CHAP. VI.
The Tartars Take The Oath Of
Ance To Russia. Expedition Against
The Nogays Beyond The Cuban.

History of the Campaigns of Count Alexander Suworow Rymnikski: Field-marshal …‎ – Sayfa 186
tıklayarak orjinal sayfaya ulaşabilirsiniz nogaylar ilgili bölüm 182. sayfadan başlıyor.

THE Sultan Mahomet Ghiray, being a, a fworn enemy to the Khan Schaim Ghiray, although his neareft relation, ftirred up the Tartars againft the Khan, who was then in his capitol. This revolt broke out in aur- tumn, and the Khan fled, accompanied by his, moft faithful fervants to Kaffa, where he em-« barked, and arrived by the fea of Azof, at Petrowfk, a Ruffian fortrefs, built on the northern coaft.
Towards the end of 1782, Prince Potemkin arrived at Cherfon, with a commiffion from the emprefs; and, having fent for Suworow, together with the divifion of Cafan, had an interview with the Khan at Petrowfk, and immediately fet off for Peterlburg.
The Kahn returned to Balktfchifarey, accompanied by a confiderable number of Ruffian troops, and the troubles were very fpeedily appeafed. The malcontents had proclaimed his elder brother, Batyr Ghiray, khan in his place. The other brother, Arflar Ghiray, who commanded in Cuban, as ferafkier of the Tartars of Noga, was at that time with his elder brother in the Crimea ; and both they and their fuites were carried off by the Ruffians, who, after keeping them prifoners for fome time, embarked them on the Cuban, and reftored them their liberty ; fo that the whole terminated without much effufion of blood. But the rebel chief, Ma- N 4 hornet Ghiray, being arrefted, was ftoned, by order of the Khan, and feveral other Tartars, who had perfifted in their rebellion, were puniftied with death.
Suworow now fet off for Saint Demetrius, and for Azof, where he again took the command of the Cuban, at the beginning of the winter. The corps confifted of twelve battalions, with their artillery and heavy field- pieces, twenty fquadrons of dragoons, fix regiments of Coffees, and the remainder of the militia of the Don, under their com-r mander, Jloweifki.
At the end of May, Prince Potemkin again went to Cherfon, fent for Suworow, deliberated with him, and returned to Saint Demetrius.
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Six corps were now fet on foot, befides two in Poland, to keep the Turks in awe. The firft of thefe corps was ftationed at
Kotmifch, under the command of Prisice. Jlepnm; the fecond, at Humann, under Count Solfikow; the third, as a body of rer ferve, in JLittie Ruffia; the fourth, as a troop t
” In the affairs confided to yoiir care, and ” particularly in the commiffion you have ” borne, under the direction of our General tc Prince Potemkin, for the re-union of the **. various nations of the Ruffian empire, ” you have fhewn a zeal and activity for c<>y whom they were refitted, they engaged him, and advanced with their chief, who preffed forward with the utmoft fury. The little platoon, however, defended themfelves long enough to receive the reinforcement of a fquadron of dragoons, who were encamped at the diftance of a mile. An hour after, Colonel Telegin, who was at a ftill greater diftance, arrived, in the utmoft hafte, with two battalions, who immediately broke the enemy’s ranks, and defeated and difperfed the Tartars. This engagement coft them five hundred men. The poft which Colonel Telegin had abandoned, was alfo a very important pafs;
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the Nogays took advantage of the opportunity, and fevcral thoufand of them traverfed the morafs, and fled into the country of the Temirgois, in the Naurus, behind the river Cuban; but being purfued, they abandoned their immenfe herds of cattle, and removed to a greater diftance. The booty confifled of about thirty thoufand horfes, forty thoufand horned cattle, and above two hundred thoufand Iheep.
Suworow, who was in the middle of the line, made a junction with Lieutenant- Colonel Lefchtewitfch, infpector-general of the Nogays. Here he was informed, that Taw Sultan Murfa had juft been plotting a new confpiracy. This Murfa, governor of the young fultan, who was nephew to Schaim. Gheray, was defirous of raifmg his pupil to the dignity of Khan, and had already been ‘the frequent .inftigator of revolts. The confpiracy foon broke out, and kafanka.was the watchword they adopted. They packed up their kibiks (tents), placed the whole on carriages, together with the Icaft of their children, and drove their cattle before them, having, previous to their departure, maf- facred the Ruffians who had been left to watch them, and who were unable to fave themfelves by flight. The troops of the cordon, who were the neareft, haftened to attack them, but were obliged to retreat from the inferiority of their numbers. Taw Sultan attacked Jay, at the head of a few thoufand men, and though repulfed with lofs, continued his march towards the river Cuban, and collected the reft of the Nogays, as alfo fome of the chiefs of thofe who had continued faithful ; and, among the reft, Halli Effendi, with hfs wife, whom he carried away. Moft of the faithful Tartars encamped in the environs of Jay.
In Auguft, Suvvorow aflembled his troops in one body, near Kopyl, and caufed barracks to be prepared for the approaching f : winter quarters. At the end of the month, the Tartars made an attack beyond the Cuban with ten thoufand men, and traverfed the wilds to fall upon Jay, where a fufficient garrifon had been left. They attacked the intrenchments, during three following days> with fo much impetuofity, that they loft four hundred men, and had two hundred taken prifoners in a fally. They then took to flight, but were able to carry off feveral of their men who had remained behind.
In the courfe of September, Prince Po- temkin, generaliffimo of all the forces, ordered Suworow to arreft Schain Gheray, at Tamann, t6 put his corps into winter-quarters on the Don, arid to put an end to the operation he intended to undertake againft the Nogays.
The fiiit of thefe meafures did not take place. Suworow had already left Kopyl when orders arrived, and was under cover in a wood two miles from that place. Major- General Jelagin was then at Teman with Colonel Holle. To him Suworow immediately difpatched a courrier, who, pafling the night at Kopyl, where he was to be joined by the necefiary efcort, was obliged to wait till the next day, becaufe General Philippow was in bed, and had given orders that he fhould not be difturbed. This general gave the courier an efcort of about thirty Coffecs, who were cut to pieces on the road, by above a hundred Abafcians, and the courier was obliged to return. Ifaiow, colonel of a regiment of Coffecs, was ordered, with the utmoft hafte, to join Jelagin, near Teman, and he accordingly fet forwafd on the march.
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In the night, previous to his arrival, Schaim Gheray was informed of the fate which threatened him, and, having with him a numerous body of men, fpeedily mounted his horfe, and, together with his people, haftened to the banks of the Cuban, which is but two miles from thence, where he found fome boats, which Jelagin had not removed ; he knowing nothing of the project, and having always been treated with polite- nefs by Shaim Ghsray. Jelagin and Ifaiow purfued him ; but he had already paffed the river. In vain they called after him, but he anfwered their felicitations with excufes, and retired into Circaflia.
The detachment, appointed for the expedition on the left bank of the Cuban, confift- ed of fixteen companies of infantry, in four platoons, each.of which had two light field- pieces, fixteen fquadron of dragoons, with the fame number of pieces of artillery, and four regiments of Coffees. The Commanding Officer Iloweifki was ordered to march directly towards the Cuban, with twelve regiments of Coffees, each five hundred men flrong, and to make a junction with Suwo- row at an appointed time and place.
This corps had performed a march of thirty miles. They afcended the right bank of the Cuban, always advancing by night, and in the day time halting in the woods. They proceeded in the greateft filence, and without fignals, becaufe the Circamans had ftrong piquets on the left banks, and they were anxious to avoid difcovery. For the fame reafon, Suworow having before met a Turk- ifh melTenger from Sutfchuk, replied to his enquiries: ” It is a fmall detachment, which ” remained behind, and which I am con- ” ducting to the corps of Caucafus,”
The Grand Quarter-Mafter Foedorow was on horfeback in the van, and as there was no road along the bank, he pofted two Cof- facs at every quarter of a league as guides. When they arrived oppofite to the country occupied by the Attukays, on the left bank, they found fo little wood, that they could not conceal their march. The river, too, was very narrow in that part, and the Attukays fired acrcfs it, both with mufkets and bow? and arrows. They did not, however, much annoy the Ruffians, who were careful not to anfwer their fire. Towards noon, Su-. worow fent for the Bev.who commanded there, and feverely reprimanded him for this conduct ; and the .Bey difpcrfed the offenders by driving them away with, whips. As to the deftination . of the troops, the fame explanation was given to the Bey as to the Turkifh meflenger from Sutfchuk.
At length, the corps approached the river Laba, which ariics in Mount Caucafus, Jn the province of Cuban. Here they met with no more wood, and the troops concealed
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themfelves,. by encamping in hollows; but were not molefted by any enemy whatever.
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Not far from the bank were fbrne hills of
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confiderable height. Suworow afcencled them, and perceived fome Nogays making hay; and when he faw the diftant fmoke of their* fires, he was fully confirmed in the information he had received, that this was the place \vhcre the Nogay Tartars were encamped. The Ruffians halted during the day. In the afternoon, Iloweifk, the commanding officer on the Don, joined them, according to appoint-? ment, with his twelve regiments of Coffecs, and at dufk they marched towards the right bank of the Cuban, which in that’part’ te fiat, and covered with fine forefts. On their
arrival the moon fhone very bright.
<‘. In this place the Cuban is a full quarter of a mile broad, and as they had no pontoons, they prepared to ford, or fwim acrofs . — j w ‘-‘ .LJ* it, and fent forward fome Coffacs to find out the fordable parts. The infantry ftripped themfelves, and forded the river naked, carrying their arms and cartouch boxes on their heads, being frequently up to their fhoulders in water. The cavalry took the clothes of the infantry on the cruppers of the horfes, and carried the ammunition two by two, that the powder might not be wetted. Thus they pafled the river_iw companies and in fquadrons ; the horfe croffing fomewiiat higher, to break the force of the current. -Ih the middle of the ftream was a fpacious ifland, where they halted for a fhort time, when, in the fame order, they gained the left bank, which they found very fteep, and covered with rocks. Even the Coffacs had great difficulty to get oh fhore on horfe- back, and above all the dragoons, who carried: the ammunition ; and it required great labour to hoift up the artillery, and the reft of the baggage, with ropes. The infantry climbed up, and drefled themfelves, but the banks were fo full of rocks, that they could fcarcely make ufe of the intrenching tools which they had brought with them. . All being now in order, they began to march. Having proceeded nearly a mile, they came to a morafs, which it was nccef- fary to pafs. They afcended the right bank of the Laba, and having proceeded another mile, the van guard met a patrole, whom they made prifoners, and who ferved them as guides. The next morning they furprized the No- gays. The Coffees, whofe country on the Don that nation had formerly ravaged, now took the moft dreadful revenge. The maf- facre continued till noon. This event took place near an old ruined caftle, in the neighbourhood of Kermentfchuk. After halting an hour, they advanced two miles farther. When they arrived at the fo- reft of Farifch, which extends as far as Mount Caucafus, the RufHans attacked ‘ the reft of the Nogay Tartars. The engagement was as vigorous as that of the morning, though many Tartars took to flight as foon a.s they were informed of this fudden attack. But the Termigois and the Nawrus, in whofe Country this action happened, and who defended the Nogays, fuffered a eonfiderable lofs. The prince of the Nawrus was killed, and his daughter led away captive;’ The light troops fought on both banks of the Laba. The engagement continued until the evening, when the victorious army re- pofed in the field of battle, wh ich was in a plain; and the next day purfued the enemy to a diftanee of fome miles, though without being able to overtake them. The conquerors re*- turned on the following day, and repafled the Cuban. From the time of Mamay, of whom we have fpoken above, and who was defeated by Demerius Donfkoy<> men and women* remained upon the field of battle, which extended a mile and a half along their tents. The Coffecs, according to the cuftom of thofe nations, carried with them a great number of young children*
When the Ruffians, returned tor the.right bank of the Cuban, the commanding officer Iloweifki returned with his troops towards the Don. At that time, the troops had already fet off for Kopyll to go into winter quarters in the fame canton, agreeably to their orders. The corps detached from S\a- worow did the fame, and that general retained only a few companies of the infantry, two pieces of cannon, a fquadron of dragoons, and a regiment of Coffecs, with which he marched acrofs the wilds to the for- trefs of Jay. He had above forty Gentian miles to go, and more than ten rivers tb crofs-. In fording thefe, his troops were frequently up to their micdie in water, and were obliged to throw bridges over the deeper .channels. The want of wood obliged them make thefe bridges of reeds and turf, which lafted at the utmoft but four-and-twenty hours; as the – current deftroyed them; and when the troops did not make hafte to pafs, it became neceffary to make others. Some Tartars, who acted as guides acrofs the wilds, directed their march too much to the northward, which caufed them to make a falfe march of ten miles. At length their provifions began to fail them; and, on the laft day, were entirely confumed.
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At the end of O£lober, they arrived at fort Jay, where Suworow made the neceffery dif4- pofitions. There had always been a fufficient number of men in the caftle and fort of Jay, becaufe the chiefs of the Nogay hordes were there under the infpection of Lieutenant-Colonel Lefchkewitfh; and after the feparation of the Serafkier, Arftan Qheray, his fucceflbr, Hallil Effendi, governor-general of the Tartar tribes which had remained behind, encamped Hi the neighbourhood.
When Suworow arrived, he paid fome vifits, and particularly to his friend Murfa Bey, prince of the Tfchamberluks, who was a venerable old man. He had not yet recovered the wound in his neck 3 but was highly gratified to fee Suworow in good health. He embraced him with tears in his eyes, and called him his fon.
Suworow did not ftay many days. In the beginning of November, he went by Azof to St. Demetrius, leaving, as a garrifon in the caftle, a company of grenadiers, one of fufi- leers, and a regiment of Coflacs. There were twelve pieces of cannon in the fort.
Except Taw Sultan and a few others, al- moft all thofe who had fled towards the left bank of the Cuban, wrote to Suworow with white flags, confeffing their error, and pro- miffing that in the fpring they would return to their former pofitions, which many of them actually did.
The Ruffians, after their departure from that country, being much difperfed, were attacked throughout the winter by the Cir- cailians, and efpecially by the pagans of Abafcia. Many of the Ruffians were killed, and others carried off and fold as flaves in Natolia. At length, however, they affembled in greater numbers, and put themfelves in a ftate of defence,
x Among the Tartars who returned, was the ci-devant Hallil EfTendi, who had pre- fented himfelf with fome of his followers before the end of the autumn.
There are at prefent on the north coaft of the feaof Azof, about three thoufand kibiks, or families of thefe Tartars, each family, or kibik, confining of four or five perfons. After their emigration from Befferabia into the wilds of Cuban, there remained about one thoufand families under the protection of the Turks, and on the left bank of the Cuban, in the wilds of Attukay, nearly one thousand more; whom Bajazel Murfa pro- mifed to remove to join the reft. Several of their families became poor in confequence of changing their refidence, the length of their journey having obliged them to abandon their cattle, in which the whole wealth of *hefe wandering nations connfts, or to part with them for very inconfiderable prices.
In the courfe of the autumn, the plague “made forne ravages at Cherfon, and fpread as far as the Don. It continued till Chriftmas, but fuch precautions were tarken, -than -riot more than a hundred perfons fell victims to it oh the banks -of the Don, ef whom not one-third were foldiers.
Suworow patTed the winter at St. Deme* trius, where the chiefs of the Tartars who l-emahud behind, and with whom he was ‘on friendly terms, frequently vifited him. MufTa Bey had now recovered from his » jo wound.
wound, Mechmed Bey, the chief of thft GodifTans, often joked with -him at table5 oft his being ftill inclined to marry; and Sfc- worow one day afking him whether he was ferious, Murfa Bey replied with much finipli- city,” Mechmed Bey is right;” and immediately requeft the general to make him a prefent of a .beauti.ful Tartar girl of fixteen years of age, whom he wifhed to marry. Suworow bought a young Tartar flave of a CofTac for one hundred rubles, and fent her to Muffe Bey, who accordingly married her. He lived fofhe years after this tranfaction, and died at the age of a hundred and eight years; having almoft reached the age of Attila, king of the Huns. He retained the ufes of his faculties till the laft, except that his eyes could fcarce- lybear the light. He was a man of a ftrong complexion, almoft conftantly on horfeback; find, notwithftanding his great age, an excellent companion. He was very much attached to cleanlinefs, but defpifed all luxury. He was faithful in his friendf hips, and the friend of the poor, and his greateft pleafure was to be their benefactor. He was a great eater, and at meals drank pure fago brandy. His fer- vants took him from table, and carried him to bed like a prince. Suworow regarded him with great efteem and attachment.
The ci-divant Khan Schaim Gheray, who had fled towards the left bank of the Cuban, returned in the fpring of 1784,^0 theCrima, by Taman and Jenikala, and fet off for Wo- ronitfch, which was the place of his deftina- tion. He paffed fome years in Ruflia, and afterwards returned. The Turks received him at Chotzim in a manner fuited to the dignity of a Khan. He then went to Con- ftantinople, but was not permitted to enter that city, and was fent into banifhment at Rhodes, where he was put to death in the moft perfidious manner. According to the laws of Turkey, he could not be condemned
to death; the Khans, and all the defendants of Gengis, being expreffly excepted from all capital punifhments ; but it was alleged, as a pretext, that he was no longer Khan, fince he had voluntarily abandoned that dignity.
In the fummer of the fame year, 1784, Suworow left the Nogays, and fet off for Mofcow. He had gained their friendfhip, and they had great reliance on his promifes. But unfortunately this confidence could not be mutual ; for no dependence can be placed on thofe nations, who are all equally incon- ftant with the reft of the Nomades, and know no law but their own will. Their condufl is determined by books of predictions, or dreams; which, with them, are fufficient motives for violating the moft fo- lemn engagements.
Suworow went firft to the divifion 0£ Valadimir; and, in 1785, to that of St. Pe- terfburg. On his arrival at the capital, he was received with the greateft diftinction, and loaded with favours by the emprefs