The Virginia Gazette

Extract of the Account sent from Perecop the 11th of July, to the Empress of Russia, by the Field-Marshal Count Lacy.

On the 6th of this Month, about One o'clock in the Afternoon, I happily arrived with the Army near Perecop, at a Pass nam'd Cziwache. A little before my Arrival, I was inform'd by some Persons brought in, that the Enemies Lines were guarded by 40,000 Turks and Tartars, Horse and Foot; and that Sultan Calga was posted with other Troops behind the Lines newly made near Cziwache. As I observ'd that that Pass was practicable during the present Heats, I resolved to attack it; but to prevent the Enemy from penetrating my Design, I left some Troops and all the Baggage in my Camp.

The 7th in the Morning, your Imperial Majesty's Troops successfully attack'd that Pass: They flew over the Ditches and Ramparts in spite of the obstinate Resistance of the Enemy; and the greatest Part of the Army, with some Artillery, enter'd into the Lines, at the Foot of which, was a Fort call'd Cziwache-Coula, but the Garrison abandon'd it at our Approach: Sultan Calga, who had defended the Lines, retir'd likewise with great Precipitation into the Heart of the Crimea. After that happy Passage, I put some Troops in the Fort, and sent out several Detachments in pursuit of the Enemy; they brought in 12 Tartars Prisoners. A heavy Rain which then began to fall, and continued all Night, hinder'd the rest of the Train from passing; for which Reason I resolv'd to encamp at a small Distance from the Fort.

During the Night, I caused several Light Troops to scour the Country, in order to reconnoitre the Enemies Situation, as well in the Interior of the Crimea, as toward the Fortress of Perecop, and the Lines that are along the Black Sea: Those Parties brought in a Moor and Three Tartars, after having kill'd several Hundreds.

The 8th we march'd towards Perecop. As soon as I drew near enough, I sent to summon the Garrison, which answer'd me with a Shower of Cannon Balls. The rest of the Day I could not undertake any thing; but in the Night I took Post within half a Cannon shot of the Fortress, where I rais'd a Battery of Mortars, and another of Cannon. I also sent several Parties along the Lines of Perecop, which both Turks and Tartars abandon'd at my Approach.

The 9th, our Batteries play'd, and at Night I augmented them with two Mortars, and some 12 and 18 Pounders. On the Right we push'd our Works as far as the Suburbs, and on the Left as far as the Lines.

The 10th, I made a continual Fire, which produced such an Effect, that towards Noon the Bashaw of Three Tails, nam'd Abou Bequer, come from Caffa two Days before with a Reinforcement of some Hundreds of Janissaries, demanded to capitulate: I answer'd, that within Three Hours he must surrender himself and all his Garrison Prisoners of War; which Conditions he accepted: Conformably M. de Brigny, Quarter-Master-General, towards Nine in the Evening, took Possession Lacy (the Field Marshal's Son) enter'd at the same Time with Ten Companies of Grenadiers, and made all the Turkish Garrison Prisoners of War.

The Shortness of the Time does not permit me to send your Imperial Majesty an exact Account of the Number of the Garrison, the Artillery, and other Effects; but I shall not fail to send off another Courier as soon as possible, with a full Detail of every Thing.

I have already found in this Fortress above Fourscore Pieces of Brass Cannon and Mortars: We have actually above 2000 Turks Prisoners, and are every Moment discovering more hid in Cellars and other Places. The Tartars boasted very much of having made the Lines of Perecop impregnable; but to their Cost, they have hitherto seen nothing impregnable to a Lacy, or a Munich, at the Head of a Russian Army.