inhabited by different races, intersect this space, and give rise to a variety of climate and productions.

So long as the Caucasus continued to be a barrier against Russia, Persia and Asiatic Turkey could be defended with comparative ease; but this ceased to be the case in 1801; and, as has been shown already, the gradual progress of that power along the shores of the Caspian, forced Persia to try the fate of arms by invading the Russian provinces in 1826. But the campaign was of short duration, for General Paskevitch, by concentrating a mass of artillery in the centre of his army, gained a decided victory over his adversaries near Elizabethpol, and the Persians retreated into their own territory.

General Paskevitch followed up this success in the spring of 1827 by taking Sardar-abâd and Erivan; and having subsequently penetrated into Azerbaijan, the fall of Taurus or Tabriz, its capital, brought about the preliminaries of peace. But, although signed on the part of the Shah by the Prince Royal of Persia, this monarch, relying on the effective assistance of Turkey as the certain result of the Hatti Scheriff of the 8th of December, 1827, refused to ratify the treaty; in the full expectation that he would have the whole of the succeeding winter left to make preparations. The Emperor Nicholas, however, met this fresh difficulty in a way that was totally unlooked for by the Persians. For, in order to make his Asiatic army quite disposable in the early part of the coming spring, he ordered the campaign to be renewed by entering

the northern part of the Shah's dominions, notwithstanding the severity of the season.

Count Paskevitch advanced accordingly, in three columns, through deep snow, as far as the range of the Kaflan-ku. This movement produced the desired effect, almost without firing a shot; for the Shah, seeing no hope of gaining more time, immediately sent Abbas Mirza with full powers to meet the Russian General, and settle the terms of peace. By the treaty signed at Turkman-chai, on the 10th of February, 1829, the Khanats of Erivan and Nak-hitchevan, as well as the fortress of Abbas-abad, were ceded to Russia; in addition to the payment of twenty millions of roubles as an indemnity for the expenses of the war. It was also agreed by the contracting parties, that Russia alone was to maintain vessels of war on the Caspian Sea; which, by this stipulation, became a Russian lake.

The Persian war was thus concluded most opportunely for Russia; since, independently of the preceding advantages, the whole of the Emperor's Asiatic forces could be employed in that part of Turkey, and thus oblige the Sultan to send part of his troops thither, instead of drawing the whole towards his European frontiers.

On the 25th of February, 1828, the Russian troops were put in motion to evacuate Persia; and a few days later, a despatch informed the successful General, that the approaching passage of the Pruth would call for fresh exertions from the army of the Caucasus,

The troops had been put into winter quarters, and the report was spread that no orders had been issued for the commencement of hostilities. As an additional blind, General Paskevitch caused his troops to abstain from everything like a movement; whilst he continued deeply occupied within the Russian limits, in organizing his plans, and preparing those combinations by which he hoped to extend his Emperor's territories at the next treaty of peace. So successful was this ruse, that the Pasha of Kars permitted the people to carry their grain for sale into Georgia as heretofore; and thus he materially facilitated the preparation of supplies for the invading army.

The effective force distined to march into Asiatic Turkey amounted to 23,393 infantry, 6,192 cavalry, and 130 pieces of artillery: 13,860 infantry, 2,391 cavalry, and 42 guns, continued as a reserve in the Russian provinces,* in addition to the fleet and troops acting under Admiral Greig.

The Russian officers believed that, including the Nizam, the Seraskier of Asia would be able to bring into the field some 200,000 men. But if the defensive preparations of the Turks were tardy on the European side, it is certain that they were still more so on the Asiatic; where everything had still to be done, even to rouse the people to the consciousness of an approaching invasion.

The first operations took place on the coast. Eight line

*Tables, pp. 242, 248, La Russie dans l'Asie Mineure, ou Campagnes du Maréchal Paskevitch, par Felix Fonton: Paris, 1840.