Battle On The Heights Of Kars, The Fight Near Tahmasb Tabia

Description

This engraving provides a detailed depiction of the fighting around Tahmasb Tabya, one of the most intense stages of the Battle of Kars (September 29, 1855). Kars was the most important Ottoman fortress on the eastern border and was under siege by the Russian army under General Muravyov throughout 1855. Tahmasb Tabya was a fortification located southeast of Kars and was a critical part of the city's defense system. It was also a high point fortified with artillery positions. On the morning of September 29, 1855, the Russian army under General Muravyov launched a large-scale attack on the forts east and southeast of Kars. The main target of the attack was Tahmasb Tabya and the Ottoman trenches around it. By capturing this point, the Russians would be able to dominate the center of Kars with artillery fire. However, the Ottoman side had fortified the defense very well under the leadership of officers such as General William Fenwick Williams (British officer in Ottoman service) and Hungarian Ismail Pasha (Kmety). The Ottoman soldiers did not allow the Russians to approach the fort with bayonet charges, artillery fire and hand grenades. Fighting continued throughout the day around Tahmasb Fort. The Russians lost about 8,000 men, while the Ottomans lost several thousand men. The Russians were forced to retreat before they could capture the position. This engraving was drawn for a publication such as the Illustrated London News, based on the observation of a British officer who was on the battlefield (which makes it very valuable both visually and documentaryly.