the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

surrounded Troubetskoy’s square and captured two guns. During the next hour,
Troubetskoy’s jagers, with dismounted dragoons and Cossacks, repulsed the Turkish
charges and even counterattacked, recovering two guns. 53 Finally, Pahlen gathered the
Derpt Dragoons, and supported by the Ukraine Musketeer Regiment, he charged the
Turks, driving them back to their initial positions. 54 Simultaneously, some 3,000 men of
the Turkish garrison of Silistra attacked Bagration’s flank. 55 They attempted to break
through the besieging force Bagration and charge the main Russian army from the rear.
Major General Bulatov, whom Bagration left behind to supervise the siege, rallied his
immediate forces and recalled two squadrons of uhlans from Lisanevich’s detachment. In
an eight-hour fighting, he successfully contained several Turkish assaults and then
ordered counterattack that drove the Turks back into Silistra. 56
The battle continued for over eleven hours until around 6:00 p.m. Bagration,
concerned by the Turkish sortie in his rear, recalled his troops. He realized that his forces
were not sufficiently strong to take the fortified Turkish positions by assault. His official
report showed 80 killed and 200 wounded at Tataritsa, and 2 killed and 51 wounded in
the action at Silistra. 57 However, the actual losses, although still unknown, must have
been much higher. Four days after the battle, French consul reported 800 Russian wounded
arriving to the main hospital at Bucharest. 58 Bagration estimated the Turkish losses at 600
53 Langeron, Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 410-11.
54 Dubrovin, “Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 1 (1865): 9-
10; Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, 134. Ledoulx claimed
Bagration personally led charges of the dragoons. Ledoulx to Champagny, 26 October 1809,
Documente privitoare la Istoria Românilor, 844.
55 Ledoulx to Champagny, 26 October 1809, Documente privitoare la Istoria Românilor, 844.
56 Bagration to Golitsyn, 26 October 1809, Correspondence of Bagration, 87; Dubrovin,
“Materials for the History of Reign of Alexander,” Voennii sbornik, 1 (1865): 11; Mikhailovsky-
Danilevsky, Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812, 134.
57 Bagration to Golitsyn, 26 October 1809, Ibid., 87. Langeron acknowledged 300 killed and
some 500 wounded. Langeron, Recollections, Russkaia starina, 135 (1908): 411.
58 Ledoulx to Champagny, 26 October 1809, Documente privitoare la Istoria Românilor, 844.
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