Victory in the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. provided Russia with access to the Black Sea. But under the terms of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, the strong fortress of Izmail, located at the mouth of the Danube, remained with Turkey.
In 1787, Turkey, supported by England and France, demanded that Russia revise the treaty: the return of Crimea and the Caucasus, invalidation of subsequent agreements. Having been refused, she began military operations. Türkiye planned to capture Kinburn and Kherson, land a large assault force in Crimea and destroy the Russian fleet base of Sevastopol.
Assault on Izmail
To launch military operations on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Kuban, significant Turkish forces were sent to Sukhum and Anapa. To support its plans, Turkey has prepared a 200,000-strong army and a strong fleet of 19 battleships, 16 frigates, 5 bombardment corvettes and a large number of ships and support vessels.
Russia deployed two armies: the Ekaterinoslav army under Field Marshal Grigory Potemkin (82 thousand people) and the Ukrainian army under Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev (37 thousand people). Two strong military corps separated from the Yekaterinoslav Army were located in the Kuban and Crimea.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet was based in two points: the main forces were in Sevastopol (23 warships with 864 guns) under the command of Admiral M.I. Voinovich, the future great naval commander Fyodor Ushakov served here, and the rowing flotilla in the Dnieper-Bug estuary (20 small-tonnage ships and vessels, some not yet armed). A large European country, Austria, took the side of Russia, which sought to expand its possessions at the expense of the Balkan states, which were under Turkish rule.
The action plan of the Allies (Russia and Austria) was offensive in nature. It consisted of invading Turkey from two sides: the Austrian army was to launch an offensive from the west and capture Khotin; The Yekaterinoslav army had to launch military operations on the Black Sea coast, capture Ochakov, then cross the Dnieper, clear the area between the Dniester and the Prut from the Turks, and take Bendery. The Russian fleet was supposed to pin down the enemy fleet through active operations in the Black Sea and prevent Turkey from carrying out landing operations.
Military operations developed successfully for Russia. The capture of Ochakov and the victories of Alexander Suvorov at Focsani and Rymnik created the preconditions for ending the war and signing a peace beneficial to Russia. Türkiye did not have the forces at this time to seriously resist the Allied armies. However, politicians failed to seize the opportunity. Turkey managed to gather new troops, receive help from Western countries, and the war dragged on.
Portrait of A.V. Suvorov. Hood. Yu.H. Sadilenko
In the campaign of 1790, the Russian command planned to take Turkish fortresses on the left bank of the Danube, and then transfer military operations beyond the Danube.
During this period, brilliant successes were achieved by Russian sailors under the command of Fyodor Ushakov. The Turkish fleet suffered major defeats in the Kerch Strait and off Tendra Island. The Russian fleet seized firm dominance in the Black Sea, providing conditions for active offensive operations by the Russian army and rowing flotilla on the Danube. Soon, having captured the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, Russian troops approached Izmail.
The Izmail fortress was considered impregnable. Before the war, it was rebuilt under the leadership of French and German engineers, who significantly strengthened its fortifications. On three sides (northern, western and eastern) the fortress was surrounded by a 6 km long rampart, up to 8 meters high, with earthen and stone bastions. In front of the shaft, a ditch was dug 12 meters wide and up to 10 meters deep, which in some places was filled with water. On the southern side, Izmail was covered by the Danube. Inside the city there were many stone buildings that could be actively used for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people with 265 fortress guns.
In November, a Russian army of 31 thousand people (including 28.5 thousand infantry and 2.5 thousand cavalry) with 500 guns besieged Izmail from land. The river flotilla under the command of General Horace de Ribas, having destroyed almost the entire Turkish river flotilla, blocked the fortress from the Danube.
Two assaults on Izmail ended in failure and the troops moved on to a systematic siege and artillery shelling of the fortress. With the onset of autumn bad weather, mass diseases began in the army, located in open areas. Having lost faith in the possibility of taking Izmail by storm, the generals leading the siege decided to withdraw the troops to winter quarters.
On November 25, command of the troops near Izmail was entrusted to Suvorov. Potemkin gave him the right to act at his own discretion: “whether by continuing the enterprises in Izmail or abandoning it.” In his letter to Alexander Vasilyevich, he noted: “My hope is in God and in your courage, hurry up, my gracious friend...”.
Arriving at Izmail on December 2, Suvorov stopped the withdrawal of troops from under the fortress. Having assessed the situation, he decided to immediately prepare an assault. Having examined the enemy’s fortifications, he noted in a report to Potemkin that they “have no weak points.”
Map of the actions of Russian troops during the assault on Izmail
Preparations for the assault were carried out in nine days. Suvorov sought to make maximum use of the factor of surprise, for which purpose he carried out preparations for the offensive secretly. Particular attention was paid to preparing troops for assault operations. Shafts and walls similar to those of Izmail were built near the village of Broska. For six days and nights, the soldiers practiced on them how to overcome ditches, ramparts and fortress walls. Suvorov encouraged the soldiers with the words: “More sweat - less blood!” At the same time, to deceive the enemy, preparations for a long siege were simulated, batteries were laid, and fortification work was carried out.
Suvorov found the time to develop special instructions for officers and soldiers, which contained the rules of combat when storming a fortress. On the Trubaevsky Kurgan, where a small obelisk stands today, there was a commander’s tent. Here painstaking preparations for the assault were carried out, everything was thought out and provided for down to the smallest detail. “Such an assault,” Alexander Vasilyevich later admitted, “could only be dared once in a lifetime.”
Before the battle at the military council, Suvorov stated: “The Russians stood in front of Izmail twice and retreated from him twice; Now, for the third time, they have no choice but to take the fortress or die...” The Military Council unanimously came out in support of the great commander.
On December 7, Suvorov sent a letter from Potemkin to the commandant of Izmail with an ultimatum to surrender the fortress. The Turks, in case of voluntary surrender, were guaranteed life, preservation of property and the opportunity to cross the Danube, otherwise “the fate of Ochakov will follow the city.” The letter ended with the words: “The brave general Count Alexander Suvorov-Rymniksky has been appointed to carry out this.” And Suvorov attached his note to the letter: “I arrived here with the troops. 24 hours of reflection for surrender and will; My first shots are already bondage; assault - death."
Suvorov and Kutuzov before the storming of Izmail in 1790. Hood. O. G. Vereisky
The Turks refused to capitulate and responded by saying that “the Danube would sooner stop flowing and the sky would bow to the ground than Ishmael would surrender.” This answer, by order of Suvorov, was read out in each company to inspire the soldiers before the assault.
The assault was scheduled for December 11. To maintain secrecy, Suvorov did not give a written order, but limited himself to verbally setting the task to the commanders. The commander planned to conduct a simultaneous night attack with ground forces and a river flotilla from different directions. The main blow was delivered to the least protected riverside part of the fortress. The troops were divided into three detachments of three columns each. The column included up to five battalions. Six columns operated from the land and three columns from the Danube.
A detachment under the command of General P.S. Potemkin, numbering 7,500 people (it included columns of generals Lvov, Lassi and Meknob) was supposed to attack the western front of the fortress; detachment of General A.N. Samoilov numbering 12 thousand people (columns of Major General M.I. Kutuzov and Cossack brigadiers Platov and Orlov) - the north-eastern front of the fortress; a detachment of General de Ribas numbering 9 thousand people (columns of Major General Arsenyev, Brigadier Chepega and Guard Second Major Markov) was supposed to attack the riverine front of the fortress from the Danube. The general reserve of about 2,500 people was divided into four groups and positioned opposite each of the fortress gates.
Of the nine columns, six were concentrated in the main direction. The main artillery was also located here. A team of 120-150 riflemen in loose formation and 50 workers with entrenching tools were to move ahead of each column, then three battalions with fascines and ladders. The column is closed by a reserve built in a square.
Actions of Russian artillery during the assault on the Izmail fortress in 1790. Hood. F.I. Usypenko
In preparation for the assault, from the morning of December 10, Russian artillery from land and ships fired continuously at enemy fortifications and batteries, which continued until the start of the attack. At 5:30 a.m. on December 11, the columns moved to storm the fortress. The river flotilla, under the cover of naval artillery fire (about 500 guns), landed troops. The besieged met the attacking columns with artillery and rifle fire, and in some areas with counterattacks.
Despite heavy fire and desperate resistance, the 1st and 2nd columns immediately burst onto the rampart and captured the bastions. During the battle, General Lvov was seriously wounded and Colonel Zolotukhin took command of the 1st column. The 6th column immediately captured the rampart, but then delayed, repelling a strong counterattack by the Turks.
The 3rd column found itself in the most difficult conditions: the depth of the ditch and the height of the bastion, which it had to take, turned out to be greater than in other places. The soldiers had to link ladders under enemy fire to climb the rampart. Despite heavy losses, it completed its task.
The 4th and 5th columns, composed of dismounted Cossacks, withstood a difficult battle. They were counterattacked by the Turks emerging from the fortress, and Platov’s Cossacks also had to overcome a ditch with water. The Cossacks not only coped with the task, but also contributed to the successful attack of the 7th column, which, after landing, was divided into four parts and went on the attack under flanking fire from Turkish batteries. During the battle, Platov had to take command of the detachment, replacing the seriously wounded General Samoilov. The remaining columns that attacked the enemy from the Danube also successfully completed their tasks.
Entry A.V. Suvorov to Izmail. Hood. A.V. Rusin
At dawn the battle was already going on inside the fortress. By 11 o'clock the gates were opened and reinforcements entered the fortress. Heavy street fighting continued until dusk. The Turks defended themselves desperately. The assault columns were forced to split up and operate in separate battalions and even companies. Their efforts were constantly increased by introducing reserves into the battle. To support the attackers, part of the artillery was brought inside the fortress.
“The Izmail fortress, so fortified, so vast and which seemed invincible to the enemy, was taken by the terrible weapon of Russian bayonets. The tenacity of the enemy, who arrogantly placed his hope in the number of troops, was dashed,” Potemkin wrote in a report to Catherine II.
During the assault, the Turks lost more than 26 thousand people, 9 thousand were captured. The Russians captured about 400 banners and horsetails, 265 guns, the remains of the river flotilla - 42 ships, large supplies of ammunition and many other trophies. Russian losses amounted to 4 thousand killed and 6 thousand wounded.
Officer's cross and soldier's medal for participation in the storming of Izmail in December 1790.
The capture of Izmail by Russian troops dramatically changed the strategic situation in the war in favor of Russia. Türkiye was forced to move on to peace negotiations.
“There has never been a stronger fortress, there has been no defense more desperate than that of Ishmael, but Ishmael has been taken,” these words from Suvorov’s report to Potemkin are carved on a monument erected in honor of the great Russian commander.
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The Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774 ended in Russian victory. The country finally secured access to the Black Sea. But according to the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Treaty, the powerful fortress of Izmail, located at the mouth of the Danube, still remained Turkish.
Political situation
In the middle of the summer of 1787, Turkey, with the support of France, Great Britain and Prussia, demanded that the Russian Empire return Crimea and refuse its protection to the Georgian authorities. In addition, they wanted to obtain consent to inspect all Russian merchant ships traveling through the straits of the Black Sea. Without waiting for a positive response to its claims, the Turkish government declared war on Russia. This happened on August 12, 1787.
The challenge was accepted. The Russian Empire, in turn, hastened to take advantage of the current situation and increase its possessions at the expense of lands in the Northern Black Sea region.
Initially, Turkey planned to capture Kherson and Kinburn, land a large number of its troops on the Crimean Peninsula, and also destroy the base of the Russian Black Sea squadron in Sevastopol.
Balance of power
In order to launch full-scale military operations on the Black Sea coast of the Kuban and Caucasus, Turkey turned its main forces in the direction of Anapa and Sukhum. It had an army of 200,000 and a fairly strong fleet, consisting of 16 frigates, 19 battleships, 5 bombardment corvettes, as well as many other ships and support ships.
In response, the Russian Empire began deploying its two armies. The first of them is Ekaterinoslavskaya. It was commanded by Field Marshal General Grigory Potemkin. It numbered 82 thousand people. The second was the Ukrainian 37,000-strong army under the command of Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev. In addition, two powerful military corps were stationed in Crimea and Kuban.
As for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, it was based in two places. The main forces, consisting of 23 warships, carrying 864 guns, were stationed in Sevastopol, and were commanded by Admiral M. I. Voinovich. An interesting fact is that at the same time, the future great admiral F. F. Ushakov served here. The second place of deployment was the Dnieper-Bug estuary. A rowing flotilla was stationed there, consisting of 20 small vessels and ships that were only partially armed.
Allied plan
It must be said that the Russian Empire was not left alone in this war. On its side was one of the largest and strongest European countries at that time - Austria. She, like Russia, sought to expand her borders at the expense of other Balkan countries that found themselves under the yoke of Turkey.
The plan of the new allies, Austria and the Russian Empire, was exclusively offensive in nature. The idea was to attack Turkey from two sides simultaneously. The Yekaterinoslav army was supposed to begin military operations on the Black Sea coast, capture Ochakov, then cross the Dnieper and destroy Turkish troops in the area between the Prut and Dniester rivers, and for this it was necessary to take Bendery. At the same time, the Russian flotilla, through its active actions, pinned down enemy ships on the Black Sea and did not allow the Turks to land on the Crimean coast. The Austrian army, in turn, promised to attack from the west and storm Hatin.
Developments
The start of hostilities for Russia was very successful. The capture of the Ochakov fortress, two victories of A. Suvorov at Rymnik and Forshany indicated that the war should end very soon. This meant that the Russian Empire would sign a peace beneficial to itself. Türkiye at that time did not have such forces that could seriously repel the Allied armies. But for some reason politicians missed this favorable moment and did not take advantage of it. As a result, the war dragged on, since the Turkish authorities were still able to gather a new army, as well as receive help from the West.
During the military campaign of 1790, the Russian command planned to capture Turkish fortresses located on the left bank of the Danube, and after that move their troops further.
This year, Russian sailors under the command of F. Ushakov won one brilliant victory after another. At the island of Tendra and the Turkish fleet suffered a crushing defeat. As a result, the Russian flotilla firmly established itself in the Black Sea and provided favorable conditions for the further offensive of its armies on the Danube. The fortresses of Tulcha, Kilia and Isakcha had already been taken when Potemkin’s troops approached Izmail. Here they met desperate resistance from the Turks.
Impregnable citadel
The capture of Ishmael was considered impossible. Just before the war, the fortress was thoroughly rebuilt and strengthened. It was surrounded by a high rampart and a fairly wide ditch filled with water. The fortress had 11 bastions, where 260 guns were placed. The work was led by German and French engineers.
Also, the capture of Izmail was considered unrealistic, because it was located on the left bank of the Danube between two lakes - Katlabukh and Yalpukh. It rose on the slope of a sloping mountain, which ended in a low but steep slope near the riverbed. This fortress was of great strategic importance, as it was located at the intersection of routes from Khotin, Kiliya, Galati and Bendery.
The garrison of the citadel consisted of 35 thousand soldiers, commanded by Aidozle Mehmet Pasha. Some of them reported directly to Kaplan Geray, the brother of the Crimean Khan. He was assisted by his five sons. The new decree of Sultan Selim III stated that if the capture of the Izmail fortress takes place, then every soldier from the garrison, wherever he may be, will be executed.
Appointment of Suvorov
The Russian troops camped under the citadel had a hard time. The weather was damp and cold. The soldiers warmed themselves by burning reeds in fires. There was a catastrophic shortage of food. In addition, the troops were in constant combat readiness, fearing enemy attacks.
Winter was just around the corner, so Russian military leaders Ivan Gudovich, Joseph de Ribas and Potemkin's brother Pavel gathered for a military council on December 7. On it they decided to lift the siege and postpone the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail.
But Grigory Potemkin did not agree with this conclusion and canceled the resolution of the military council. Instead, he signed an order that General-in-Chief A.V. Suvorov, who was standing with his troops at Galati, should take command of the army that was currently besieging the impregnable citadel.
Preparing for the assault
The capture of the Izmail fortress by Russian troops required the most careful organization. Therefore, Suvorov sent his best Phanagorian Grenadier Regiment, 1 thousand Arnauts, 200 Cossacks and 150 hunters who served in the Absheron Musketeer Regiment to the walls of the bastion. He did not forget about the sutlers with food supplies. In addition, Suvorov ordered 30 ladders and 1 thousand fascines to be put together and sent to Izmail, and also gave the rest of the necessary orders. He transferred command of the remaining troops stationed near Galati to lieutenant generals Derfelden and Prince Golitsin. The commander himself left the camp with a small convoy consisting of only 40 Cossacks. On the way to the fortress, Suvorov met the retreating Russian troops and turned them back, as he planned to use all his forces at the moment when the capture of Izmail began.
Upon arrival at the camp located near the fortress, he first blocked the impregnable citadel from the Danube River and from land. Then Suvorov ordered the artillery to be positioned as it was done during a long siege. Thus, he managed to convince the Turks that the capture of Izmail by Russian troops was not planned in the near future.
Suvorov conducted a detailed acquaintance with the fortress. He and the officers accompanying him approached Ishmael within rifle range. Here he indicated the places where the columns would go, where exactly the assault would take place and how the troops should help each other. For six days Suvorov prepared to capture the Turkish fortress of Izmail.
The General-in-Chief personally toured all the regiments and talked with the soldiers about previous victories, while not hiding the difficulties that awaited them during the assault. This is how Suvorov prepared his troops for the day when the capture of Izmail would finally begin.
Land Assault
At 3 a.m. on December 22, the first flare lit up in the sky. This was a conventional sign according to which the troops left their camp, formed columns and headed to their pre-designated locations. And by half past six in the morning they moved to capture the Izmail fortress.
The column led by Major General P.P. Lassi was the first to approach the walls of the citadel. Half an hour after the start of the assault, under a hurricane of enemy bullets raining down on their heads, the rangers overcame the rampart, at the top of which a fierce battle ensued. And at this time, the Phanagorian grenadiers and Absheron riflemen under the command of Major General S. L. Lvov managed to capture the first enemy batteries and the Khotyn Gate. They also managed to connect with the second column. They opened the Khotyn gates for the entry of cavalry. This was the first major victory of the Russian troops since the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Suvorov began. Meanwhile, in other areas the assault continued with increasing force.
At the same time, on the opposite side of the citadel, the column of Major General M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov captured the bastion located on the side of the Kiliya Gate and the adjacent rampart. On the day of the capture of the Izmail fortress, perhaps the most difficult task to achieve was the goal set for the commander of the third column, Major General F.I. Meknoba. She was supposed to storm the northern great bastion. The fact is that in this area the height of the rampart and the depth of the ditch were too great, so the stairs, about 12 m high, turned out to be short. Under heavy fire, the soldiers had to tie them up two by two. As a result, the northern bastion was taken. The remaining ground columns also coped with their tasks perfectly.
Water assault
The capture of Izmail by Suvorov was thought out to the smallest detail. Therefore, it was decided to storm the fortress not only from the land side. Seeing the prearranged signal, the landing troops, led by Major General de Ribas, covered by the rowing fleet, moved towards the fortress and lined up in two lines. At 7 o'clock in the morning their landing on the shore began. This process took place very smoothly and quickly, despite the fact that they were resisted by more than 10 thousand Turkish and Tatar soldiers. This success of the landing was greatly facilitated by Lvov’s column, which at that time was attacking enemy coastal batteries from the flank. Also, significant Turkish forces were pulled over by ground forces operating from the eastern side.
The column under the command of Major General N.D. Arsenyev sailed to the shore on 20 ships. As soon as the troops landed on the shore, they immediately divided into several groups. The Livonian rangers were commanded by Count Roger Damas. They captured a battery that lined the shore. The Kherson grenadiers, led by Colonel V.A. Zubov, managed to take a rather tough cavalier. On this day of the capture of Izmail, the battalion lost two-thirds of its strength. The remaining military units also suffered losses, but successfully captured their sections of the fortress.
Final stage
When dawn came, it turned out that the rampart had already been captured, and the enemy had been driven out from the fortress walls and was retreating deeper into the city. Columns of Russian troops, located from different sides, moved towards the city center. New battles broke out.
The Turks offered especially strong resistance until 11 o'clock. The city was burning here and there. Thousands of horses, jumping out of burning stables in panic, rushed through the streets, sweeping away everyone in their path. Russian troops had to fight for almost every house. Lassi and his squad were the first to reach the city center. Here Maksud Geray was waiting for him with the remnants of his troops. The Turkish commander stubbornly defended himself, and only when almost all his soldiers were killed did he surrender.
The capture of Izmail by Suvorov was coming to an end. To support the infantry with fire, he ordered light guns firing grapeshot to be delivered to the city. Their volleys helped clear the streets of the enemy. At one o'clock in the afternoon it became clear that victory had actually already been won. But the fighting still continued. Kaplan Geray somehow managed to gather several thousand foot and horse Turks and Tatars, whom he led against the advancing Russian troops, but was defeated and killed. His five sons also died. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the capture of the Izmail fortress by Suvorov was completed. The citadel, previously considered impregnable, fell.
Results
The capture of Izmail by the troops of the Russian Empire radically affected the entire strategic situation. The Turkish government was forced to agree to peace negotiations. A year later, both parties signed an agreement, according to which the Turks recognized Russia’s rights to Georgia, Crimea and Kuban. In addition, Russian merchants were promised benefits and all kinds of assistance from the vanquished.
On the day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail, the Russian side lost 2,136 people killed. Their number included: soldiers - 1816, Cossacks - 158, officers - 66 and 1 brigadier. There were slightly more wounded - 3214 people, including 3 generals and 253 officers.
The losses on the part of the Turks seemed simply enormous. More than 26 thousand people were killed alone. About 9 thousand were captured, but the next day 2 thousand died from their wounds. It is believed that out of the entire Izmail garrison, only one person managed to escape. He was slightly wounded and, having fallen into the water, managed to swim across the Danube riding on a log.
Assault on Izmail- siege and assault in 1790 of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of Chief General A.V. Suvorov, during the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1791.
Not wanting to come to terms with the results of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, Turkey in July 1787 demanded with an ultimatum that Russia return Crimea, renounce the patronage of Georgia and agree to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits.
Having not received a satisfactory answer, The Turkish government declared war on Russia on August 12 (23), 1787. In turn, Russia decided to take advantage of the situation to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region by completely displacing Turkish troops from there.
In October 1787 Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov almost completely destroyed the 6,000-strong Turkish landing party, who intended to capture the mouth of the Dnieper, on the Kinburn Spit.
However, despite the brilliant victories of the Russian army, the enemy did not agree to accept the peace terms that Russia insisted on, and in every possible way delayed the negotiations. Russian military leaders and diplomats were aware that the successful completion of peace negotiations with Turkey would be greatly facilitated by the capture of Izmail.
By the beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1792, the Turks, under the leadership of German and French engineers, turned Izmail into a powerful fortress with a high rampart and a wide ditch 6 to 11 meters deep, in places filled with water. There were 260 guns on 11 bastions.
Strengthening Izmail
The Izmail fortress had a favorable geographical location. It rose to a height in the Danube, which acted as a natural barrier on the southern side. On the western side, the fortress was surrounded by two lakes Kuchurluy and Alapukh. From the east the fortress was surrounded by Lake Kalabukh. The natural defense of Ishmael on three sides significantly limited the room for maneuver of enemy armies. A wide ravine ran along the fortress, which divided the city into two parts: the old fortress (western part of the city) and the new fortress (eastern part of the city).
In 1790, the Izmail fortress included the following defensive structures:
The rampart around the fortress, with a length of more than 6 km and a maximum height of up to 10 m.
Moat with a width of 14 m and a depth of up to 13 m. Most of it was filled with water.
8 bastions, built in such a way that they had a large number of corners. A bastion is a protruding part of a fortress wall.
There was a stone quarry in the southeastern part of the fortress, 12 m high.
The southern side, to which the Danube adjoined, was the least fortified. The Turks considered the river to be a strong obstacle, and also relied on their fleet, which was always supposed to hold back the enemy.
The city itself was in great danger during the assault on Izmail. Almost all the buildings in the city were made of stone with thick walls and a large number of towers. Therefore, in fact, each building represented a strong point from which defense could be launched.
The garrison of Izmail consisted of 35 thousand people under the command of serasker Aidozly Muhammad Pasha. However, according to other sources, the Turkish garrison at the time of the assault on Izmail consisted of up to 15 thousand people, and it could have increased at the expense of local residents. Part of the garrison was commanded by Kaplan Giray, brother of the Crimean Khan, who was helped by his five sons. The Sultan was very angry with his troops for all the previous capitulations and ordered with a firman that in the event of the fall of Ishmael, everyone from his garrison should be executed, wherever he was found.
Preparations for the assault on Izmail
November 25, 1790 Potemkin gives the order to Chief General Suvorov to immediately report to Izmail. The order was received on November 28 and Suvorov set off for the fortress from Galati, taking with him the troops he had previously trained: the Phanagorian Grenadier Regiment, the hunters of the Acheron Regiment (150 people) and the Arnauts (1000 people). Together with the troops, Suvorov sent food, 30 ladders for the assault and 1000 fascines (bundles of rods that were used to overcome ditches).
Early morning December 2 Alexander Suvorov arrived near Izmail and took command of the garrison. The general immediately began training the army. First of all, Suvorov organized reconnaissance and positioned the troops in a semicircle around the fortress, forming a dense ring on land and an equally dense ring along the Danube, creating an element of complete siege of the garrison. Suvorov's main idea at Izmail was to convince the enemy that there would be no assault, but that all preparations were being made for a systematic and long-term siege of the fortress.
On the night of December 7 On the eastern and western outskirts of the fortress, at a distance of up to 400 m from it, 2 batteries were erected, each containing 10 guns. On the same day, these guns began shelling the fortress.
Deep in his rear, out of sight of the Turkish army, Suvorov ordered the construction of an exact copy of Ismail. We are not talking about completely copying the fortress, but about recreating its moat, rampart and walls. It was here that, using a clear example, the general trained his troops, honing their actions to the point of automatism, so that in the future, during a real assault on the fortress, each person knew what he needed to do and understood how to behave in front of one or another fortification system. All training took place exclusively at night. This is not due to the specifics of preparations for the capture of Izmail, but to the specifics of Suvorov’s training of his armies. Alexander Vasilyevich liked to repeat that it was night exercises and night battles that provide the basis for victory.
To give the Turkish army the impression of preparing a long siege, Suvorov ordered:
Fire from guns that were located close to the walls of the fortress
The fleet was constantly maneuvering and constantly firing sluggishly
Every night, rockets were launched to accustom the enemy to them and to disguise the real signal for the start of the assault.
These actions led to the fact that the Turkish side greatly overestimated the size of the Russian army. If in reality Suvorov had 31,000 people at his disposal, then the Turks were sure that he had about 80,000 people at his disposal.
On December 9, 1790, at a meeting of the military council, a decision was made to storm Izmail.
The capture was planned to be carried out in three directions:
From the west, the attack is led by Pavel Potemkin and 7,500 people. Includes: Lvov detachment (5 battalions and 450 people), Lassi detachment (5 battalions, 178 people, more than 300 fascines), Meknob detachment (5 battalions, 178 people, more than 500 fascines).
Samoilov and 12,000 men lead the attack from the east. Includes: Orlov's detachment (3,000 Cossacks, 200 soldiers, 610 fascines), Platov's detachment (5,000 Cossacks, 200 soldiers, 610 fascines), Kutuzov's detachment (5 battalions, 1,000 Cossacks, 120 soldiers, 610 fascines).
Deribas and 9,000 men lead the attack from the south. Includes: Arsenyev’s detachment (3 battalions, 2000 Cossacks), Chepega’s detachment (3 battalions, 1000 Cossacks), Markov’s detachment (5 battalions, 1000 Cossacks).
The cavalry, which numbered 2,500 people, was supplied as a reserve.
The Russian army numbered 31,000 people, 607 guns (40 field and 567 on ships).
The Turkish army numbered 43,000 people and 300 guns (excluding guns on ships, since there is no data on them).
The beginning of the assault on Izmail
On December 10, artillery preparation for the attack began. All 607 guns fired non-stop, increasing in intensity as night approached. Turkish artillery also responded, but towards the end of the day its salvoes practically ceased.
On December 11 at 3:00 a.m. a rocket was launched, signaling the Russian army to move to its starting position for the attack. At 4:00 the second rocket was launched, at the signal of which the troops began to form into battle formation.
In the morning of December 11, 1790, the third rocket was launched, which meant the beginning of the assault on the Izmail fortress. It took several attacks to break into the city. The Turks often launched counterattacks that drove back the Russian army, after which it again went on the offensive, trying to take advantageous positions.
Already by 8 o'clockmorning Russian troops captured all the walls of the fortress. From that moment on, Izmail’s attack was virtually over; the Turkish army retreated deeper into the city, and Russian soldiers closed a circle inside Izmail, creating an encirclement. The complete unification of the Russian army and the completion of the encirclement occurred at 10 am. Until about 11, fighting continued for the outskirts of the city. Each house had to be taken with a fight, but due to the courageous actions of the Russian soldiers, the ring was getting tighter and tighter. Suvorov ordered the introduction of light cannons, which fired grapeshot into the city streets. This was an important point, since the Turks at this point no longer had artillery and could not respond in a similar way.
The last center of resistance to the Turkish army in Izmail was formed in the city square, where 5,000 Janissaries, led by Kaplan-Girey, defended. Russian soldiers, trained by Suvorov to use bayonets, pressed back the enemy. In order to win the final victory, Suvorov gave the order to the cavalry, who were in reserve, to attack the city square. After this, resistance was completely broken. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the assault on Izmail was over. The fortress fell. Nevertheless, even before the end of December 12, rare shooting continued in the city, as isolated Turkish soldiers took refuge in basements and mosques, continuing to defend. But ultimately these resistances were suppressed.
Only one Turk managed to escape alive. At the beginning of the battle, he was slightly wounded and fell from the fortress wall, after which he fled. The rest of the troops were mostly killed, a smaller part was taken prisoner.
Suvorov sent a message to the Empress:"Russian flag on the walls of Izmail."
Losses of the parties
Turkish army lost and 33,000 people were killed and wounded, 10,000 people were captured. Among the dead were: commandant Izmail Aydozli Mehmet Pasha, 12 pashas (generals), 51 senior officers.
The Russian army lost 1830 people were killed, 2933 people were wounded. During the assault, 2 generals and 65 officers were killed. These figures were in Suvorov's report. Later historians said that during the capture of the Izmail fortress, 4 thousand people died and 6 thousand were wounded.
Suvorov's army captured as trophies:
up to 300 guns (in different sources the figure ranges from 265 to 300)
345 banners
42 ships
50 tons of gunpowder
20,000 cores
15,000 horses
jewelry and food supplies for the garrison and city for six months
Historical significance of the capture of Ishmael
Suvorov's victory at Izmail was of great significance for the Russian-Turkish war. Many Turkish fortresses, whose garrisons considered Izmail impregnable, began to surrender to the Russian army without a fight. As a result, a radical change was made in the war.
The capture of the Izmailov fortress made it possible to open a direct road for the Russian army to Constantinople. This was a direct blow to the sovereignty of Turkey, which for the first time faced the threat of complete loss of statehood. As a result, she was forced in 1791 to sign a peace treaty in Iasi, which meant her defeat.
Catherine II commanded knock out a medal in honor of A.V. Suvorov for the capture of Izmail and established it to reward for feats accomplished during the assault on Izmail.
For awarding lower military ranks who participated in the assault and capture of the powerful Turkish fortress of Izmail was established
December 24- The day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov (1790) celebrated in Russia as the Day of Military Glory.
During the era of the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791. Izmail was a powerful, modern Turkish fortress. The capture of Izmail by the Russian army took place on December 11 (22), 1790. One of the significant victories of A.V. Suvorov was the capture of what was considered an impregnable fortress in an open attack by forces smaller than those of the enemy. The capture of Izmail finally decided the outcome of the Russian-Turkish war in favor of Russia.
Background
1787, summer - Turkey, supported by France, Great Britain and Prussia, demanded that Russia return Crimea and refuse Georgia its protection. In addition, they wanted to obtain consent to inspect all Russian merchant ships traveling through the Black Sea straits. Without waiting for a response to their claims, the Turks declared war on the Russian Empire.
The victories of 1789 at Focsani and Rymnik, which Suvorov won, were in themselves a serious blow to the military power of the Turkish army. But the Russian army also won other victories in this war. The Russians were able to capture Bendery, Akkerman and the small fortress of Hadji Bey on the sea coast. Ushakov’s fleet performed excellently on the Black Sea. But these successes were not fully exploited, and the Turks were able to recover from their defeats.
Izmail Fortress. Location. Fortifications
The center of Turkish defense on the Danube was the powerful fortress of Izmail. The Turks called it “Ordukalesi” - an army fortress. 1774 - it was rebuilt according to the design of French and German engineers in accordance with all modern requirements for military construction. The fortress was located on the left bank of the Kiliya branch of the Danube between lakes Yalpukh and Katlabukh, on a gently sloping slope ending at the Danube channel with a low but steep slope.
The fortress was surrounded by a large rampart reaching a height of up to eight meters. The rampart was 6 km long, 7 earthen and stone bastions were built on it, and passage was provided by four gates. The rampart surrounded the city on three sides - north, west and east. From the south, the city was protected by the Danube, which was half a kilometer wide. In front of the rampart there was a ditch 12 meters wide and 6-10 meters deep, filled in some places with water. Stone buildings inside the fortress made it possible to conduct an effective fight against the attackers if they were able to penetrate the city. The garrison was commanded by Aidozli Mehmet Pasha. Part of the garrison was commanded by Kaplan-girey, the brother of the Crimean Khan. The fortress had more than 200 large guns and a garrison of 35 thousand people. Russian troops near Izmail numbered 31 thousand people.
Alexander Vasilievich Suvorov (Artist J. Kreuzinger 1799)
Meaning
The end of the Russian-Turkish war depended on the capture of this fortress. (Austria, Russia’s ally, had already concluded a separate peace with the Porte.) The fortress played an important role: it not only seriously impeded the liberation of Dobrudja by the Russian army, but was also a wonderful refuge for the remnants of the Sultan’s army, who fled from the fortresses of Akkerman, Bendery and Khotin, destroyed by Russian troops. In those days, not only fugitives from these fortresses took refuge behind the ramparts of the fortress, but also the most prosperous Muslim population of the region with their families.
Developments
The Russian army besieged Izmail, but could not take it. Neither Repnin in 1789, nor I.V. Gudovich and P.S. Potemkin in 1790 could solve this problem. Therefore, on November 25, 1790, Commander-in-Chief G. A. Potemkin sent a messenger to Suvorov with an order to leave from Galati and lead the Russian army near Izmail. The next day, a meeting of the military council was held near the city, recognizing the impossibility of active action against the impregnable citadel. Some units began to move away from Izmail, and the commander of the flotilla de Ribas decided to head near Galati to Suvorov.
Arrival of Suvorov
The commander who arrived near Izmail on December 2 had a different opinion than the council regarding the possibility of an assault. He wanted to attack the fortress. Leaving his horse at the foot of the Scythian mound, Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov climbed to its top. From here the bastions and ramparts were clearly visible through the telescope, behind which the spiers of pointed mosques and minarets rose into the sky, and the red roofs of shops and warehouses were visible. “A fortress without weak points,” after inspecting the structure, Suvorov told the commander-in-chief on the second day. “Today we have started preparing siege materials, which were not available for batteries, and we will try to carry them out for the next assault in 5 days...”
Fragment of the diorama “Storm of the Izmail fortress by Russian troops in 1790”
Preparing for the assault
The assault was preceded by extensive engineering preparation (70 assault ladders and 1,200 fascines were delivered from Galati), and then training of soldiers in handling ladders and engineering tools. By order of the commander, ramparts and ditches of the same type as those of Izmail were built near the village of Safyany; it was there that the soldiers learned to storm the city.
Ultimatum
Suvorov presented an ultimatum to the commander of the Turkish troops in the city: “I arrived here with the troops. 24 hours for reflection - will; my first shot is already captivity; assault - death."
Aydozli Mehmet Pasha refused to accept the ultimatum, saying that the Danube would sooner stop in its flow and the sky would collapse to the ground than Ishmael would surrender. The commander convened a military council and gave the order to storm the fortress.
Assault plan
The assault was scheduled for December 11. Suvorov planned to attack the fortress simultaneously in several places: with six columns (19,500 people) from the land side and three columns under the command of de Ribas from the Danube side (9 thousand people). The main blow was delivered to the riverside part of the city, where two-thirds of the forces were concentrated (parts of de Ribas, columns of Kutuzov, Lvov, Lassi). Three columns were to advance from the east (Kiliya Gate of the new fortress) under the command of A.N. Samoilov, three - from the west (Brosskie Gate) under the command of P.S. Potemkin. Brigadier Westphalen's cavalry reserves (2,500 men) were on the land side.
The front line of the Russian battle formation consisted of riflemen. Following them were sapper teams armed with axes, picks and shovels. Then came infantry columns, behind which a reserve was placed, built in a square, to repel cavalry attacks from the fortress.
The flotilla was built in two lines. 145 light ships and Cossack boats with landing troops were in the first line, and 58 large ships in the second. Large ships were supposed to cover the landing of troops on the shore with heavy artillery fire.
On December 10, artillery preparation began using field and naval artillery (up to 600 guns fired). The shelling of the fortress continued all day. On December 11, at three o'clock, following a signal from rockets, troops began to concentrate at the indicated points. At 5.30 the assault began. The attacking troops were met by fire from 250 enemy guns.
The battle for the capture of the bastions and the entire rampart continued until 8 o'clock in the morning. The first to approach the fortress was the 2nd column of Major General B.P. Lassi. At 6 o'clock in the morning, Lassi's rangers overcame the rampart, and a fierce battle ensued above.
The most powerful western bastion - Tabia - was attacked by a column of S.M. Lvov. The seriously wounded General Lvov was replaced by Suvorov’s loyal associate, Colonel V.I. Zolotukhin. He brought the grenadiers of the Absheron regiment into battle, captured the enemy’s coastal battery, went around Tabia from the rear and opened the Bros Gate - the key to the entire fortress.
Assault on Izmail (Engraving by S. Shiflyar)
On the other side of the fortress, in the area of the granite Kiliya redoubts, M.I. soldiers attacked twice. Kutuzov and retreated twice under enemy pressure. Taking the Kherson regiment from the reserve, Kutuzov led his grenadiers to storm the third time and was able to capture the bastion.
The northern Bendery bastion, which was stormed by the 3rd column under the command of Meknob, turned out to be difficult. His detachment stormed the bastion adjacent to Bendersky and the gap between them. There, the depth of the ditch and the height of the rampart turned out to be so great that the stairs had to be connected in two. Many soldiers and officers died on the ramparts, wet and slippery with blood. The Turks made forays several times and counterattacked the Russians, but the bastions were taken. The columns of Colonel V.P. were also able to complete their tasks. Orlov and foreman M.I. Platova.
The attack from the Danube was successful, where three columns of Russians were able to overturn the Turks and gain a foothold in the city. The landing began at about 7 o'clock in the morning. Here the Russian landing force was resisted by more than 10 thousand Turks and Tatars. Zinovy Chepega, the brigadier of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, commanding the 2nd column of river landings, rushed with the Cossacks to the shore and occupied redoubts along the Danube. The success of the landing was facilitated by Lvov's column, which attacked the Danube coastal batteries on the flank, and by the actions of ground forces on the eastern side of Izmail. Zaporozhye Cossacks led by Ataman A.A. The Holovat struck a bold and crushing blow from the north into the very middle of the fortress. Meanwhile, other units moved towards the center - Potemkin on the right, Kutuzov on the left.
Fierce street battles continued until 16.00. Part of the Russian field artillery was brought into the city. The Turks stubbornly defended every square and every house. To completely defeat them, Suvorov’s reserve entered Izmail at a critical moment.
In his report, Alexander Vasilyevich wrote: “There has never been a stronger fortress, there has never been a defense more desperate than that of Ishmael, but Ishmael was taken,” “My soldiers showed massive heroism, forgetting the sense of fear and self-preservation.”
Results of the assault
Losses
Thus, the city, considered impregnable by the Turks, was taken during one Suvorov assault. The garrison's losses amounted to 26 thousand killed and about 9 thousand prisoners - evidence of stubborn resistance to the Russians. The Turks lost all artillery, ammunition, and 42 ships. The Russians lost 10 thousand people - 4 thousand killed and 6 thousand wounded. The prisoners were sent under escort to Nikolaev, the corpses were dumped into the Danube for another six days.
Awards
Distinguished by the skillful leadership of his column and showing an example of personal courage, Major General M.I. Kutuzov was appointed the new commandant of the city. Suvorov was not awarded the rank of Field Marshal, which he had hoped for. The Empress, at the insistence of G.A. Potemkin was limited to a medal and the honorary title of lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky regiment; there were already 10 such lieutenant colonels, and Suvorov became the eleventh. Potemkin himself received a field marshal's uniform, embroidered with diamonds, another palace, etc.
The lower ranks received oval silver medals; for officers who have not received the Order of St. George or Vladimir, installed a golden cross on the St. George ribbon; the chiefs received orders or golden swords, some were awarded ranks.
Results
It is believed that, using the example of Izmail, Suvorov was able to prove the fallacy of Western European ideas about the capture of fortresses, based on the need for long and methodical engineering preparation. The great Russian commander launched an open attack, which, moreover, was carried out by smaller forces than the enemy (a unique case, because usually, on the contrary, smaller forces entrenched in a fortified fortress could repel huge armies of the advancing enemy).
The capture of Izmail and the victories of the Russian fleet at sea decided the outcome of the Russian-Turkish war in favor of Russia. This victory made it possible to open a direct road for the Russian army to Constantinople. This was a direct blow to the sovereignty of Turkey, which for the first time faced the threat of complete loss of statehood. 1791 - the Peace of Yassy was concluded, according to which Turkey recognized the annexation of Crimea, the Black Sea coast from the Southern Bug to the Dniester and lands along the river to Russia. Kuban. The Porte also pledged not to interfere in Georgian affairs.
The Day of Military Glory of Russia, celebrated today, was established in honor of the day of the capture of the Turkish fortress of Izmail by Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov in 1790. The holiday was established by Federal Law No. 32-FZ of March 13, 1995 “On the days of military glory (victory days) of Russia.”
Of particular importance during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1791 was the capture of Izmail, the citadel of Turkish rule on the Danube. The fortress was built under the leadership of German and French engineers in accordance with the latest fortification requirements. From the south it was protected by the Danube, which is half a kilometer wide. A ditch 12 meters wide and 6 to 10 meters deep was dug around the fortress walls; in some places of the ditch there was water up to 2 meters deep. Inside the city there were many stone buildings convenient for defense. The fortress garrison numbered 35 thousand people and 265 guns.
Brief information
The assault on Izmail in 1790 was undertaken during the Russian-Turkish war of 1787-1792. by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Army, Field Marshal G. A. Potemkin. Neither N.V. Repnin (1789), nor I.V. Gudovich and P.S. Potemkin (1790) were able to solve this problem, after which G.A. Potemkin entrusted the operation to A.V. Suvorov. Arriving near Izmail on December 2, Suvorov spent six days preparing for the assault, including training troops to storm models of the high fortress walls of Izmail. The commandant of Ishmael was asked to capitulate, but in response he ordered to report that “the sky would sooner fall to the ground than Ishmael would be taken.”
For two days, Suvorov conducted artillery preparation, and on December 11, at 5:30 a.m., the assault on the fortress began. By 8 a.m. all the fortifications were occupied, but resistance on the city streets continued until 4 p.m. Turkish losses amounted to 26 thousand people. killed and 9 thousand prisoners. The losses of the Russian army amounted to 4 thousand people. killed and 6 thousand wounded. All the guns, 400 banners, huge reserves of provisions and jewelry worth 10 million piastres were captured. M.I. Kutuzov was appointed commandant of the fortress.
A.A. Danilov: History of Russia 9th - 19th centuries
Today Izmail, with a population of 92 thousand people, is a city of regional subordination in the Odessa region
Background
Not wanting to come to terms with the results of the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774, Turkey in July 1787 demanded from Russia the return of Crimea, renunciation of the patronage of Georgia and consent to inspect Russian merchant ships passing through the straits. Having not received a satisfactory answer, the Turkish government declared war on Russia on August 12, 1787. In turn, Russia decided to take advantage of the situation to expand its possessions in the Northern Black Sea region by completely displacing the Turkish invaders from there.
In October 1787, Russian troops under the command of A.V. Suvorov almost completely destroyed the 6,000-strong Turkish landing party, who intended to capture the mouth of the Dnieper, on the Kinburg Spit. Despite the brilliant victories of the Russian army at Ochakov (1788), at Focshan (1789) and on the Rymnik River (1789), the enemy did not agree to accept the peace terms that Russia insisted on, and in every possible way delayed negotiations. Russian military leaders and diplomats were aware that the successful completion of peace negotiations with Turkey would be greatly facilitated by the capture of Izmail.
The Izmail fortress lay on the left bank of the Kiliya branch of the Danube between lakes Yalpukh and Katlabukh, on a gently sloping slope ending at the Danube bed with a low but rather steep slope. The strategic importance of Izmail was very great: the routes from Galati, Khotin, Bender and Kili converged here; here was the most convenient place for an invasion from the north across the Danube into Dobruja. By the beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-1792, the Turks, under the leadership of German and French engineers, turned Izmail into a powerful fortress with a high rampart and a wide ditch with a depth of 3 to 5 fathoms (6.4-10.7 m), in places filled with water. There were 260 guns on 11 bastions. The garrison of Izmail consisted of 35 thousand people under the command of Aydozle Mehmet Pasha. Part of the garrison was commanded by Kaplan-girey, the brother of the Crimean Khan, who was assisted by his five sons. The Sultan was very angry with his troops for all the previous capitulations and ordered with a firman that in the event of the fall of Ishmael, everyone from his garrison should be executed, wherever he was found.
Siege and assault of Izmail
In 1790, after capturing the fortresses of Kiliya, Tulcha and Isakcha, the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky gave the order to the detachments of generals I.V. Gudovich, P.S. Potemkin and the flotilla of General de Ribas to capture Izmail. However, their actions were hesitant. On November 26, the military council decided to lift the siege of the fortress due to the approach of winter. The Commander-in-Chief did not approve this decision and ordered Chief General A.V. Suvorov, whose troops were stationed at Galati, took command of the units besieging Izmail. Having taken command on December 2, Suvorov returned the troops retreating from the fortress to Izmail and blocked it from land and from the Danube River. Having completed the preparations for the assault in 6 days, Suvorov on December 7, 1790 sent an ultimatum to the commandant of Izmail demanding the surrender of the fortress no later than 24 hours from the date of delivery of the ultimatum. The ultimatum was rejected. On December 9, the military council assembled by Suvorov decided to immediately begin the assault, which was scheduled for December 11. The attacking troops were divided into 3 detachments (wings) of 3 columns each. The detachment of Major General de Ribas (9 thousand people) attacked from the river side; right wing under the command of Lieutenant General P.S. Potemkin (7,500 people) was supposed to strike from the western part of the fortress; left wing of Lieutenant General A.N. Samoilov (12 thousand people) - from the east. Brigadier Westphalen's cavalry reserves (2,500 men) were on the land side. In total, Suvorov's army numbered 31 thousand people, including 15 thousand irregulars, poorly armed. (Orlov N. Suvorov’s assault on Izmail in 1790. St. Petersburg, 1890. P. 52.) Suvorov planned to begin the assault at 5 o’clock in the morning, about 2 hours before dawn. Darkness was needed for the surprise of the first blow and the capture of the rampart; then it was unprofitable to fight in the dark, since it made it difficult to control the troops. Anticipating stubborn resistance, Suvorov wanted to have as much daylight as possible at his disposal.
On December 10, at sunrise, preparations began for an assault by fire from the flank batteries, from the island, and from the flotilla ships (about 600 guns in total). It lasted almost a day and ended 2.5 hours before the start of the assault. On this day, the Russians lost 3 officers and 155 lower ranks killed, 6 officers and 224 lower ranks wounded. The assault did not come as a surprise to the Turks. They were ready every night for a Russian attack; in addition, several defectors revealed Suvorov's plan to them.
At 3 o'clock in the morning on December 11, 1790, the first signal flare went up, according to which the troops left the camp and, forming columns, set out to places designated by distance. At half past five in the morning the columns moved to attack. Before the others, the 2nd column of Major General B.P. approached the fortress. Lassi. At 6 o'clock in the morning, under a hail of enemy bullets, Lassi's rangers overcame the rampart, and a fierce battle ensued at the top. Absheron riflemen and Phanagorian grenadiers of the 1st column of Major General S.L. Lvov overthrew the enemy and, having captured the first batteries and the Khotyn Gate, united with the 2nd column. The Khotyn gates were open to the cavalry. At the same time, at the opposite end of the fortress, the 6th column of Major General M.I. Golenishcheva-Kutuzova captured the bastion at the Kiliya Gate and occupied the rampart up to the neighboring bastions. The greatest difficulties fell on the 3rd column of Meknob. She stormed the large northern bastion, adjacent to it to the east, and the curtain wall between them. In this place, the depth of the ditch and the height of the rampart were so great that the ladders of 5.5 fathoms (about 11.7 m) turned out to be short, and they had to be tied together two at a time under fire. The main bastion was taken. The fourth and fifth columns (Colonel V.P. Orlov and Brigadier M.I. Platov, respectively) also completed the tasks assigned to them, overcoming the rampart in their sectors.
The landing troops of Major General de Ribas in three columns, under the cover of the rowing fleet, moved at a signal to the fortress and formed a battle formation in two lines. The landing began at about 7 o'clock in the morning. It was carried out quickly and accurately, despite the resistance of more than 10 thousand Turks and Tatars. The success of the landing was greatly facilitated by Lvov's column, which attacked the Danube coastal batteries in the flank, and by the actions of ground forces on the eastern side of the fortress. The first column of Major General N.D. Arsenyeva, who sailed up on 20 ships, landed on the shore and split into several parts. A battalion of Kherson grenadiers under the command of Colonel V.A. Zubova captured a very tough cavalier, losing 2/3 of his people. The battalion of Livonian rangers, Colonel Count Roger Damas, occupied the battery that lined the shore. Other units also captured the fortifications lying in front of them. The third column of brigadier E.I. Markova landed at the western end of the fortress under grapeshot fire from the Tabiya redoubt.
When daylight arrived, it became clear that the rampart had been taken, the enemy had been driven out of the fortress tops and was retreating into the inner part of the city. Russian columns from different sides moved towards the city center - Potemkin on the right, Cossacks from the north, Kutuzov on the left, de Ribas on the river side. A new battle has begun. Particularly fierce resistance continued until 11 am. Several thousand horses, rushing out of the burning stables, raced madly through the streets and increased the confusion. Almost every house had to be taken in battle. Around noon, Lassi, who was the first to climb the ramparts, was the first to reach the middle of the city. Here he met a thousand Tatars under the command of Maksud-Girey, the prince of Genghis Khan's blood. Maksud-Girey defended himself stubbornly, and only when most of his detachment was killed did he surrender with 300 soldiers remaining alive.
To support the infantry and ensure success, Suvorov ordered the introduction of 20 light guns into the city to clear the streets of the Turks with grapeshot. At one o'clock in the afternoon, in essence, victory was won. However, the battle was not over yet. The enemy did not try to attack individual Russian detachments or hid in strong buildings like citadels. An attempt to snatch Izmail back was made by Kaplan-Girey, the brother of the Crimean Khan. He gathered several thousand horse and foot Tatars and Turks and led them towards the advancing Russians. In a desperate battle, in which more than 4 thousand Muslims were killed, he fell along with his five sons. At two o'clock in the afternoon all columns penetrated into the city center. At 4 o'clock the victory was finally won. Ishmael fell.
Results of the assault
The losses of the Turks were enormous; more than 26 thousand people were killed alone. 9 thousand were taken prisoner, of which 2 thousand died from their wounds the next day. (Orlov N. Op. cit., p. 80.) Of the entire garrison, only one person escaped. Slightly wounded, he fell into the water and swam across the Danube on a log. In Izmail, 265 guns, up to 3 thousand pounds of gunpowder, 20 thousand cannonballs and many other military supplies, up to 400 banners, blood-stained defenders, 8 lançons, 12 ferries, 22 light ships and a lot of rich booty that went to the army, totaling up to 10 million piastres (over 1 million rubles). The Russians killed 64 officers (1 brigadier, 17 staff officers, 46 chief officers) and 1816 privates; 253 officers (including three major generals) and 2,450 lower ranks were wounded. The total number of losses was 4,582 people. Some authors estimate the number of killed to be 4 thousand, and the number of wounded to be 6 thousand, a total of 10 thousand, including 400 officers (out of 650). (Orlov N. Op. op., pp. 80-81, 149.)
According to the promise given in advance by Suvorov, the city, according to the custom of that time, was given to the power of the soldiers. At the same time, Suvorov took measures to ensure order. Kutuzov, appointed commandant of Izmail, placed guards in the most important places. A huge hospital was opened inside the city. The bodies of the killed Russians were taken out of town and buried according to church rites. There were so many Turkish corpses that the order was given to throw the bodies into the Danube, and prisoners were assigned to this work, divided into queues. But even with this method, Ishmael was cleared of corpses only after 6 days. The prisoners were sent in batches to Nikolaev under the escort of Cossacks.
Suvorov expected to receive the rank of field marshal general for the assault on Izmail, but Potemkin, petitioning the empress for his award, proposed awarding him with a medal and the rank of guard lieutenant colonel or adjutant general. The medal was knocked out, and Suvorov was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. There were already ten such lieutenant colonels; Suvorov became eleventh. The commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, having arrived in St. Petersburg, received as a reward a field marshal's uniform, embroidered with diamonds, worth 200 thousand rubles. Tauride Palace; In Tsarskoe Selo, it was planned to build an obelisk for the prince depicting his victories and conquests. Oval silver medals were distributed to the lower ranks; a gold badge was installed for officers; the chiefs received orders or golden swords, some received ranks.
The conquest of Ishmael was of great political significance. It influenced the further course of the war and the conclusion of the Treaty of Iasi between Russia and Turkey in 1792, which confirmed the annexation of Crimea to Russia and established the Russian-Turkish border along the river. Dniester. Thus, the entire northern Black Sea region from the Dniester to the Kuban was assigned to Russia.
Materials used from the book: “One Hundred Great Battles”, M. “Veche”, 2002