the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

Vizier’s advance to relieve Silistra. Markov’s corps was on the left flank of
Miloradovich. 5
Bagration also set up four ferries across the Danube near Calaras and assigned an
infantry battalion and Cossack regiment to protect them. 6 He ordered the flotilla of eight
gunboats to sail pass the Turkish batteries under the cover of night and prevent any
Turkish ships from delivering supplies and information from Ruse to Silistra. 7 A Cossack
advance guard under Prince Stroganov was dispatched to Tutrakan to reconnoiter the area
and watch any Turkish movements. 8 Bagration also constructed a seven-gun battery on
the left bank of the Danube 9 and, on 29 September, it bombarded the fortress, igniting
several fires and destroying buildings; one of the projectiles landed only a few yards from
Ilak Oghlu, Military Governor of Silistra. Bagration directed the artillery fire against the
Turkish floating mills to destroy the supplies of grain they contained. 10 He also exploited
Ataman Platov’s acquaintance with Ilak Oghlu from previous Russo-Turkish war. On 26
September, he asked the Cossack Ataman to send a letter to the Turkish commander and
offer surrender term and free passage for the garrison. 11 Ilak Oghlu prolonged his
response for three weeks and then replied that he would need additional time to consider
5 Dubrovin, “Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 10 (1864):
54; Langeron, Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 159, 162.
6 Ibid., 54-55.
7 Langeron, Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 402.
8 During the night of 30 September, three Russian vessels slipped by the Turkish batteries and
closed the western approach to the town. However, small Turkish boats still often passed by the
Russian ships during the night. Dubrovin, “Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,”
Voennii sbornik, 10 (1864): 55-56.
9 Initially, Prince Bagration built an eight-gun battery and four redoubts to cover the camps.
On 25 September, the Turks made a sortie to prevent their construction, but they were driven
back. Prince Peter them ordered siege artillery be transported from Buzau. Dubrovin, “Materials
for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 10 (1864): 55-56; Langeron,
Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 402.
55-56.
10 Dubrovin, “Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 10 (1864):
11 Platov to Ilak Oghlu, 26 September 1809, VPR, V, 230-32.
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