battle of catrench
fought 68YBCW in the last few days of summer between the tsars forces and that of the sultan.
The Conflict
Prelude
as the campaign in the east was beginning to stale the tsar decided to take the important city of catrench then the capital of The Pashalik of brigrannea. marching from the north duke Constantine 2nd of estel know as the brute for the way he fought early in the campaign . he was marching south from murzaggrad with 15000 men after forcing the towns surrender and killing the 5000 strong garrsion. mustafa was withdrawing to the city of Catrench to defend it. mustafa sett up his defences on the western bank of the river which ran through the city and in the city itself. mustafa pasha had chosen his position well. the city was a fortress and all the roads came to catrench meaning the only way was though the city.
Deployment
samasonov the armys commander ( tho the nominal army commander was the prince of moskova) readied his main army in a line advancing down the main road to over whelm the city and it defences. he personally lead 1st corp. on his flanks he set up artillery and cavalry the northern wing commanded by general mesanov and the southern flank was commanded by general konev.
mustafa ordered 7000 men commanded by hamed pasha to defend the eastern bank of the river and was covered by artillery and Michael pasha was waiting in reserve for him. in the city asir pasha commanded 10000 defenders. mustafa commanded a reserve force and in the south Mohammad pasha commanded the southern crossing with artillery.
The Engagement
4 am augest 26th 68YBCW tsarist artillery opened fire on the defenders. mesanov then attack destroying hamed pashas force and killing the pasha and was able to out flank the enemy by crossing a ford and attempted to out flank Michael pasha, but Michael was able to mount a defense. samasonov decided to move quickly and attack the city. asir pasha prepared for this and sealed off streets forcing the tsarist troops in to killing zones cutting down scores of troops. one account of the street fighting said that a man would be saved from a shot by another man just for him to take a bullet for the man next to him. asir had also planted bombs and traps. in the south konev attack the cities south east but the cavalry found the same problem as the infantry and were killed in droves. general milanayvich a far more aggressive commander took his corp and attacked from the north. however this failed as well as mustafa was able to call on artillery to prevent milanayvich from making a proper attack. mustafa wanted to commit his entire force to the city and he sent his troops in and ordered mohammad pasha across the river destroying major general Sergei valentinen force and in the fighting the tsarist officer who had only just been promoted to genreal two week before the battle was killed. samsonov had to move the 18 year old prince of moskva and his troops to prevent his own troops surrounded. by mid day mustafa force in the city were beginning to buckle. through the rest of the mid day mustafa was urged to retreat his forces and destroy the bridges but he refused. he ordered another counter attack which succeeded in pushing back the enemy and by 8 PM he began to retreat.
Outcome
the day after the battle Mustafa pasha ordered the army to retreat leaving Michael pasha and 7000 men to guard the retreat. Michael however saw little fighting as the tsarist troops where tiered after the pervious days hard fighting.
Aftermath
the battle of catrench gave mustafa pasha time over the winter to establish a defensive line for him to defend.
Included under Conflict
Conflict Type
Battle
Battlefield Type
Land
Conflict Result
tsarist tactical victory Sultanates strategic victory
Belligerents
twin sultanates of Castilian and abria
united tsardom
Strength
50000 men in total
10000 within the city
70000 men
Casualties
10000 men dead wounded and missing including hamed pasha.
20000 dead wounded and missing
Objectives
hold the city and prevent the tsarist forces from taking the city and advancing along the main road to the east into The Pashalik of brigrannea proper.
take the city of catrench
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