Presented here is an account of the Battle of Tataritsa, a battle between the Russian and Ottoman empires in 1809, given in the London Chronicle. This is not a topic with which I was previously interested, I was simply reading the old newspaper articles, and decided to try to use modern sources to identify everyone mentioned within it. It is from a section of the London Chronicle called “German papers” where various pieces of international news, from German papers, are translated into English. This particular one had already been translated directly from a Russian gazette by the Germans, with German transliteration, and as a result, some of the names have been butchered. All the names mentioned in the dispatch, are listed below, along with whom I believe them to be. It wasn't easy to identify all the generals, but eventually I was able to find Alexander Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky’s book on the Turkish war from 1806 to 1812.
The article itself is as follows, and can be listened to with images from the actual newspaper here.
The following military details are published in a supplement to the Court Gazette :-“ When the commander in Chief was informed, on the 9th of October, by General Platow, that the Turkish troops, detached by the Grand Vizier, under the command of the Pacha of Aleppo, a Pacha of three tails, were approaching our camp, he immediately proceeded towards them, having previously ordered nine battalions of infantry to advance with all expedition in the same direction. The enemy were posted in the village about Tatariza, situated in a valley on the bank of the Danube, and defended by batteries and entrenchments. The Commander in Chief resolved to attack the enemy early in the morning of the 10th. The action commenced by a cannonade in the centre, which lasted five hours. The Commander in Chief then ordered the sharpshooters, who formed squares of infantry, accompanying the cavalry, to advance. The Turks upon this soon began to fall back a little, and Major-General Bachmetew, by a bold movement, and a severe attack with his square, forced the enemy to betake to a real retreat. At the same time the regiment of white hussars, under the command of Colonel Lanskoi, and the Hetman’s regiment of the Don corps, under the command of Major-General Count Stragonow, rushed forth from the centre with the greatest rapidity and courage, on the enemy, and drove them from the heights of which they had possession. The infantry took the enemy’s batteries.
“ In the mean time a considerable part of the enemy’s force advanced through woods upon our left flank, and attacked the square under the command of Adjutant-General Prince Trubezkoi. The Commander in Chief ordered the square under the command of Colonel Thushnikow to proceed to this quarter ; but before it arrived, Prince Trubeskoi’s yagers, assisted by the cavalry under the command of Major General Pahlen, had already had the good fortune to repulse the enemy. In this manner were the Turks compelled to retreat to their entrenchments, after they had lost 600 men killed, 200 prisoners, and 16 standards. Our loss was about 80 killed, and 200 wounded. While this was passing near the village of Tatariza, the Turks, to the number of 3000 men, in infantry and cavalry, made a sortie from the village of Silistria. They made an attack on two squadrons of Olwiopolish hussars and a battalion of the Petersburgh dragoons, which were posted on the heights, and which were supported by a battalion of the 13th yagers, and a battalion of the Fanagorish grenadiers. This detachment, which was under the command of Major-General Count Monteufel, drew up in order of battle, and drove back the Turks, by sending out the sharp-shooters and flanking corps against them. When the action began, the right wing of General Bulatow’s corps had already arrived. The Turks brought forward a piece of artillery, and even began to fire with it, but they were quickly driven back with it. At last General Bulatow ordered the yagers to advance upon the left, and the uhlans upon the right flanks of the enemy ; the sharp-shooters and flankers threw themselves into the gardens, and not only dislodged the enemy from the woods and the marshes, but drove them with great loss into the town. Thus terminated this action, which lasted eight hours, and disappointed the views of the enemy. During the whole of the action, there was on our side only two privates killed, and one officer and 50 privates wounded.”
The Commander in Chief is Prince Piotr Ivanovich Bagration, (Князь Петръ Ивановичъ Багратіонъ).
General Platow is Matvey Ivanovich Platov (Матвѣй Ивановичъ Платовъ)
The Grand Vizier is Kör Yusuf Ziyaüddin Pasha.
The Pacha of Aleppo is unclear, but likely it means Pehlivan Ibrahim Pasha, who was a general at the battle. Ibrahim Pasha does not seem to ever have been Wali of Aleppo, yet, a different Ibrahim Pasha Qatarağasi, had been previously until 1808, so perhaps there was a mix up between the two Ibrahim Pashas.
Major-General Bachmetew (or Bachmerew as it appears to be written) is Aleksey Nikolaevich Bakhmetyev (Алексѣй Николаевичъ Бахметьевъ)
Colonel Lanskoi is Sergey Nikolaevich Lanskoy (Сергѣй Николаевичъ Ланской)
Major-General Count Stragonow is Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov (Графъ Павелъ Александровичъ Строгановъ)
Prince Trubetzkoi is Prince Vasily Sergeyevich Trubetskoy (Князь Василій Сергѣевичъ Трубецкой)
Colonel Thushnikow appears to actually be Kushnikov (Кушниковъ), presumably the English translator misread the German fraktur K as Th. I am unable to find his full name, or anything about him beyond being general of the Ukrainian infantry regiment in this battle.
Major-General Pahlen is Count Pavel Petrovich Palen (Графъ Павелъ Петровичъ Паленъ)
Major General Count Monteufel is Gotthard Johann von Manteuffel, who took the Russian name Ivan Vasilievich Manteyfel (Графъ Иванъ Васильевичъ Мантейфель)
General Bulatow is Mikhail Leonitievich Bulatov (Михаилъ Леонтьевичъ Булатовъ)