Battle of Akhaltsikhe (1853)

Battle of Akhaltsikhe
Part of the Crimean War
The scheme of the battle in Russian
Date 24 November 1853 Location Akhaltsikhe Caucasus 41°38′36.35″N 42°59′36.40″E Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ivan Andronnikov	Mehmed Ali Pasha
Strength
7,000	18,000 24 guns
Casualties and losses
362	3,500

The Battle of Akhaltsikhe occurred on 24 November 1853 during the Crimean War when a Russian force of 7,000 defeated a Turkish army of 18,000 men near the Akhaltsikhe fortress in the Caucasus.

At the outbreak of the Crimean War, Ali Pasha immediately launched a Turkish offensive to capture the Akhaltsikhe fortress. As the Ottoman force neared the city of Akhaltsikhe, the Turks were met by a Russian detachment commanded by Prince Andronnikov.

Despite the numerical superiority of the Turkish force, Prince Andronnikov divided his cavalry into two columns and attacked. One of the Russian columns attacked the Turks head-on while the second column rode to the side and attacked their enemy in the left flank. After a fierce struggle, the Turks were beaten and retreated to Kars. The Russian force lost 361 men while the Turkish casualties amounted to 3,500 men killed, wounded, and captured. The Battle of Akhaltsikhe was the first major Russian success in the Caucasian theater of operations during the Crimean War. After this victory, the Turkish ended their offensive actions in the Trans-Caucasus.

References

• Badem, Candan (2010). The Ottoman Crimean War (1853-1856) (Ottoman Empire and Its Heritage). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-18205-9. 
• Shefov, Nikolay (2002) (in Russian). Battles of Russia. Military History Library. 

General references

Bogdanovich, M.I. (1876) (in Russian). Eastern War 1853-1856, Volume 1.