the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

in another letter, Bagration also described the Turkish confusion spread as a result of his
actions.
Having only three feeble corps, I succeeded in inducing the enemy to
believe that I command three strong armies. The Turks cannot
comprehend how the army could seize Kustendji [Constanta] on 30
August [11 September], then march over 100 versts [66 miles] in a hot
weather of 26-30 degrees of Celsius [86F] over the terrain considered
impassable until now … and defeat the joint army of serasker and ayans
of Rumelia at Rassevat on 4 [16] September. They believe two different
armies accomplished these feats. 130
To his relief, Bagration soon received news of surrender of the great fortress of
Ismail, which was besieged by 6,000 men under General Ivan Zass. The Russian began
the siege on 1 September and bombarded the fortress for the next three weeks. The
Russian flotilla blockaded the communications on the river and the troops surrounded the
fortress on the land. On 26 September, the Turks opened negotiations and then
surrendered the next day on the condition of free passage for the Turkish garrison of
some 4,500 men. 131 The Russians seized 21 flags, 221 guns, 9 ships with 31 guns, 5,551
pounds of gunpowder and cannonballs. Bagration was delighted by the news of the fall of
Ismail. He wrote, “The famous and formidable fortress of Ismail, which in the previous
war against the Ottoman Porte caused us many casualties, was conquered and brought to
Your Majesty’s feet without loosing not a single drop of blood [sic]. Hurrah to great
Alexander!” 132 Prince Peter also commended Zass, whose “actions are beyond my praise.
He always examined location before undertaking any actions; he supervised all the works
at day and night. During the bombardment he attended the batteries and personally led
130 Bagration to Alexander, No. 955, 18 September 1809, Ibid., 73.
131 Ledoulx to Champagny, 26 October 1809, Documente privitoare la Istoria Românilor,
844; Petrov, Influence of the Russo-Turkish War, 246. There were 4,500 regular Turkish troops
and 2,700 militia at Ismail. The Russian losses during the siege amounted to some 100 men.
Langeron, Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 166.
132 Bagration to Alexander, 28 September 1809, Voennii sbornik, 10 (1864): 52. Bagration
reference to “loosing not a single drop of blood” should not be understood directly. He simply
emphasized the low casualties the Russians suffered in capturing this extremely important
fortress.
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