Persian Empire 1845

Chapter 649 The Battle of Yegorryk River (3500-word long chapter)
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Black Sea, in the Caucasus region, Iranian troops have already begun to move.

The cavalry, composed of Chechens and Circassians, penetrated deep into the southern Russian steppes. Iran's strategy was very clear: before Russia could launch a full-scale southward offensive, Iran would take the initiative, bite into its vulnerable belly, disrupt its deployment, and delay the time it would take for its main force to enter the battlefield.

These peoples, who have lived in the Caucasus Mountains for generations, have a deep-seated hatred for the Tsarist Russian Empire. They know every mountain pass and valley in the region well, are skilled horsemen, and are brave and fierce warriors—natural-born guerrilla fighters and assault experts. With the support of Iran and driven by shared hatred, they became a sharp dagger inserted into the southern Russian steppes.

Their primary targets were the granaries and haystacks of Cossack villages and state-owned farms. The towering flames that lit up the night sky not only destroyed much-needed supplies for the Russian frontline troops but also spread fear among the populace.

Small cavalry detachments specialized in attacking telegraph lines, sabotaging railway tracks, and ambushing transport convoys. The lifeline to the Caucasus front became intermittent. Isolated outposts and small patrols suffered annihilation. The cavalry, like a pack of wolves, pounced swiftly, disappearing into the depths of the steppe with their spoils and prisoners before the main Russian forces could react.

Within days, the fertile Kuban steppe descended into unprecedented chaos. Railway lines leading south were paralyzed in many places, several vital logistical hubs were burned to the ground, and the Cossack garrison was overwhelmed, unable to even capture the enemy's main force. Panic spread like a plague from the border inland, even reaching towns along the Don River and Rostov.

The South Russian Military District command was stunned by this sudden attack. They had assumed the main battlefield would be south of the Caucasus Mountains, never expecting the enemy to dare penetrate so deep into the heart of the empire. Prince Mikhail Lobanov-Rostovsky, in charge of the region's defenses, was furious and immediately mobilized several Cossack cavalry divisions and infantry brigades in an attempt to encircle and annihilate this audacious enemy force.

However, on the vast steppes, encircling and annihilating highly mobile light cavalry was no easy task. The Chechen and Circassian cavalry fully utilized the guerrilla warfare principle of "fight when you can win, retreat when you can't." They used the complex terrain to maneuver against the Russian army, sometimes breaking into smaller units and passing through mountain passes; at other times, they would suddenly regroup and launch counterattacks against overly aggressive Russian detachments.

On March 2, a typical skirmish broke out on the banks of the Yegorlyk River.

A combined cavalry force of about 2,500 riders, jointly commanded by Chechen chieftain Arslan and Circassian leader Muhammad Gilai, was moving silently westward along the south bank of the river. They had just raided a small Russian supply depot in a river bend, seizing some food and ammunition, and were now preparing to move to a designated mountain hideout for rest.

Almost simultaneously, a mixed Russian force commanded by Count Alexander Suvorov was advancing eastward from the north bank, attempting to intercept a "wandering band of bandits." Count Suvorov commanded a full-strength Don Cossack cavalry regiment, a Cossack artillery battery equipped with four light horse guns, and two battalions of line infantry, totaling nearly three thousand men. He had a slight advantage in numbers and firepower, and more importantly, he possessed infantry and artillery, which often proved decisive in steppe skirmishes.

The first to spot the enemy were the Circassian scouts, who lay in ambush among the reeds on the riverbank and spotted the well-disciplined Russian column on the north bank, its flags fluttering.

The news quickly reached Arslan and Giray.

"North bank, Russians, quite a few, with infantry and artillery." Arslan said succinctly, his dark face twitching with the scars.

Giray appeared more composed than him. He squinted at the faintly visible ranks and the gleaming cannon barrels on the opposite bank of the river: "We can't fight them head-on. But we can't just run away either. They'll cling to us like leeches and call in more troops to encircle us. We have to fight them, make them hurt, and then we can get away."

The two leaders instantly reached a consensus: to use the river and terrain to launch a swift and fierce defensive counterattack, and then use the mobility of the cavalry to quickly disengage.

“Arslan, you must immediately lead your troops to deploy along this high ground on the south bank, adopt a defensive posture, and draw their attention! I will lead the Circassians to bypass them from the downstream shallows and strike at their weak point!” Gile pointed to a hill with a wide view by the river.

"Good! Move quickly!" Arslan didn't hesitate for a moment, immediately leading his more than a thousand Chechen knights towards the high ground. They quickly dismounted, using the natural slope and dry grass to build a makeshift defensive line, concealing their horses behind the slope. Rifles emerged from behind the grass and earthen mounds, aimed at the wide but gently flowing river.

Meanwhile, Giray led over a thousand Circassian cavalrymen, silently galloping downstream along the riverbank in search of a suitable crossing point.

On the other side of the river, Count Suvorov also received a report from the Cossack scouts.

"My lord! A large number of enemy cavalry have been spotted on the south bank. They are gathering behind that high ground and seem to be trying to use the river to block us!"

Suvorov raised his binoculars and carefully observed the opposite bank. He saw figures moving on the high ground, the occasional gun barrels reflecting sunlight, and the dust of moving cavalry in the distance. A contemptuous smile appeared on his lips.

"Trying to stop the great Russian army with a small river? Foolish mountain people! Order the Cossack cavalry regiment to find a ford immediately and prepare to flank them from both sides! Artillery company, aim at that hill and provide suppressive fire! Infantry, deploy into battle formation and prepare to cross the river under artillery cover!"

He judged that the enemy's main force was on the high ground, attempting to hold their ground, which presented him with a good opportunity to use his firepower advantage to concentrate and annihilate them. He did not fully realize the true intention of the cavalry moving downstream, only assuming that it was the enemy adjusting their defensive deployment or sending out a sentry detachment.

The battle began at eight o'clock in the morning.

The Russian army's four carbines roared first, shells whistling across the river and landing on the Chechen-held high ground, exploding into plumes of smoke mixed with mud and grass roots. The explosions were deafening, shrapnel flying everywhere. "Down! Don't move!" Arslan shouted from behind the slope. His experienced soldiers pressed close to the ground, using the terrain to avoid the artillery fire. The shelling caused some casualties, but did not break their defenses.

The artillery barrage lasted for about fifteen minutes. Then, two Cossack cavalry companies sped upstream and downstream respectively, searching for shallow waters to ford, attempting a flanking maneuver. Meanwhile, the Russian line infantry, in neat formations, began to step into the icy Yegorlyk River at the command of their officers and the sound of drums, preparing for a central breakthrough.

The river wasn't deep, reaching only waist-deep at its deepest point, but the slippery silt at the bottom greatly slowed the infantry's advance. When they reached the middle of the river, Arslan suddenly gave the order to fire!

"beat!"

A burst of gunfire erupted from the high ground! The Chechen hunters' precise shooting proved effective, bullets raining down on the Russian troops struggling to cross the river. Russian soldiers fell continuously, their blood staining the river red, amidst screams, commands, and gunfire. The Russian crossing was met with fierce resistance and progress was slow.

Count Suvorov frowned as he saw the infantry stalled in the river through his binoculars. He ordered the artillery to increase firepower and urged the Cossack cavalry on both flanks to speed up their crossing.

However, just as the Russian army's attention was firmly drawn to the high ground on the front, and the Cossacks on both flanks had just found a crossing point and begun to cross the river, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed!
The Circassian cavalry led by Giray had silently crossed the Yegorlyk River at a shallow ford about three kilometers downstream! They appeared on the right flank of the Russian column and, without the slightest pause, immediately assembled into a dense wedge-shaped charge formation!

"Allahu Akbar!"

A deafening battle cry erupted from the Russian army's flank and rear! The Circassian cavalrymen, crouching on their horses and brandishing their sharp chashik scimitars and lances, charged at an astonishing speed towards the exposed Russian artillery positions and the rear of the infantry, like a whirlwind of death!
"Enemy attack! Right flank! Cavalry!" A piercing alarm sounded from the rear of the Russian army.

Count Suvorov's face turned deathly pale! He had fallen for the trap! The enemy on the high ground was bait; the real killing blow was this cavalry force that had outflanked him! His artillery and infantry rear guard were almost completely unprotected!
"Quick! Turn your guns around! Infantry, form squares! Cossacks, come back! Come back to reinforce!" he shouted hoarsely, but in the chaos, the transmission and execution of orders became extremely difficult.

The Cossack cavalry, who had already crossed halfway across the river, needed to cross it again to return and provide reinforcements, which would take time! Meanwhile, the infantry, who were currently under direct fire in the river, found it even more difficult to quickly adjust their deployment.

The Circassian cavalry charged with lightning speed! They first swept through the four mounted cannons that were pouring fire onto the high ground! The artillerymen only had time for a single, scattered volley of grapeshot before being overwhelmed by the surging tide of cavalry. Sabers flashed, gunners fell one after another, and the cannons fell silent.

After destroying the artillery, Girère didn't stop, charging directly into two companies of the rear guard of the Russian infantry, who were hastily turning and attempting to form a hollow square. In the open field, hastily assembled infantry squares are extremely vulnerable to a high-speed charge of elite cavalry.

"For our homeland! For our freedom!" the Circassian cavalry roared, cutting through the still-forming square formation like a hot knife through butter. Their sabers and spears reaped lives with abandon, tearing a huge gap in the Russian ranks.

Meanwhile, seeing his allies succeed, Arslan on the high ground immediately mounted his horse!

"Chechen eagles! Charge with me! Crush them!"

The remaining thousand-plus Chechen cavalrymen, like tigers released from their cages, swooped down from the high ground, charged across the river, and attacked the main Russian infantry force that was already in disarray in the river and attacked from both sides!

The battlefield situation reversed instantly! The Russian army was completely on the defensive. They faced charging Chechen cavalry in front, while their flanks and rear were being ravaged by Circassian cavalry. Command systems failed, troops were fragmented, and morale was on the verge of collapse.

Count Suvorov, under the protection of his personal guards, attempted to rally his troops, but defeat was inevitable. He saw that although the valiant Cossack cavalry fought back fiercely, engaging the Circassian cavalry in close combat, they could not reverse the overall tide of defeat. The infantry, under repeated charges from the cavalry, had lost all organized resistance.

"Retreat! To the northeast, provide alternating cover, retreat!" The count was forced to issue this humiliating order.

The retreat quickly turned into a rout. Russian soldiers abandoned their weapons and supplies, fleeing desperately in the direction they had come from. Chechen and Circassian cavalry pursued them relentlessly, spreading panic and death among the fleeing Russian troops.

The battle was essentially over by midday. The steppes south of the Yegorlyk River were littered with the corpses of Russian soldiers, abandoned weapons, damaged artillery, and supply wagons. Count Suvorov managed to escape among the fleeing troops, but his mixed force had suffered over two-thirds casualties, especially his artillery, which was completely wiped out. Two infantry battalions were decimated, and his Cossack cavalry also suffered heavy losses.

The Allied forces also suffered hundreds of casualties, but compared to their gains, it was undoubtedly a glorious victory. They captured a large amount of weapons and ammunition, especially the four cavalry cannons, which were an unexpected surprise.

(End of this chapter)