Kavkaz Campaign - A Turning of the Tide?

During the week long pause in Turcowaz moves, the Trebizond command had not altogether been idle. Having taken the town of Zugdidi, and placed himself between the two Izumrud-Zeleniyan columns, Bashir Ed Din Pasha had created a strategic situation very favourable to Turcowaz, but at the same time his command was vulnerably placed. Much might depend upon what Abdul Abulbul Ameer did next. For his part, though, he was none too willing to attack a corps similar in strength to his own and ensconced among a tangle of hill country beyond the Tekhuri river. His dilatoriness - at least, so said Bashir Ed Din afterwards - did much to compromise the whole campaign. 

In the night of 19-20th June, the moon just past full, Count Ignatieff stole a march upon Abdul Ameer, abandoned his camp fires still burning, and marched off to Zugdidi. The same day, the Guards Legion having debarked where the road north met the coast, joined the battered Coastal Column west of the town. General-Leytenant Kutizedoff at once ordered a reconnaissance. Making contact with Kutizedoff's command beyond the town, Ignatieff ordered a reconnaissance of his own a day later. The day after that, 22 June, the Zeleniyans commenced their attack.

Zugdidi Battle Map - from the 
topographical engineer Major I.M. Poteranskii

The broad outlines of the position and Izumrud-Zeleniya plan might be gathered from the opening pictures and Igor M. Poteranskii's sketch map. Two of the Turcowaz Divisions, with 3rd Regiment from 1st Division, had fortified the town against attack from east and west.  Two regiments of 1st Division, with the machine gun company, fortified a ridge position covering the vital road south.  They were supported by field gun battalion positioned close to the road. The cavalry not being suited to defence remained by the south road (it doesn't appear in many of the pictures, but would have served only to cover a retreat).  

West side of Zugdidi: the Zeleniyan Coastal 
Column approaches...

The defenders comprised:

Turcowaz Trebizond Command:
Commander: Bashir Ed Din Pasha = 6SP

1st Division:
HQ: 1SP
1st Rifle Regiment = 3SP
2nd Rifle Rgt =2SP
3rd Rifle Rgt = 3SP
Total 1st Division = 9SP

Turcowaz: 1st Division and MGs facing east
and the Kavkaz Column

2nd Division:
HQ: 1SP

4th Rifle Rgt = 3SP
5th Rifle Rgt = 3SP
6th Rifle Rgt = 3SP
Total 2nd Division: 10SP

Turcowaz: 3rd Division garrisoning Zugdidi;
2nd Division behind earthworks on the 
far side of the town.

3rd Division:
HQ: 1SP
7th Rifle Rgt = 3SP
8th Rifle Rgt = 4SP
9th Rifle Rgt = 3SP
Total 3rd Division: 11SP

19th Cavalry: 2SP

Artillery/ Support Group:
I,II/1st (Field) Regiment = 3SP (2 Battalions)
III,IV/2nd (Medium) Regiment = 4SP (2 Battalions)
IX Machine-gun Company = 2SP
Total Support group: 9SP


Train: 3 units @ 2SP = 6SP (for want of table space, the trains were left off the table, and their unit and SP counts not included in the totals)

Totals Trebizond command:
19 Units, activations: 9/10/11 
47SP, Exhaustion Point -16SP, Rout Point -24SP
Note: Turcowaz had 9SP worth of defence works; 1 fortified redoubt, and 7 other field works.
This brings the SP up to 56.

 

Kavkaz Column on its start lines...

The attack involved the whole of the Izumrud-Zeleniyan army.

Overall Command: General-Leytenant Kutizedoff = 6SP
Coastal Column:

1st Division: 
detached to Kavkaz Column

3rd Division: 
HQ: = 1SP
9th Infantry = 2SP
10th Infantry = 3SP
11th Infantry = 2SP
12th Infantry = 3SP
Total 3rd Division: 11SP

Guards Legion:
HQ: Count Ivan Skavinski-Skavar = 1SP
1st Guards (elite) = 4SP
2nd Guards (elite) = 4SP
50th Circassian Rifles (poor) = 4SP
9th Uhlan Light Horse (average) = 3SP
Total Guards Legion: 16SP

Cavalry::
1st Hussars = 2SP
2nd Hussars = 1SP
3rd Hussars = 1SP
4th Hussars = 1SP
Total cavalry: 5SP

Matelot Brigade Group:
Marine Regiment = 4SP
Machine Gun Company = 1SP
Naval Artillery = 1SP
Total Matelot Brigade: 6SP

Artillery:
I, II/1st  Field Regiment @ 2SP = 4SP

Train: 5 units @2SP = 10SP (off table, omitted from Unit and SP count)

The Izumrud-Zeleniya Coastal Column.

Kavkaz Column: Count N.P. Ignatieff (3SP)
1st Division (attached from Coastal Column)
HQ: 1SP
1st Grenadiers (elite) = 3SP
2nd Grenadiers (elite) = 2SP
3rd Grenadiers (elite) = 3SP
4th Grenadiers (elite) = 2SP
Total 1st Division: 11SP

Izumrud-Zeleniya: Grenadiers and Cossacks
make ready to attack the fortified ridge line.

2nd Division:
HQ: 1SP
5th Infantry = 2SP
6th Infantry = 3SP
7th Infantry = 2SP
8th Infantry (disbanded)
Total 2nd Division: 8SP

The depleted 2nd Division threatens the 
east side of town, defended by 3rd Turcowaz 
Division

Cavalry:
5th Cossack = 3SP
6th Cossack = 2SP

7th Cossack = 2SP
8th Cossack = 2SP
Total Cavalry: 9SP

Artillery:
1st Mountain Artillery = 1SP
2nd Mountain Artillery = 2SP

Train: 4 Units @2SP = 8SP (off table; omitted from unit and SP count) 

Totals Izumrud-Zeleniya: 
36 Units, activations 17/18/19.
82SP, Exhaustion Point -28SP, Rout Point -41SP

Note that all units are 'average' unless otherwise stated.

Turcowaz: elements of 2nd and 3rd Divisions
supported by the medium artillery regiment.

This has the makings of a lengthy narrative so I thought I would leave the 'after action report' for the next Kavkaz Campaign posting.

To be continued...