The Virginia Gazette

PETERSBURG, May 29, O.S.

As soon as the peace was declared against the Ottoman Porte the Empress gave orders to the deputy of Ubaisky, Chan of the Calmouks, in the province of Astrachan, to send 20,000 Calmouks to the army, and that he, the deputy, in person, should act with all his remaining forces against the Tartars, who inhabit the Turkish dominions on the river Kuban, which runs from the mountains near the Euxine, even beyond the Caspian Sea. Soon after the 20,000 Calmouks were dispatched to join our army we received the following account of the action which happened on the 29th of April, between the deputy and the Turkish subjects who inhabit the mountains.

"On the 28th of April, in the evening, the deputy was informed, by his out posts, that the enemy appeared at a distance, but in a very small number. The next morning they advanced in a large body, drawn up in three lines, and took possession of a valley, in which there was a bottom surrounded with very thick bushes, where they placed their right wing, who dismounted from their horses. The Calmouks surrounded them on all sides, and began a most furious fire upon the enemy, who defended themselves with great bravery; but Colonel Kohenkorf observing a small eminence which commanded the valley, took possession of it with a small party of Cossacks and dragoons, and flanking the first line of the enemy, from two field pieces which he had placed there, obliged them to take shelter among the bushes. The second line had dismounted before, and had already entered the bottom. The third line only remained on the spot, which at the third discharge of the two field pieces was thrown into the utmost confusion. The Calmouks observing this, fell immediately upon the enemy, and put them totally to the rout. According to the best accounts, their body consisted of upwards of 6000 select troops, commanded by Aslan Hairey and Makmoud Hairey, two Sultans of the family of the Chans of Crimea, and many Mouras or Tartar Princes. The fight lasted from two in the afternoon until night. The Calmouks pursued the fugitives so closely all night that very few escaped; especially at the river Calaua, the greatest part were drowned, or slain by the Calmouks, who got over the river before them. The Calmouks took five standards, one black, two red, and two white, which were all the colours the enemy had, besides a great number of coats of mail and carbines, and upwards of 2000 horses. The number of prisoners is but very small, as the Calmouks give no quarter. Colonel Kohenkorff had not one man of his corps killed or wounded, and the Calmouks lost no more than 16 killed and 15 wounded, occasioned, as it is supposed, by the situation of the place, and the confusion of the enemy, whose shot flew over the heads of our people."