4 May 1863 – A letter to the Assistant Commander of the Natukhayski
District F. G. Kreganovski on the stopping of transferring the Mountaineer
population to turkey
until the issuance of special instructions (until achieving understanding between Russia and Turkey) Chief of Staff has told the Commander of the Army of the arrival of orders issued by the Army Staff to halt the transfer of indigenous inhabitants migrating to Turkey until an understanding is reached with the Turkish government. Accordingly, His Excellency has asked me to solicit you to exercise caution when transporting the inhabitants who are immigrating by boats and not to establish any correspondence with the consuls to avoid the appearance of documents related to the matter outside the empire. When you grant cards to the immigrants, please mention that the card the card is given to that certain family to choose a place to reside, and must hand over the cards only to those of the 400 families that were agreed upon. As for the rest, Please halt their departure until the issuance of special instructions...
until the issuance of special instructions (until achieving understanding between Russia and Turkey) Chief of Staff has told the Commander of the Army of the arrival of orders issued by the Army Staff to halt the transfer of indigenous inhabitants migrating to Turkey until an understanding is reached with the Turkish government. Accordingly, His Excellency has asked me to solicit you to exercise caution when transporting the inhabitants who are immigrating by boats and not to establish any correspondence with the consuls to avoid the appearance of documents related to the matter outside the empire. When you grant cards to the immigrants, please mention that the card the card is given to that certain family to choose a place to reside, and must hand over the cards only to those of the 400 families that were agreed upon. As for the rest, Please halt their departure until the issuance of special instructions...
F. Lebedenski
Document 202
August 16, 1863 Address by General Evdokimov addressed to both the military
commander of Adagom platoon and to the Governor of Natokhaway Province
regarding his dissatisfaction with the delay in the process of deporting the
Natokhaway to Kuban territories-Stavropol City for 3 years. Enclosed to Your
Excellency herewith a copy of the letter addressed from General - Almaior
Sommarokov - to Stona, No. 1361, dated 11, August 11, along with the letter of
Lieutenant Colonel Meniati, dated 9, August, so I convey in a clear format, to
Your Excellency, the instructions below to be implemented accurately and as
follows:
1. At the present time, there is no need to inform the Natokhaway
population about the size of the land plot, that was allocated for their
resettlement. Where this would not lead to any result, but will be a cause for
the following: A. The Natokhaway exert their efforts to increase their numbers
by adjoining the rebels’ families to them, and in this case, those families
have to excluded from the lands located within the Adagom military Battalion.
B. The local administration is Deficient because of delay in completing the
process of deporting the Natokhaway; therefore there should be an end for this
delay, that lasted for approximately 3 years, due to various pretexts, and
therefore, I appeal from your Excellency, to refrain from raising any queries
about deporting the Natokhaway, but the implementation of my orders accurately,
which were given on this subject, which means that it must immediately deport
the Natokhaway to the places that have been set aside, but for the individuals
who have no desire to move to the places that have been allocated to them, they
should be deported immediately to Turkey, by giving them a two-week deadline
for departure to the places that have been allocated for them in the Churnumuri
Region.
2. If that so-called Koshtanuka, does not fulfill his obligations within a
maximum time of 10 days, in regard to deporting the Natokhaway to the places
that have been allocated to them, to Turkey or to the Churnumuri Region, he must
be immediately arrested and exiled to the City of Stavropol through the City of
Ykatirinodar. The precision in the implementation of all stated, in the two
items mentioned above, is of your responsibility and you must take the
necessary measures to that which you deem necessary as per the general
situation, and to take into consideration that perseverance and determination
in taking appropriate measures that would bring us the desired result and not
the negotiations and concessions. 3. As for the proposal that was submitted by
Lieutenant Colonel Maniati in his correspondence on the resettlement of
Natokhaway in Jastajayveskoi Station, and about giving them lands near the
Vetyavezawi, Anapskoi, Jastajayveskoi and Blagovechenskoi Stations, I ask Your
Excellency to convey to him to forget about this idea and not to bring it up
altogether. I am expecting from you to implement all what was stated in my
letter. In conclusion: In the event if additional military forces are
necessary, you can resort to General - Mayor Graf Somarokovo – Alestono, and to
establish correspondence about this subject in particular.
Document 203
17, August, 1863 Report of the Commander in Chief of the Caucasus Army,
addressed to the Minister of War regarding the results of the “beyond the Kuban
Region’s” settlement in the year 1863. During this year’s summer, two areas
beyond the Kuban Region were seized by our Cossack settlers: The first on the
east side of the Adagom Military Line until Ile River, and the second is
between Belwi River and Shisha River waterways. 20 military stations have been
established on the area of the two mentioned regions in addition to the
establishment of a military station in the region that was seized last year by
the cavalry Force No. 25, and I have given these stations, temporary names
until they get final approval. 1. Between Adagom military line and the course
of Ile River: 1. The side of Abin River, near the former fort in the same name
- Abinskaya 2. The side of Abin River, near the former fort Nikolayveskojo –
Shapsogskaya. 3. In the upper reaches of Abin River, to increase the area that
used to be, with 12 Ferst - Ervanskayya. 4. In the Upper reaches of Abina River
- Mingereileskaya. 5. The side of Antekhir River, near the waterway of the
river - Antekhirskaya 6. The side of Khabel River, near the river’s waterway –
Khabelskaya. 7. The side of Khabel River, with increasing of the area that used
to be, by 7 Ferst - Jrozinskaya 8. The side of Ill River, from the headwater of
this river in the valley, -Illskaya. 2. Between the course of Belwi River and
areas along the waterway of Shisha River. 1. From the side of Kordgibsya River,
a distance of 1972 Ferst of Fort Maykop – Kordgibskaya. 2. From the side of Kordgibsya
River with an increase of the area that used to be with a distance of 1372
Ferst – Dagstaneskaya. 3. In the Upper reaches of Kordgibsya River –
Negigorodeskaya. 4. From the side of Bshikheh River, with a distance of 1272
Ferst in the upper side of Bshekheskoy station, - Kubanskaya 5. From the side
of Bshekheh River, with an increase from what it used to be 1572 Ferst - Absher
Ron Skaya 6. From the side of Bshekheh River, with an increase of 10 Ferst from
what it used to be - Shervanskaya 7. From the side of Bshekheh River, with an
increase of 15 Ferst of what it used to be - Samorseskaya 8. Between Bshekheh
River and Kordgibsya river Bshikh Kordjibsih, on the peaks – BrOskaya. 9. From
the side of Bshesheh River, with a distance of 23 Ferst from Constantine
crossings across the Kuban – Jobogukaiveskaya.
10. From the side of Bshesheh River, with an increase from what it used to
be, by 17 Frest - Bjedokhoskaya 11. From the side of Bshesheh River, with an
increase from what it used to be, by 1672 Frest – Bshesheskaya. 12. From the
side of Bshesheh River, with an increase from what it used to be by 1212 Frest
- Tverskaya
3. In thye region of Cossack Cavalry Regiment No. 25 1. From the side of
JiaJi River, with a distance of 11 Ferst, the upper side of Jaijinskoy -
Kalermiskaya And in addition, in the previous year, the relocation of
settlement for the entire families in Bshesheskaya station, which was
temporarily attached to the Cavalry Regiment No. 25 except Kalermiskaya
station, and all previous and new stations that have been resettled with the
consent of His Majesty the Emperor regarding my letter no. 365, dated, 16, April,
addressed to you, regarding the Establishment of two new regiments of cavalry
forces within the Kuban Cossack forces: Abinskojo Regiment and No. 26 Regiment,
for those who used to the nature of the places in those areas, I think,
according to Article No. 56 in accordance with the provisions of the settlement
of Western Caucasus regions, through the formation of independent provinces,
under a special leadership from the military regiments, as per the Cossack
forces in the area of River Turk. And the establishment of those regiments
necessitates the establishment of the following stations:
1. For the establishment of the Cavalry Regiments, Abinskojo
Abinskaya, Shabsughkaya, Irvenskaya, Negrelskaya, Antekherskaya,
Khablskaya, Grozinskaya, and Eleskaya. The headquarters of this regiment will
be in Khablskaya station.
2. For the establishment of the Cavalry Regiment No. 26 Krdjebskaya,
Dagestanskaya, Nejihgorodskaya, Abshironskaya, Chervanskaya, Samorskaya,
Proskaya, Jopokaiveskaya, Bjedoghvskaya, Bshesheskaya, Tverskaya, established
in 1862, and were settlements in Bshekhskaya. The headquarters of this regiment
will be in Asheronskaya station. After that, as mentioned above, the
Kalermeskaya station will belong to No. 25 Cavalry Regiment No. 25 from the
Brigade No. 5, of the Kuban Cossack troops.
According to your instructions that were sent to me by Your Excellency on
18 May, this year under the No. 122,new leaderships have been appointed for
these regiments, the No. 26 regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Pace – Tolkorse, and
Abinskojo regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Forolov. 21 stations had been settled in
addition to a new station this year to include the following:
A. 33 families of officers’ families, 28 families from the Kuban Cossack
troops and 5 families from the Azov troops. B. 3494 Cossack families from the
families of the rural police, namely: 1. 1440 families, from the Kuban Cossack troops,
of whom 1332 families had received assistance in accordance with the provisions
of Chapter VI of the Western Caucasus settlement’s provisions, and 108 families
were resettled in Calerneskoy station, which has won financial allowances and
assistance from the government because of its service over four years. 2. 518
families of Donscojo Cossack forces. 3. 504 families of Azovscojo Cossack
forces. 4. 49 families of the hunters (snipers) of River Turk Cossack for 5. 44
families of the Ural Cossacks. 6. 170 families of the Caucasian Army’s junior
Staff. 7. 630 families of the government’s peasants, 100 families from Kharkov,
250 families from Boltovskoy, 96 families from Chernigovskoy, and 184 families
from veronezhskoy. 8. 87 families of hunters of government’s peasants, and
families of other classes. 72 families were settled as final, and disburse aid
them, but the fifteen other families, which announced its desire to settle in
Kalerneskoy station without any assistance from the Treasury, they had been
considered as of the Cossacks, according to the letter of the General Command
of the Kuban Region, and to provide them with assistance from the State’s
property. 9. 38 families of peasant farmers, who belong to the interim
administration of Donscojo forces. 10. 14 families of the peasant instigators
of rebellion who are living in the territory that belongs to the Donscojo forces,
who had not been exiled in the previous year. The total is 33 officers’
families, and 3394 Cossack and rural police families. Through this census to
the families of the settlers who were resettled in the current year in the
“beyond the Kuban” region, you will see Your Excellency, that in addition to
962 families of the Kuban Cossack troops, who have been selected for
resettlement, according to the first call, it has been reiterated of another
call of new settlers in accordance with the call made to you on 16, April this
year, under the No. 368, 370 Cossack families had been appointed, except 108 of
these troops’ families, who have been resettled in accordance with their
special request at Calerneskoy station, without privileges, but with assistance
due to their service for the period of four years. And by informing Your
Excellency of all what is mentioned above, I hope that Your Excellency would
request from His Majesty the Emperor to confirm my suggestion about renaming
the new military stations in the Kuban Region, as well as to distribute them on
the regiments, and eventually, I add that although the General Command of the
Kuban Region have not yet provided the funds that were disbursed for settlement
during this year, in any case, I hope that the cost of establishing new
stations does not increase in “beyond the Kuban” Region during this year.
Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B .248, for .1-3.
Document 204
18, August, 1863 Report of the
Assistant Governor of the Natokhaway province, Lieutenant Colonel Menyati
directed to the Adaghom military regiment commander, concerning the desire of
the Natokhaway to implement General Evdokimov to move to the places that have
been allocated to them, and to establish villages for them, according to the
orders within a period of 4 days (Fort Constantine). This month, the Natokhaway
have come to me; advertising their desire of implementing our government’s
orders of moving to the places that have been set aside for them and the
establishment of the villages of them, according to the instructions that we
have issued. They have started to leave during this month, and without the intervention
of our military forces, and promised the completion of the leave within four
days. I departed the forces that belong to me in Forte – Bacanskojo, and headed
for observing the departure of the Natokhaway, and I think the Natokhaway end
departure from the areas where they are currently located at, it is necessary
to undertake actions in the region to make sure that all the Natokhaway had
been departed to the allocated places for them, as well to make sure that they
have dismantled their homes, and if it turns out that there are still houses
built, they be destroyed right away, so as not to be able to return to their
former residences, and that what I announced to the Natokhaway, who have come
this month for the meeting. It appeared that the lands allocated to the
resettlement of the Natokhaway, according to measurements of the surveyors the
figure of 68 thousand acres including 10 acres of flat land close to the Kuban,
including forests and mountains, so the land suitable for housing amounting to 40
thousand acres, and on this area resettlement of 4400 families, or 26,252
souls, therefore these lands will not absorb any increase on this number, and
in result, there will be 1776 families totaling 12930 souls, remaining in the
former places of residence of both sexes. By informing Your Excellency of this,
I have the honor to send detailed information about deporting the Natokhaway
soon, particularly after the completion of the preparation of lists of names of
all the families of the Natokhaway people. -------------------- Government
Archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325, B .308, .55 for the web.
Document 205
19, August, 1863 Report of General -
Almaior Somarokova - Alstona directed to the commander of the Kuban Army,
Evdokimov, on the success of the resettlement of the Natokhaway, in places that
were allocated to them. The Acting/Assistant Governor of the Natokhaway province,
had presented his report No. 187, dated 18, August, in which he reported that
the Natokhaway had come to him in the current month and expressed their
complete willingness to move to the places that have been allocated for them,
and moving will begin and end on the same day and within four days, according
to their promise, and the troops that had been moved to the Natokhaway area in
order to complete the relocation of indigenous peoples, have been stationed
near Fort Bacanskojo, and these forces are essential to open roads in the
province upon completion of the deportation, in order to make sure that no
individuals have remained in their previous residencies, in addition to the
destruction of those houses, and after survey, it was found that land allocated
for the resettlement of the Natokhaway, which amounted to 68 thousand acres,
only 40 thousand of which hare habitable, and there will be 4400 families or a
total of 26252 souls of both sexes, settled on this area of 4400 families, or a
total of 26,252 spirit of both sexes, the remaining population that total 1776
families, or a total of 12930 souls of both sexes are still in their old
residences. By informing Your Excellency about the brilliant success that we
have achieved, by deporting the Natokhaway to the places that have been
allocated to them and the excellent organization shown by Lieutenant Colonel
Manyati, I ask your permission to let us know how to deal with the remaining
families of the Natokhaway, numbered 1776, where there is no possibility to
resettle them with other indigenous inhabitants between Kodako River and the
Belikiskom River, and whether there is a possibility to allocate a place to
resettle near Geagyeh River and Lower Krenskojo River, near Adagom.
-------------------- Government archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325, and by
.1, B .308, 66, 67.
Document 206
23, August, 1863 Address by General
Evdokimov, directed to the Commander of Adagom Military Regiment Forces and the
Governor of the province of Natokhaway, in regard to the secondment of Mr.
Sholkoveskojo to the general command of the Adagom Military Regiment, and on
tackling the difficulties of deporting the Natokhaway to the places that have
been allocated for them (the city Stavropol). Enclosed herewith a copy of the
report directed (to each of) His Highness General - Almayor Baron Somarokova -
Alstona, dated 19, August, No. 1423 regarding the difficulties faced by
Lieutenant colonel Manyati, during the deportation of the indigenous
inhabitants who are located now in the Natokhaway territory, to the places that
have been allocated to them, and I think it is my duty to inform Your
Excellency, that I cannot have the confidence to see this officer, over the
number of Natokhaway, but so as not to completely eliminate the process of
deportation of these people, to the places that have been allocated for them,
and to remove the obstacles that would face them, therefore I assign Colonel
Sholkoveskojo, who will clarify the matter on the ground, and will relay my
orders to you concerning this subject, and in regard to the other matters
related to Adagom Regiment stationed on the southern slope of the Caucasus, and
will stay in your region until the evacuation of the indigenous inhabitants
from the territories of the Cossack Adagom Regiment, and then will present a
report from your Excellency, addressed to me, after the completion of this
case. Commander in Chief of the forces, General - Adyotant Baron Evdokimov
Chief of Staff, General - Mayor Zabodsky -------------------- Government
archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325, B .308, for .65, 68.
Document 207
23, August, 1863 Letter of the Chief of General Staff, directed to the head
of the Russian mission in Constantinople, including a brief summary of the
general policy that is followed in the Northwest Caucasus, starting from the
date of 1861, and on the inadmissibility of the Former Deputy Mohammad Amin to
the Caucasus. His Majesty the Emperor has read your attached reports attached
to your letter addressed to His Majesty, with great interest, in 15 March, No.
789, as well as your letter addressed to me in 20 July, No. 790, and enclosed
with it a copy of Your Excellency’s reports, you addressed to the
Vice-Chancellor.
The Grand Duke was very grateful to you for information that you have told
us and which are considered useful to us in many ways. All the information that
you have informed us about, regarding the so-called Mohammad Amin, I have
persuaded the Grand Duke about the bad intentions of this person and the daring
that he enjoys, and his sought only to satisfy his selfishness, forgetting that
the leadership in the Caucasus is fully aware of the conditions and the
situation, of the Mountaineers, and at least as much as his full knowledge, of
this situation. And to be able Your Excellency to evaluate the services which
were introduced by the Former Deputy, I allow myself to enter into some details
about our objectives in the Western Caucasus and the current situation for what
it is for this part of the region, and to be more pronounced, I attach to you
the map of North-west Caucasus. Prior to the year 1863, the target of our
operations was to send military campaigns to the places where there are
Mountaineers and to direct strikes to them, and even the inclusion of partial
defeats with them, to convince them about the superiority of our forces, and to
force them into submission. The result of these military campaigns was that the
tribes living in the plains near us, they used sometimes to declare their
submission, then they initiate rebellion at other times, and they always tend
to rub us, and accuse their neighbors living in the mountains of those crimes.
During the previous war on the eastern side of the Caucasus Mountains, all the
tribes that we had subjected before at one time have rebelled, and then we were
forced to conquer again. It became obvious that the continuation of the measures
that had been previously developed, and despite of the conditions that we had
applied to subdue the Mountaineers, that submission undergo constant only in
the case as long as the Mountaineers wanted to be bound by it, and therefore
the firing of one shot in the Black Sea, even a fake message from the Sultan,
or the arrival of a person who is an alleged Pasha, all this could lead to
start up the war. Even if we have built fortifications in the mountains and we
have simply connected them together through roads, we have to keep large
numbers of troops in the mountains; however, will not enjoy calmness, not even
for a minute. As a result of this, it was decided in the autumn of the year
1860, to stop sending non-useful military missions, and to commence a
systematic pattern, about the establishment of Cossack military stations in the
mountains and to deport the Mountaineers to the plains and to put them under
our command. And thus have to settle the Cossack inhabitants in the mountains
and the eastern coast-line of the Black Sea. In the attached map, the red color
has been used to mark the areas that have been resettled by our settlers since
the year 1861. With the beginning of the implementation of this plan, the
Mountaineers realized what to expect, which resulted in the year 1861, that
three major tribes, which are the Shapsough, Abzakh, and the Ubykh to found a
Union was and to elect deputies, request on their behalf from His Majesty the
Emperor to accept their allegiance on the same conditions that Muhammad Amin is
presenting us with. And they were asked to declare unconditional submission and
they have to leave the mountains. As expected, the Mountaineers had taken up
arms to fight. The previous year was one of the most difficult years we had,
where the Mountaineers had fully compiled their strength, but that had not
prevented our battalions to advance from two sides: from Anapa Eastward and
from Labe River Westward, until reaching down to the Khabla River from one side
and (Shesheh) River from the other side. As a result, a part of the Mountains’
inhabitants had been expelled and subjected unconditionally, and deported 50 thousand
souls of them to the Kuban River, to the territories located at the mouth of
the rivers and putting them completely under our administration. But the other
part, they were assembled and housed in makeshift tents between the (Pshesha)
River and (Shepsha) River. Due to the miserable condition of the Abzakh, they
do not attack us you at the present time, and they appeal for mercy and truce
until October, to be able to harvest the wheat crop. In October, part of them
wish to move to Turkey, and another part will be resettled in the areas that
had been allocated to them, therefore, what is proposed on us by the enemy,
Mohammad Amin, to hold peace with him, the peace with him is almost
inconceivable. And if we do not get into a foreign war, we will begin, starting
next year to clean the coasts of the population, commenced from (Gelinjdika)
River towards Southeastern areas. The measures that had been taken against the
Mountaineers may seem tough, and had been taken bitterly. However, the
experience that we gained through 50 years, states that, it is not possible to
reach peace with people that has no government, and has no concepts of trying
who commits robbery and theft. In such circumstances, the arrival of Mohammad
Amin here, even if got good intention towards us and our interests, it is
considered ineffective. Since the intent and objectives of this man is
questionable, His Majesty the Emperor instructed me to inform Your Excellency
to inform Mohammed Amin, that he is banned from being in the Caucasus until the
end of the war, and in case that he appears here is from any side regardless
what it was, that will be considered as a hostile act against the Russian
government. -------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P, 416, up .3,
b .1103, for up .1-2
Document 208
02, September, 1863 Report of the Assistant Governor of the Natokhaway
Province, Lieutenant Colonel Manyati, submitted and directed to the Commander
of Adagom Regiment Military Forces, regarding the necessity of a reserve
faction to be stationed at Gastajivskoy Station, for the process of deporting
the Natokhaway to the places that have been allocated to them. According to
Your Excellency’s letter of this month, N. 1497, I convey to Your Excellency
and hastily, the need for placing reserve forces, especially, in Gastajivskoy
Station, for the purpose of implementing the process of the Natokhaway
deportation, I have to send two factions of the Kuban Cossack Regiment troops
under the command of the military officer Malachevskojo, and concerning the
completion of the process of deporting the Natokhaway from the Soko region and
other places of their previous residence areas, according to the information
that I have received, it shows that the Natokhaway will commence leaving,
starting tomorrow, and they gathered on the banks of Bate River, which I do not
know the purpose of that move, and they are determined to go to Anapa to
present some suggestions to Your Excellency, and I informed them that
Regardless of any instructions issued by Your Excellency’s part, they should
not, under any circumstances, postpone their departure, and if the faction
arrives while they are still in their former residence places, they will be
arrested and deported into continental Russia. -------------------- Government
Archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325, and by .1, B .308, .70 for the web.
Document 209
08, September, 1863 Letter of Commander of Adgom military Regiment troops,
General Mayor PaPisha, addressed to the command of the Krimskojo Military
Infantry Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Submitted a proposal to demolish the
Natokhaway houses, so as they should not be able to return to their areas they
inhibited before. Taking into account the desire of the government, that
Natokhaway be deported to places that have been allocated for them and
depriving them of the possibility of returning to their former residences and
use, I announce to you, the issuance of the following instructions: that the
mission of the forces under your command will not be limited only to monitoring
of the deportation operation of the indigenous inhabitants, but the initiation
of destruction of previous houses completely, then to keep the wheat, fodder
and straw, and these instructions must be implemented rigorously and
stringently, and I add that if you find in these old houses, patients (sick
people), they must be taken out or carry them out, and to leave them out in an
appropriate place, and I hope that you inform me with the updates, continuously
and at all times.
-------------------- Government Archives - The Krasnodar region, P .325,
and by .1, B .308, .74 for
Document 210
11, September, 1863 Report of the Governor of the Natokhawaj Province and
Commander of Adagom Regiment troops, General Evdokimov, regarding the
completion of the process of deporting the Natokhaway living near the Adagom
Regiment Station, to the places that have been allocated to them. In accordance
with Your Excellency’s orders, addressed in your letter No. 1451, I would
inform you that the Natokhaway who are living near Adagom Regiment’s military
station, have moved lastingly to the places that have been allocated for them,
between Pseh Bepsom, Desibsinom River and Bakinom River on the 8th of
September, and concerning their homes they left behind, and their other
structures, the military forces have torched and destroyed them, and will
continue that, but not before the 12th of this month, because the stocks of
wheat, fodder and straw are located near these buildings, and has been the
dismantling and relocation of many of the tents to be burned. And to guard
wheat stocks, I have allowed some people persons from the Natokhaway to have
presence near them, but without their families in anticipation of an accident
of any sort, and in the event of something arises, the persons present near the
site will be arrested, and will be exiled to Russia, and the Natokhaway were notified
that they have to transport wheat to their new homes before the onset of
winter, and at present time, their livestock had been transferred to Psih
River, and they were allowed to retain a small number of livestock to be used
as food until the onset of winter. The commander of Adagom Regiment forces had
firmly demanded from the heads of local communities to stress on their
communities for the need to apprise them of their movements, in case they
return to their former residences, the guilty will be punished according to
law, and starting from the 14th of September, the troops will patrol the areas
located from Napergayvskoy way, down to Kaberdenskojo old fort, stationed on
the left side through the corridors and reaching to the Shapsug peaceful villages,
and from the right side, it is from Mortkhotko and Ketsigoro. Down to Khabel
River, and they will be expelled to the villages that had been subdued or to
Turkey, but as those who will go in large numbers to the previous Shapsugs’
areas, they will be confined between the Gelin Giskom River and Bashadoi River.
Signature
General, Mayor Babich -------------------- Government Archives – The
Krasnodar region, P .325, B .308, to .111, 112.
Document 211
19, September, 1863 Message of The
Kuban Region forces’ Commander, General Yevdokimov, addressed to the Chief of
Staff of the Caucasus Army Lieutenant General - Kartsovo on the need to deport
the Mountaineers from the Kuban Region to Turkey, and to take necessary
administrative and financial measures to achieve that.
I repeatedly had the honor to convey to Your Excellency information related
to the importance and the need to deport the indigenous people from the Kuban
Region to resettle in Turkey, and to achieve that, it they should be assisted
not only from the administrative aspects, but also give them material aid to be
able to carry out the sea trip, at the expense of the Treasury, in accordance
with the Supreme decisions issued in this regard (Conditions No. 10 issued in
May 1862). In regard to the deportation at the expense of the treasury, I
believe that we should distinguish between rebel and non-rebel indigenous
people, and that because it is necessary for us to reach satisfactory outcome
that is obtained from all the indigenous people residing in the Kuban Region,
for the deportation of only the dissatisfied persons with the current
circumstances, those who are because of their rebel nature, they could have a
negative impact on the rest of the indigenous population, and we should keep in
the province the people who are "unlikely want anything but only a
peaceful life. The military difficulties that faced us during the subjecting of
the Western Caucasus, it can be said with certainty that they had been
subjected, and the settlement process in the coming year will end peacefully,
but the remainder have a lot of work to be settled in the region and to lay the
foundations for the development of the social life of the indigenous people,
and make them non - malicious for Russia forever. If the Mountaineers had a
clear idea about the concept of civilian life and a genuine desire of a
peaceful life, it is natural to be arranged without causing trouble, and they
would be able to safe haven to us in the time that will when some field work
available, and the possibility that will have access to large tracts of land,
other than those that have been allocated to them, that there is plenty of
land, which is still vacant in the territories of the Kuban Region. But because
of their rough manors, lack of confidence in us and wild desire to freedom, all
of these things as a whole will form an obstacle to their integration in our
society and loyalty to our country. Because of their concern about various
rumors that arrive from overseas, they sometimes show their readiness to move
to within our regions and at other times seeking to move to Turkey, they are
either hoping for procrastination or to find good land for housing in Turkey.
Due to the difficult conditions, they are in fact forced to implement all of
our demands, and to move to wherever we order them to, but after their
departure to new places of residence, they will not easily forget their old
places of residence and with their naiveness, they believe the promises given
to them generously by Turkey. As long as the military forces are stationed
here, and as long as the political circumstances dispel the different rumors,
there is no doubt that the indigenous population would be peaceful, but when
the show is a pretext for the foreign intervention, like the machinations from
Constantinople, the nature of case, these things will draw the consideration of
the large numbers of indigenous inhabitants, all mobilized forces will be
directed to affect us badly. We believe that these ill effects do pose a
serious threat, however we have to keep extra troops in the region, and
possesses special potential to oversee and control the West Caucasus, thus, it
would employ on us additional expenditures. And even the simplest unsuitable
conditions for us, will lead to an unexpected increase in the budget’s costs of
the Kuban Region’s treasury. That the rumors about some of the looting by some
young people, worked to shake up the public confidence in the security and
tranquility in the region, which in turn will cause to delay the delivery of
food and other essential items for our troops, and to put an end once and for
all to the Western Caucasus, I think it's necessary to weaken the indigenous
people residing in the Kuban Region to the extent they cannot provide
appropriate conditions for the establishment of foreign conspiracies and the
provision of low quantities of food for the population and the deportation of
the indigenous people living on the sea coastlines, and this forms an utmost
importance for us and for the state. In this sense, I think the deportation of
ten thousand families from the indigenous population will serve our goals, and
to implement that we need to exploit favorable conditions for us, and to pay
them small-scale financial assistance, and force them to move to Turkey, in
order to avoid further significant costs due their deportation at the expense
of the state-treasury in the future. I do not know until now how will the sizes
of this displacement would be, but based on available data we have, the
displacement will be in large numbers and with the assistance of the state
treasury.
Please be inform Your Excellency, that with the requisition directed to me
in 28, December, 1862, No. 2827, ten thousand silver rubles has been sent to
me, in order to help the indigenous people who have been deported from the
mountains into our territory, and has noted that the money is spent carefully
and to the poorer people, and after that, according to the orders of His
Majesty the Emperor, mentioned in your requisition on 5, May, No. 874, for
allowing financial aid to the deported Natokhaway and Shabsough to Turkey for
the value that does not exceed ten rubles per family and also to be spent
carefully and the conditions listed, for the remaining they will be deported on
their own expenses. Although permission has been granted, these funds are not
sufficient, because of the requirement encashment of financial aid for poorer
families only, as this matter is difficult, in fact they are all poor, if aid
was disbursed to some, and others will demand equally optimum treatment and
this will lead to delay their deportation to Turkey. As for the deportation of
the Mountaineers from the region, it is necessary to resolve all unsettled
issues on the ground immediately, so I think it is useful to pay ten rubles for
each deported family as an aid, without going deep or into verification of
their financial status, especially the (citizens) residents living near the sea
who want to move to Turkey. And for the deportation of ten thousand families,
we need hundred thousand silver rubles acted immediately, and thus that will
rid the government’s treasury of Firstly: The very high costs, in the event
they are paid to the Mountaineers in case were deported towards our areas,
where they do not have any possibilities to move on their own expenses during
the winter, Secondly: the result of deporting them from our region, will be to
reduce military forces in the region, and that will save money to the Treasury.
In addition, I did not mention that political benefits as a result of that,
which I mentioned earlier, as well as the large amount of money that will be
provided by the transfer of ten thousand families at the expense of the
Treasury to Turkey, and to do that, there will be a need for thirty thousand
silver rubles.
Based on the above, I hope that my request to go the extra mile and
particularly to His Majesty the Emperor, to allow for allocating the amount of
twenty-five thousand silver rubles as a first installment, at my disposal as
aid to deport the indigenous people to Turkey, where ten thousand rubles will
be added to them and the total will be thirty-five thousand rubles, and would
like inform you the need to send me an additional amount of sixty three
thousand silver rubles. And when needed to let me borrow in the event that only
thirty-five thousand rubles were given from the account of the staff, and do
not hesitate to give me additional necessary instructions other than those to
which you referred to in the requisition No. 874 of 5th of May. Finally, I
would like to add that I will do the necessary action to prevent the
disbursement of any unnecessary amounts and to achieve the goals that have been
developed. We should take into consideration the interest, to be gained by the
Treasury.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b,
139, for .2-4,
Document 212
20, September, 1863 Letter of
Chairman of the General Command, General Zablotskojo, directed to the
Natokhaway provincial governor on the discharge of additional funds to
distribute, as aid to Mountaineers (so that their deportation does not stop)
Stavropol.
In addition to the letter, dated on the 19th of September, No. 1714, at the
direction of the Commander General of the forces, I would like Your Excellency
to know that if the amount of five thousand rubles is not insufficient, which
were sent to you for the purposes of deporting the Natokhaway to Turkey, then
you can go to the commander of the Kuban Region forces, in accordance with the
approval number 1714, to disburse to you 10 thousand rubles, in addition to
five thousand rubles, and in case that the sum of money that was put at your
disposal is in the amount of 15 thousand rubles is not enough to transport the
Mountaineers across the sea to Turkey, it is compelling, that you do not wait
until the consumption of the amount in your possession, and to send an officer
to my General Staff to receive an additional amount of 10 thousand rubles, and
the total amount in full, a total of 25 thousand rubles. Note: In addition to
all mentioned, it is possible to disburse 10 rubles for each deported family,
if they were in need for assistance, and in the extreme cases only, in order
not to stop the process of their deportation to Turkey. You must provide an
account statement of expenses that were paid and recorded in the accounts
ledger as well as the names of families that funds had been disbursed to. Major
General
Zablotskojo -------------------- Government Archives - the Krasnodar
region, P .325, and by .1, 301, up to .337.
Document 213
27, September, 1863 Address by Commander in Chief of the Caucasus Army
Evdokimov regarding the approval of the latest request of allocating 100
thousand rubles for the disbursement of aid to the Mountaineers deported to
Turkey. At the request presented from Your Excellency to place 100 thousand
rubles at your disposal to spend as aids to the Mountaineers, who are in your
region for the purpose of deporting them to Turkey, I am with the consent of
His Majesty the Emperor, the General Commander of the Army, I will ask the Army
Commander of Supplies Administration, to allocate this amount from the budget
that was approved for war expenses for the current year amounting to 25
thousand rubles, and to be sent from Tbilisi to Stavropol, that is if General
Kozlovsky deemed the possibility of transferring this sum of money right away
from the Administration of Stavropol Province to the General Staff Command of
the forces under your command. As for your request to place 75 thousand rubles
at your disposal there will be a request of approval for this amount from His
Majesty the Emperor. Besides, His Majesty the Emperor has allowed you to
disperse the mentioned sum of money amounting to 25 thousand rubles, and
instructed me to ask you that you submit a report on how to spend this amount
to the General Command of the Army with the requirement to keep records of
that. -------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B
.136, for 1.
Document 214
September, 1863 Certificate issued by General Evdokimov to the chief of the
Southern Abaza tribe, Anchoko-khabel Effendi , in concern to allow them to
enter the province of Bjedoghski until the date of March 10, 1864, and then
migrate to Turkey or to beyond the Kuban.
The chief of the Southern Abzakh tribe, had been notified that this tribe
is allowed to enter the Bjedoghski province and stay there until the date of
March 10, 1864, and after the expiration of that period, they must head to the
port of Oastu – Dajawibgy, or to any point on the sea coast at the option of
the tribe to board the ferries to move to Turkey, to be resettled. At the end
of the set time and in case that some families of this tribe, show willingness
to stay in our territory, to live permanently, there must be identified places
intended for them to live within the district and within the strip of land that
was allocated for the resettlement of the indigenous inhabitants. To allow for
temporary housing in the province of Bjedoghski, their chief Gaoan Effendi
Bejev must put detailed lists of the names of all families within the tribe,
with indicating marks next to the names of those families who wish to migrate
to Turkey, and those families that will stay with us, and to attach to these
lists, a list of the amount of money allowances that were paid for transporting
the Mountaineers on board ferries to Turkey, with the exception of the children
under 4 years of age, and to be submitted to the commander of the Kuban Cossack
forces, Major-General Count Sumarokov Elston on his part must issue the
necessary permits for the tribe to move freely to the marine point that has
been selected by the tribe, to sail from that point to Turkey. And must
immediately inform the Captain, merchant Fonstein about that, who had taken
upon himself, the transfer of all Mountaineers to Turkey. For the transport of
each soul, through merchant Fonstein, the government will pay the amount of 2
rubles per soul. If allocated money was not enough for that, the amount will be
fulfilled from the tribe members upon boarding the ferries, when sailing to
Turkey.
-------------------- State Archives of the Krasnodar Territory, p. 327,
Arch. Number 8, St. 1, l. 63-64.
Document 215
September, 1863
The following information is about the numbers of Abzakh population living
between, the Pshish River and Psekups River. Dwelling places of Population
Mountaineers Number of Farms Number of Houses
1. On the left bank of Pshish River, 28 898
from the Bjedogh’s borders, reaching
Khotkhah River that got the ributaries:
Adgoy, Bseh-Bako, Toghoj, Boko, Upper
Bkhaftel, Lower Bkhaftel, and
Fotseh Bseh. 2. In the vicinity of Pseh-tseh River, 9 312 from the mouth,
reaching Upper Khotkhah
3. In the vicinity of Umbyeh River, and 14 250
Tributary of Martey River (from the right
Side) from the moth until the upper side of
the river.
4. In the vicinity of Shakhto kho Kolyach 2 57 (over the course of Umbyeh
from the left side).
5. In the vicinity of Bezay Fokay (over the course 4 89 of/Umbey River,
from the left side)
6. In the areas, in the vicinity of Martey 27 536 River Valley stretching
from the Bjedogh boundaries as far as the upper stream of the river.
7. In the area located in Bashak River Valley, 29 373 stretching from the
Bjedogh boundaries as far as the upper stream of the river.
8. From the Minor Shylok River’s mouth located 7 310 on the left side of
Bashak River, Khotej Summit.
9. In the areas located from the right bank of 25 875 Pseh Kobsa River
until the Bjedogh Boundaries towards the top as far as the headwaters of the
mineral waters with tributaries of Psetil, Chotkha- Nashkhwa, Psheh Nashok,
Chip Lunako, Chip Yoke, Pseh Sho-jojo, Chod Jako, Jan Beach Yako and Boda
Gajoj.
10. In areas located across the course Pseh Kopseh 5 97 River and Chip
Setel River, stretching from the mouth until Khotkha.
11. In the upper part of Pseh Kopseh River, from 27 850 Khotkha, until the
headwater of the river and its tributaries, Chepsi, Billy Djayex, Koghibs, and
Bsef.
12. In the areas located on Khoti Pseh River, and 6 250 the tributaries of
Pseh Kopseh River located on the right side.
13. In the areas located on Atchako River stretched 3 60 from the
tributaries of Pseh Kopseh River from the left side.
14. In the areas located on Khotseh Pseh River, in 4 50 in addition to the
areas along the tributaries of Pseh Kopseh from the left side.
15. In the areas located on Cheh Pa Pseh River 4 50 stretching from the
tributaries of Pseh Kopseh from the right side.
16. In areas located on Foti Pseh River stretching 6 200 from the
tributaries of Pseh Kopseh River from the right side.
17. In the areas located on Gepsejay, extending from 7 230 the tributaries
of Pshesheh River.
18. In the areas extending from the upper reaches 3 40 of Minor Sukholok
reaching to the mouth of the river.
19. In the areas located Sh’khepseh River reaching 4 60 down to Bshesheh
River.
20. In the areas located on Chepoy River, stretching 6 120 from Pshesheh
River course, reaching to the mouth of the river.
Total 220 5798
Note: This information shows only the numbers of indigenous people, but the
families that were deported from areas of Pshekheh River and Korjips River, in
addition to the areas located near other rivers that did not show here, because
of the inability to gather information about their numbers. The Abzakh people
say that such families reside among them, and the number is 3000 families and a
large portion of them, have moved to stay beyond Khotkh.
General Staff - Captain Lebedinsky
-------------------- State Archives of the Krasnodar Territory, p. 327,
Arch. Number 8, St. 1, l. 59-60.
Document 216
6, October, 1863
The conditions for granting Russian citizenship, to the Northern Abzakh
population: 1. All Northern Abzakh people, residing in urban areas between the
foot of Mount Khotkh and the new Russian road across Pshisho, and between the
Shabsough borders and the course of Psekups River offer allegiance to the
Russian state, according to the conditions below, up to 1st of February of next
year, 1864, that is, four months minus seven-days, and that is in exchange for
allowing them to stay,
to live in the mountains, between the new Russian road through Pshisho, and
the course of Psekups River and the Hoth River, reaching the Shabsough’s
boundaries.
2. Until the date of February, 1st, the Abzakh people are committed to
leave their territories, and go to the places that will be told about by the
Russian authorities.
3. Those who are wishing to be accessed in the Russian citizenship, will be
given a piece of land for housing with the right to inherit, but those who are
wishing to emigrate to Turkey, there will be lands allocated to them on
temporary basis, after the 1st of February, but not for more than two months,
that means, to 16, April.
4. The Abzakh people will be committed, to live subjugated and to obey the
Russian leadership to take responsibility of any robbery or theft, and will
extradite criminals.
5. The Abzakh people will immediately be committed, and without any delay
to hand over all prisoners of war to the Russian state.
6. The Abzakh people will be committed, not to allow anti-Russian state, to
penetrate between them and if such people appear, they would have to hand them
over to the authorities.
7. The Abzakh people will be committed, not to block the military troops
and factions, to move within the area inhabited by Abzakh, as well as not to
hamper the work related to roads and pathways, and the establishment of
military stations and military fortifications.
8. To monitor the strict implementation of all the mentioned above, there
will be a chief in charge, who will be appointed a deputy by the Russian
government and from within their dignitaries.
9. It is not permitted to have any person of the Abzakh, to cross the
borders that have been developed for their areas, and bear arms without a
permit, and if any person is held holding a weapon without a permit, he will be
considered an enemy and to deal with him as prisoner of war.
10. The Abzakh, who are temporarily residing on the space, set within the
mentioned rivers, have the same rights given to other Muslim tribes, that
belong to the Russian State, Moreover, the deportees to the places allocated to
them, have the right to reside and to move to Turkey for a period of one year.
11. To be sure not violate the mentioned conditions, all the dignitaries of
the tribe will be sworn in, not to violate the Convention, and in case of
violation of the stated, they will be denied the right to emigrate to Turkey,
and the right to live with their people, and they would be exiled into
continental Russia, and consequently the Abzakh people will be deprived the
right to move to the strip of land that was allocated for them, and they will
have to move to the territories situated to the right bank of the Kuban River.
Signed,
General Count Evdokimov
-------------------- Government archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B
.134, for .1-2.
Document 217
9, November, 1863 Report of the Commander in Chief of the Kuban Region
Army, General Evdokimov, directed to the Commander of the Caucasus Army, on the
admissibility of the Abaza, the conditions that have been put forward, by the
Russian administration and in regard to the military pressures. In previous
mid-September, I informed Your Imperial Highness, and through the military
record on an urgent request from the Abaza people, in regard to submitting the
obedience to His Majesty the Emperor. Upon returning from the city of
Stavropol, I headed immediately to the Abaza, for the signature of those
conditions, that through them, their submission and obedience had been
accepted, but, and until now, signature on those conditions has not been
obtained, due to the incitement of Ubykh who went inside the Abaza
fortification to hide from our strikes, and they incited the people for
resistance and to convince them of hope and help arriving from Turkey. I
received a report from Pshekhskojo Battalion Commander, and Dakhoveskojo
Military Battalion Commander, on their implementation of that part of the
general plan, that had been developed this year, and that to clear up the
territories situated in the mountainous strip of Indigenous inhabitants by
October, extended between the Belaya River and Pshish River, which I have
written to these two battalions, to station on 30, September or 21, October in
the Hadyzhi area, and wait for my arrival there. Upon my arrival late at night,
on date October, 1 to the two mentioned battalions, I stayed two days in the
Hadyzhi area, and I have informed the Abaza about my arrival, and I offered
them to speed up for the adoption of the final decision to implement their
obligations. In addition to that, I have taken positive and immediate action to
end the Abzakh topic, then I advanced in the third day, accompanied by 17
battalions, 4 cavalry teams, 400 Cossacks and police from the indigenous
population, and 16 cannons towards the Upper parts of Pshish River, and I
traversed a distance of 20 Ferst, and I have set up a military camp on the left
bank of this river, in Melgoshiba with for a distance of 14 Ferst from Tuapse
Valley’s corridor, which lies on the border between Abzakh and Shabsough.
In the next day, the notables of Southern Abazians, who live between Pshish
River and Psekups, South of Khotkh mountainous chain, and they signed up to the
conditions that I proposed on them, and they sworn not to violate the substance
of these conditions until the time part of them be deported to Turkey, and the
other part to the areas that had been allocated for the resettlement of the
indigenous population to the West Caucasus that had been subjected. With the
advance of military factions to the corridor of Tuapse, in 4, September, a
large part of the North Abzakhians, living in the mountains between Upper
Pshepsheh and the course of Psekups River, on the border with Shabsough and
Khotkh mountainous chain, and requesting the permission to join the Southern
Abzakhians. In fact, after conclusion of their meeting between each other, they
came on 6, September, to the camp and signed up to the terms of submission
presented to them, and they sworn the oath, not to violate these conditions and
for the same period that had been identified for the Southern Abazian. After
that, 500 families of the Abaza living in remote areas barely accessible to be
reached, had announced a condition to declare submission, that is to remain in
the places of their residence until the spring of next year, which I entirely
refused this request. By informing Your Imperial Highness with of all of the
mentioned above, I add that the area that the Abaza will stay within until
February 1, 1864, does not pose any hindrance, compared with what the troops
had experienced to date, and by surrounding the Abaza from all sides by the
military factions, they are deprived of their means of survival, and thus to
subject the areas located on the north slope of the Western Caucasus Mountains,
could be considered to be over, given these facts, a major temporary defensive
line across Pshesho have been established, because with the beginning of our
progress from the Northern Slope to the South, it was found that it necessary
to work to change our defensive lines, and to be moved in parallel to the
direction of series of the main Mountains, and I will provide you with any new
developments on this subject.
-------------------- Government archives - Georgia, 416, up .3, B .134, for
.3-4.
Document 218
13, October, 1863 A list of Kabarday going to Turkey for pilgrimage, for
one year. Passport number Name Date of passport issuance
10725 Haji Ali Jaji Schiff September, 13 10728 Yago Jiroko Morzaev
September, 13 10727 Ibrahim Keshiv September, 13 10726 Candar Jarmanov
September, 13 10722 Haji Elias Keshiv September, 13 10721 Moses Djelkov
September, 13 10720 Islam Morza Karegiv September, 13 10719 Andrew Zack Matejev
September, 13 10712 Eideik Gelakhajev September, 13 10715 Ibrahim Mirzaev
September, 13 10714 Ainaloko Aujov September, 13 10718 Mistira Batirov
September, 13 10717 Enos Ivanov September, 13 10716 Moses Joboroff September,
13 10713 Neve Arkvasuv September, 13
-------------------- Government Archives – Kabardino-Balkaria Republic,
P-.2, up .1, B .564, .29 for
Document 219
13, October, 1863 Report of the
Assistant Governor of the Province of Natokhaway, directed to the General
Commander of the Kuban Region Army, General Evdokimov, on the completion of the
deportation of the Natokhaway, to the places that have been allocated to them,
and regarding the transfer of wheat and grain to the new premises. In relation
to your instructions directed in your letter No. 1490, and letter No. 1608,
they were implemented: that the remaining wheat and grain on Cossacks land
after the completion of deportation of the Natokhaway to places that have been
allocated to them, they had been transferred on 11, October with difficulty,
but what left over that was not transferred to this date, it has been burned. I
would like to inform Your Excellency that extreme measures have been taken, for
the Natokhaway not to be able to return to their former residences, and they
have implemented all of our orders and demands, during their departure across
the lands of the Cossacks. Attachment: A copy of the letter of the Commander of
the Cossack Adaghom Regiment dated 12, October, No. 4548. --------------------
Government Archives - The Krasnodar Region, P .325, B .308, .102 for the web.
Document 220
7, November, 1863 General
Evdikamov’s message addressed to the General Commander of the Army, General
Kartsovo on the conditions offered by the merchant Vaughan - Stein for the
transfer of Circassians. In my letter to His Imperial Highness, the Commander
of the Caucasus Army, dated 6, November, No. 2100, on way of spend and
preparation of the accounts of funds allocated to help the poor indigenous
population, to resettle them in Turkey, I remind that under the agreement
between the merchant Vaughan - Stein and a representative of His Imperial
Highness, who acts on behalf of the Abzakh people, it is agreed that the first
party will provide ferries for the transporting the Abzakh who are wishing to
travel to the Turkish ports, for the purpose of resettling them for the cost of
5 rubles per soul. I hasten to inform Your Excellency to clarify these
conditions in the report submitted to His Highness No. 2100, that, when Vaughan
- Stein carry the Abzakh to the Turkish ports, for the cost of 5 rubles per
soul, the Treasury should pay an additional 2 rubles in aid to the indigenous
population on top of the amount in their possessions, except those rare cases
where we will have to pay the full amount for the poorest. To facilitate the
case for the indigenous people, Vaughan - Stein had pledged to get from the
indigenous people the value of the transportation expenses, in exchange for
transporting them across the sea to Turkish ports, of cattle, flour, of their
weapons, and any other properties, that to be estimated by both sides, and the
value of 2 rubles will be received from every soul for transporting them to
Turkey.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B
.136, for .5
Document 221
10, November, 1863 The requisition
of the Commander of the Caucasus Army, Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich, addressed to
the Minister of War, General Milutin on the need to expel the Adigha coastal
areas. The success that was achieved by our forces in the Western Caucasus, had
forced part of the Mountaineers living on the Northern slope of the Caucasus to
declare their submission, and full commitment to move to beyond the Kuban
plains by the spring or to move to Turkey, but the other part, they will move
to the South-western slope of the mountains, where the population has doubled
currently two times, because of these outsiders. In order to implement the
comprehensive plan for the invasion of the Caucasus, we have now to begin, the
process of evacuation of coastal areas. Our troops have been stationed right
now, at the crossings leading to Tuapse and Dzhubga. In which the local
residents feel vulnerable and disable. There is no doubt that, with the first
step for us, they will submit obedience for us, if we allow them to stay in
their residences. But how could it be allowed for the Mountaineers to stay in
the coastal strip, which is contrary to the adopted plan for the settlement of
the Western Caucasus, so it is necessary to evacuate the coastal strip of the
indigenous population. In the same time, the nature of the territory of the
coastal strip and numbers of indigenous people do not compare, with what we
have offered them, which is to leave for the purpose of living in the plains
beyond the Kuban River, and the majority of the population would prefer death
to agree on the implementation of our demands. In these circumstances, it is
better for us to take advantage of the desire of these inhabitants to move to
Turkey, where they would be deported there and they will not wait for the
arrival of our troops. As a result of a lack of means of transport on one hand,
and the lack of funds to pay for the transfer of Mountaineers across the sea on
the other hand, all that would stop the deportation process of the
Mountaineers.
To remove these obstacles, I ordered the warships not to intercept ships
carrying the deported Mountaineers, and the necessary measures to put these
orders in the hands of the owners of ships engaged in maritime navigation and
known to us. But these measures alone are not sufficient to reach the desired
goal, so I think it's necessary to grant financial assistance of a value not to
exceed ten rubles to the families of the Mountaineers who do not want to submit
to us, and who are living on the coastline who came to our ports to depart to Turkey.
I am convinced of this measure to get rid of those individuals who preach
intolerance and negative impact on their countrymen, and therefore, that will
lead to speed up for the end of the war and the reduction of costs. I had the
honor to submit these proposals in person to His Majesty the Emperor, in
levadi, and already, His Majesty the Emperor's graciously has approved that and
permitted to pay me the amount of 100000 silver rubles for the implementation
of my proposals from the budget of this year, 1863, with taking into account
that the remaining amount can be determined only by the end of the fiscal year,
which is not before next June, and during this year, and because of the case
emergency of the army, I had to allow an increase of military expenditures.
Therefore, I request that Your Excellency to demand from the higher authorities
to approve, placing the above mentioned amount, totaling 100 thousand rubles at
my disposal, and if there is remaining amount in the budget, this amount will
be placed in the accounts. -------------------- Government archives - Georgia,
P .416, and by .3, b .1184, for .1-2.
Document 222
13, November, 1863 to 20, May, 1864
From the letters of the Russian counsel in Trabzon, Moshaninia, addressed to
the Commander in Chief of the Caucasus Army, General Kartsovo, on the
displacement of the Mountaineers to Turkey, and in regard to their harsh fate.
13, November, 1863 ... Based on proposals of the Caucasian leaderships, the
Turkish ships’ owners were informed, that the Russian authorities will give
permission to the Turkish ferries to dock in the Caucasian ports to transport
the Mountaineers from there. Accordingly, forty Turkish ferries had sailed to
the Caucasus coasts for the transfer of Mountaineers. Turkish ships’ captains
are still afraid of going to the shores of the Caucasus to transport the
Mountaineers, but this fear dissipated upon the return of some of them safely.
... With the strong support provided by the Polish agent, Podaiski, who has a
strong friendship with the English Consul, Stevens, 1000 barrels of gunpowder,
were carried to the Eastern coast of the Caucasus Region. 22, November, 1863
... Out of 42 Turkish ferries, which headed to the shores of the Caucasus, 24
had returned having on board, seven thousand Circassian deportees, and the
majority of them are Shapsugs. The majority of those deportees were sent to
Constantinople, and the other portion of them had been resettled near the
Ziromeskoy road. As for the dead Circassians, the decision was made to bury
them in the vicinity of the city and not inside.
28, November, 1863 ... From 22 to 28, November, 16 ferries were sent to the
Caucasus coasts, and despite the bad weather, five ferries had returned with
1200 Circassian onboard, and approximately 1000 Circassians were sent to
Constantinople. The Pasha has expressed surprise of the migration of
Mountaineers, and attributed that to Islamic fundamentalism and to our
achievements. ... The huge crowds of Mountaineers can lead to serious
consequences, and as I know some of my colleagues, had written about it to
Constantinople, to stop the deportation. Their purpose about that is clear,
where I learned that upon the arrival of the news to Trabzon, in regard to our
accomplishments, Podaiski and those who work to protect him, will assist the
Circassians who arrived to Trabzon to defend their independence. Because the
Turkish government and with plots of our enemies can indirectly stop the
deportation, and cause troubles by preventing captains from sailing, to our
shores, for my part, I circulated a rumor, that the displacement will continue
only until the spring, so as to force the local captains to sail to the Eastern
shores of the Black Sea. 6, December, 1863 ... Eight ferries have arrived with
one thousand Circassians onboard. Today, Turkish ferries will transfer 400 of
these deportees to Samson and one thousand to Varna. The Turkish Special
Commissioner has arrived here, in order to monitor the situation of deportees,
and instructions were issued from Constantinople, requires that the all
Circassians who arrived to Varna should be re-transported, and to achieve this,
two ferries had been allocated. That the English consul and Podaiski are not
satisfied with this shift in the course of events, and they disservice to our
operations and they are trying to stir up troubles towards me. 11, December,
1863
... In the past week, 1600 Circassians had been sent to Constantinople, and
recently, two ferries had arrival, carrying 400 Circassians. ... The English
Consul and Podaiski seek to stop the displacement, where they instigated the
Pasha and other consuls, by sighting the serious consequences that can result
due to the spread of diseases during the spring season, the local Muslim
inhabitants who fear the consequences of this displacement, are gradually
incited, and they bounty themselves by buying slaves which dropped their prices
a lot. I have been told that the Pasha has purchased the most beautiful eight
girls and paid 60 or 80 rubles for each one of them, to be sent as gifts to
some Pashas in Constantinople. In any case, it is possible here to purchase a
12 years old of both sexes, for thirty or forty rubles. ... From the Poles
currently available with the Ubykh, one of them came recently to
Constantinople, that the conditions of the European gangs present with the
Ubykh, are not going so well, to the extent that they are waiting for the right
time to return, however, the Pasha and according to an advice from the English
Consul and others, has decided to stop the process of deportation, if possible,
until the onset of the spring season. At present, the number of Circassians
living in Trabzon is between four and five thousand. 29, December, 1863 ... A
large number of ferries (approximately 70 ferries), had sailed to fetch the
Mountaineers. During the month of November and December, the number of
Circassians in Trabzon has reached ten thousand, in which 4500 of them were
sent to Constantinople, Samson and Varna, almost an average of forty persons a
day, and currently, approximately 3050 persons reside in Trabzon. That the
Turkish government as I know, is very pleased with this deportation, and honesty,
it is possible to say that the Turkish government has taken necessary measures,
for the completion of the deportation of those deportees and as soon as
possible from Trabzon. Unfortunately, the local Governor-General is neglected
and with empty content, who has the responsibility of the diseases that the
displaced suffer of, which are typhoid and smallpox, and here we are faced with
situations in daily mortality ranging from forty to sixty people or 1.4%. 30,
January, 1864 ...One thousand Circassians had been sent to Varna. ...Also 1500
Circassians are brought to Trabzon.
18, March, 1864 ...There are 20 thousand Circassian deportees in Trabzon,
and since the month of November, 40 thousand Circassians were deported from the
Caucasus. ...The cost of living expenses incurred by the Circassians, that the
Turkish government bears has amounted to a one thousand golden Mejidi a day. 8,
April, 1864 ...The Turkish government will not send the deportees to the city
of Varna, because the residents of the city of ROMILLY are not satisfied with
the resettlement, and they have organized a complaint number 15, April, 1864
...Ali Pasha has arrived here, he is of a Circassian origin, and dispatched by
the government to oversee the resettlement process. 22, April, 1864 ...Among
the conditions set by the Turkish government to receive the Circassians, is to
exempt them from Compulsory Service (conscription), for a period of twenty years.
At the same time, and due to large numbers of Circassians, the Pasha came out
with an idea of the composition of military forces from them.
27, April, 1864 ...This assignment is the responsibility of Ali Pasha, who
arrived from Constantinople, and he is from a Circassian origin, which holds
the rank of Lieutenant General. He was able within few days of his arrival, and
in a short time, to convince 500 Circassians to volunteer for military service.
Our consular saw the Circassian faction, and those who had been recruited, and
here, to be fair with the Turkish government, good clothing was presented to
them. This faction will go to Constantinople. ...To raise th
e desire of Circassians to join the service in the army of the Sultan, a
restriction on males’ was implemented in Constantinople, and as a result, the
trafficking of women has highly developed. Hundreds of women are sent to
Constantinople to be sold. ...Recently, approximately 25 thousand Circassians
had been transferred; Most of them were taken to Samson. When the population of
Samson expressed their displeasure at the large numbers of Circassians in the
city, the Turkish authorities had instructed the ships carrying Circassians to
be directed to Sinop. 13, May, 1864 ...In Sreder (an hour away from Trabzon),
there is camp that is inhabited by 23 thousand people, in Calais Achkan (three
and a half hours away from Trabzon), a camp that is inhabited by 17 thousand
people, in Kerasunde (three and a half hours away from Trabzon), a camp that is
inhabited by 1300 people, Samson inside the city, a camp that is inhabited by
70 thousand people, and in Sinop, a camp that is inhabited by 4800 people, and
all that totals 76140 people.
1300 people were enrolled in the military service. 12300 people have been
sent to Varna and to inner Anatolia. The number of death cases since the
beginning of deportation until now is 30 thousand people. Total 160 thousand
Circassians. ...As Your Excellency is aware, all those deportees were
transported on board means of marine transport of Trabzon, with the exception
of few of them, that were Russian ships, and without bearing any cost on our
government and under bad conditions that had surrounded the deportation
campaign: being the onset of winter and the imposition of quarantine. Residents
in Saradir camp are mostly of the newly arrivals, where the Pasha plans to send
them to be resettled in Bascelik Trabzon, especially in the areas surrounding
the road of Erzurum. If this process turned out successful, the majority of the
commercial convoys will pass through Georgia. The camp in Acka – Calais, will
be destroyed and the remaining Circassians there will be deported into
Bascelik. The aim is to prevent the spread of diseases, because Acka - Calais
had suffered the brunt of the Circassians’ diseases. And it is not possible to
pass from there. It was learned recently that the Mountaineers had hidden the
corpses if the dead in their tents for several days, they had even buried them
there, in order to get the shares of the dead. ...The Circassians living in
Trabzon had exhausted their strength, due to the negligence of the Turkish
authorities. That led to chaos and severe misery. In the previous week, there
was a shortage of bread, as the bulk is sent inside Sivaski Bascelik. ...There
are many who wish to join the military service, but the Turkish authorities
classify them and to choose the right people. In any case, I think that it is
not possible to form regular troops of those Mountaineers. ...The cases of
death among Circassians have decreased significantly, with the exception of
Samsun; where there are 200 people die every day.
...The poor conditions of transport, from the coasts of the Caucasus,
onboard the Turkish military vessels is not in our interest. Where the majority
of the deportees onboard these ships, are the notables of the Mountaineers and
their rich people, and they bribe the captains of these ships to achieve their
interests, and the imperial government is compelled to bear the costs of the
transfer of the poor deportees, which would lead to the delay in our plan to deport
the Mountaineers. ...To avoid delay on our part and to accelerate the process
of deportation, our consular suggested that we made an offer to all deportees
that will be transferred at their own expense and the amounts that would have
paid will be returned to them upon their arrival to Turkey. Moshnina has given
hints about the usefulness of this measure to the Governor-General who,
although he agreed, but decided to wait for approval of his Government to
direct the implementation of this measure. ...According to the available
information to the Circassian Mission in Trabzon, 160 thousand Mountaineers
have arrived from the Caucasus. 01, May, 1864 I am very happy because the
deportation process is approaching an end, and there is no need to go to Constantinople,
where the client that I had sent there earlier, had sent 50 sailing ships to
bring the displaced. Within the previous days, several thousands of the
deportees have arrived here, and so have the number of deportees who are
currently in Saradir are approximately 40 thousand people. In Acka - Calais the
number has reached 30 thousand people. Thus, the overall total of displaced
Mountaineers has exceeded 200 thousand people. The doctors follow with interest
the spread of dysentery disease, especially this time is the season of fruits.
We ask God that this disease is contained, as it will not have the Mountaineers
only suffer of it, but we will also suffer, because when it spreads among a
large number, it will become a epidemic. --------------------
Government archives - St. Petersburg, 1-9, 1863, up .8, b .19, l .37, 47,
49, 57, 92, 59, 101, 103-109, 111-112.
Document 223
22, November, 1863 Letter of the
Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon, Moshanina, addressed to the Chief of Staff of
the Caucasus Army, Lieutenant General Kartsovo with a presentation of the
policies of the European countries regarding the deportation of the Circassians.
In addition to my directed letter No. 476, dated November 14, I see of my duty
to inform Your Excellency, that in recent weeks, that 27 ferries out of 42 that
were sent to have returned from the Circassian coasts to the port of Trabzon,
which I have previously reported to you, and those 27 ferries had brought about
7 thousand Circassians, most of them from the Shapsough tribe. According to the
information that I have received from the costs of Anatoly, the ferries reached
Trabzon in different places, despite the bad weather and obstacles that were
placed in front of ferries destined to bring the displaced, and in any case,
during the period from 15 to 21, 12 ferries have departed to bring the
Circassians. The failure of the Anglo - Polish alliance has caused of fomenting
hostility towards me by three of my colleagues, they are the consuls of
England, France and Italy, who are linked with a strong friendship with the
so-called Podaiski, of Polish origin, as they seek to seize any opportunity to
offend me, so they are trying all means to cajole the local Governor-General
who just arrived from Constantinople, where he received the Majidi Medal of the
first-class, and third-degree before traveling to Tbilisi. On this occasion,
Mr. Stephen and Mr. Pouzyo, did not content just to go to receive the Pasha
upon his return from Constantinople (this action should not be done), but they
went to meet him aboard his boat, and they fired (fireworks), expressing the
happiness for the Pasha’s come back.
Several days later, I received an invitation from Stevens, which I attach
herewith the original copy, where it was a trick on their part, to direct
hurtful criticism to me, by the Italian consular, which will be transferred to
Constantinople. I decided from the outset to avoid company with them, which
usually had taken place in the presence of Podaiski, and of course, I didn’t
not accept this invitation, especially when I learned by accident, the purpose
of this invitation. So I personally clarified to Mr. Stevens, that the
Governor-General had promised me to send a large number of Circassians to
Constantinople, and part of them are working to fix the road of Erzurum (this
is real and true). With regard to the large numbers of deaths, it was decided
that they will not be buried inside the city, but outside. Therefore, I told
Mr. Stevens that my presence would be unnecessary.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b
.1114, for the .30-30 up.
Document 224
26 November 1863 Address by Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General
Kartsovo, directed to the Commander of the Kuban Region Forces, General
Evdokimov, regarding the necessity of settlement of the territories situated in
the slope of the South-west of the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea coast
as far as the Bzyb River by the Cossack settlers. In regard to your report No.
2988, addressed to His Imperial Highness the Emperor, and your suggestions that
you have addressed to me in your letter dated, 17, November, allow me to
express the following: 1. Concerning the settlement of the territories situated
in the slope of the South - west of the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea
coast by the Cossack settlers, His Majesty considers the necessity to do so. If
the nature of the topography of these lands would shape difficulty for the
settlement of the Cossacks in large military stations, then it is possible be
settle them over there in small neighborhoods in the appropriate places,
without restricting the number of houses in these neighborhoods, as well as it
is possible to take advantage of suitable land located in the narrow valleys,
where it is possible to settle the Cossacks settlers in independent farms along
the course of rivers. If the residents of these farms are hunters, then they
could be allocated portions of land under special provisions. The Cossack
colonies must be constructed and they should spaced from each other, so as to
enable later, to settle other Cossacks, other hunters, or from any other
classes of the Russian society in the spaces that separate between the
settlements. 2. In regard to the nature of the relationship between the
civilian population and the Cossacks, it can be branded at a later time, when a
location and date of settlement is identified for each of them. 3. That the
administration of customs control and customs barriers can be established and
put into effect at a later date, and currently should only pay attention to
road construction along the coast in order to enhance communications between
the settlements that are going to be established between the centers of the
military posts and for military purposes only. 4. That His Majesty the Emperor
recognizes the need of reaching the boundaries of our Russian settlements
across the coast and reaching up to Bzyb River, otherwise, the remainder of the
Mountaineers on the coast and regardless of the conditions that we have put
forward to keep them there, would form a pressure on us in case of war with our
external enemies, and in order to facilitate and accelerate the achievement of
the target ultimate goal to deport the Mountaineers, His Majesty believes that
it is essential to achieve that by next spring, and if we don’t engage in an
external war, it is a must to send a military mission to that section of the Ubykh
land, that have not been cleansed yet by the troops under Your Excellency’s
command. -------------------- Government archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3,
B .220, for the .1 - 1 up.
Document 225
28, November, 1863 The letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon,
Moshanina, addressed to the Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General
Kartsovo, in regard to the Turkish government’s position towards deportation
(where the attribute the causes of migration to the Islamic fundamentalism and
the Russian success in the war). From dates 22 to 29 of this month, 16 other
ferries sailed, despite the bad weather. Seven of which were chartered by the
Shapsoughian Hajji Khazpolat Swem, who was recommended by Dakhofiscojo Platoon
Commander. Five ferries have arrived over here, loaded with approximately 1200
Circassians; including nearly 1000 Circassians were transferred to Constantinople.
The Pasha has expressed astonishment at the magnitude of the Mountaineers
deportation, and attributed that to Islamic fundamentalism and our success.
If Circassians had been transported on board all ferries at one time, the
process their deportation would have not been harmful to the city of Trabzon,
but all captains of vessels did not accept the transfer deportees on board
their ships, therefore the Pasha had demanded from the Turkish government to
allocate two military vessels to transport them. And gathering of a large
number of Mountaineers could lead to serious consequences, and to my knowledge,
some of my colleagues had sent letters to Constantinople to stop the
deportation. Their aim is very clear where I learned that the arrival of news
to Trabzon on the success of our troops, Mr. Podaiski and some of his
supporters to offer advice to all displaced people to Trabzon, to return home,
and to provide assistance to their brothers to defend their homeland to achieve
their independence, and where the Turkish government, egged on by our
adversaries, can indirectly halt the process of displacement, which them caused
a lot of worries and problems, and to prevent captains from sailing to our
shores. In turn, from my part, I deployed a rumor stating that the displacement
will continue until the onset of autumn season only, in order to press the
local captains to sail to the Circassian coast. And I hope that Your Excellency
agrees to this procedure, and when spring comes, we can spread new rumor that
claims to allow the ferries to sail to the Circassian coasts. And in all cases,
the first concern that worries all captains, however, is thinking about how to
sail to the Circassian coasts, because opportunity had not allowed them in the
past to sail as it is the case now, and without fear that any state would stop
the process of deportation. In Constantinople, the Turkish government and the
local governor in Trabzon do not have the slightest idea about the causes and
magnitude of deportation, and of course we are not obliged to explain to them
right now, until the completion of the subjugation of Mountaineers altogether.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .417, and by .3, b .1102,
for .1-1 up.
Document 226
28, November, 1863 From the report of the Russian consul in Trabzon,
Moshanina, directed to the Asian Committee, regarding the tragic situation of
the Circassians in exile, and in regard to the Governor-General’s instructions
not to intercept Turkish ships carrying Mountaineers wishing to move to Turkey.
In accordance with the Russian government’s desire, I have succeeded to
send more than 50 ferries to transport Circassians. I have developed necessary
conditions for the captains of the ferries during their sailing, to lift the
weight of the stabilizer as a sign to inform other ferries for the start of new
voyages heading to Ubykhia. From these ferries, 27 ferries had arrived to the
port of Trabzon having on board approximately 7 thousand Circassians, who were
deployed in the city and surrounding areas, and because of the influx and
gathering of the Circassians in large numbers, that topic was a reason, that
pressed Mr. Stevens to call for holding a meeting for the consuls, to discuss
this subject. I have received an invitation to attend this meeting. I would
like to make a note of, that the Pasha who is coming from Constantinople, has
promised me to take necessary steps to remove the obstacles that we face because
of the deportation of the Circassians, who have exhausted their strength
because of the long journey across the sea. I have amended to attend this
meeting in order to avoid political controversies that would lead to the
issuance of inappropriate findings towards us by my consul colleagues. The
Prussian Consul has expressed that the discussion of the Circassian deportation
issue will lead to political controversies. In grace of this comment, the
meeting which was held at Steven’s home has ended by put together of Minutes
only. To illustrate how bad the way in which the process of burying the
corpses, I will mention the following situation as an example: in one of the
nearby cemeteries, which is not far from our consulate, and the closest to the
Prussian Embassy, the Circassian dead were buried with negligence and
temporarily, where, when rain fell down, soil that was covering the graves has
washed out, and the hungry dogs in the city, had eaten the exposed hands and
feet of the dead. I was told about this incident by one of the witnesses. When
we got the information that indicates the failure of the Anglo – Polish
incitement for the rebel Mountaineers, His Imperial Majesty, The General
Commander of the Army, has delegated me to thank you for your special efforts
of preventing the smuggling of weapons that have emerged from our various
enemies on the western coasts of the Caucasus, and the weaving of conspiracies.
In the same time, the Mountaineers at the present time, who were sent away
towards the coastal strip, have expressed a strong desire to emigrate to
Turkey, and depending on our vision, this issue would much expedite the completion
of the process for the control of the entire Caucasus. The main obstacle
encountered in the process of deporting the Mountaineers is the acute shortage
of means of marine transport. On this basis, we must by all means, to make it
easier for Mountaineers to emigrate to Turkey, and until that time comes, we
must make some changes, in our procedures followed for deporting the
Mountaineers, thus, the Governor-General, Lieutenant – General, Duke Mirskomo
was given the following command: as an interim measure, he must issue the
following commands: that our military vessels to stop ships carrying onboard
only smuggled weapons, gunpowder, ammunition and shells.
The other Turkish ships, even if they have customs violations, they should
not be intercepted to go to any point on the coast where the Mountaineers
reside, and should not be stopped in any form, if they returned carrying
onboard deported Mountaineers to Turkey. -------------------- AVPR, St.
Petersburg., Chief archive 1-9, op. 8, 19, p. 10-13.
Document 227
November 30, 1863 Requisition of Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army,
General Kartsovo directed to the Commander of the Kuban Region Forces, General
Evdokimov on the disperse of additional aid to the deportees and the Abzakh who
have been subjugated.
That His Majesty the Emperor, General Commander of the Army, sees the need
to allocate additional funds for the disbursement as aid to the Mountaineers
who have a desire to emigrate to Turkey, besides, His Majesty the Emperor
allows Your Excellency in case you have used 35 thousand rubles that were
placed at your disposal, you can at absolute necessity, to pay the essential expenses
from the extra amount of 65 thousand rubles, that you requested earlier, at the
same time, His Majesty the Emperor allows Your Excellency, when you determine
the value of financial assistance, the need to comply with the instructions
contained in my requisition, No. 874, dated 5, May, 1863, but however, His
Majesty the Emperor wishes that the priority in the disbursement these aids to
be to the Abzakh, who have been subjected recently, and the tribes that had
been recently subjugated in the coastal strip. By informing Your Excellency of
what is stated above, and with the orders of His Majesty the Emperor, it's an
honor to request Your Excellency that you provide your point of view about how
to pay the aids to the General Staff, and accounting regulatory in special
records. -------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3,
B .136, for .6.
Document 228
5, December, 1863 Message, of the Charge D’affaires of Russian embassy in
Constantinople, Novikova, addressed to the Commander of Chief of Staff, of the
Army of the Caucasus Command, General Kartsovo, on the outcome of negotiations
with the Turkish government on the reception of the deportees, and the
conditions set by the Turkish Government regarding the next migration of large
numbers of deportees in the year 1864. Upon my return from the Turkish Foreign
Ministry, please allow me Your Excellency to present you about the details of
my talks with Ali Pasha concerning preparations for the reception of the
deportees from the Abzakh and other Mountaineer peoples to Turkey, and I hasten
to inform Your Excellency of the most important results of our negotiations.
This topic had been discussed at the meeting of the Council of Ministers, and
took a decision in its regard at the third meeting, and I was intimated about
the resolution by Ali Pasha, and the most important features of this
resolution: The Turkish government does not mind to receive Caucasian
Mountaineers, wishing to immigrate in large numbers within the limits of its
territory. Of course, allowing them to emigrate in large numbers depends on the
two basic conditions, and without them the implementation would be almost
impossible: 1. That Constantinople and Trabzon should not be identified as sole
points to gather and settling them in. Due to the approval of the Turkish
government to receive the deportees on its territory, it reserves the right to
select appropriate locations for the resettlement of the deportees.
2. To grant the Turkish government a time limit until the month of May, to
work on the search for suitable sites for the resettlement of the deportees, to
avoid the associated difficulties with deporting people in large numbers. I add
that when Ali Pasha had asked me a question about the approximate numbers of
the deportees, I didn’t give him an answer and I could not even give him a
positive response about that, but I did not want to puzzle him from the first
time, and I told him that the number is 50 thousand, and even that number had
put him in confusion. And by informing you of the decision of the Council of
Ministers referred to above, to be transferred to His Majesty the Emperor, I
made it clear to Ali Pasha, that the difficult situation that has been created
for us, where, regardless of the required timeout to deport large numbers of
Mountaineers, there are permanent difficulties facing the process of
deportation to Turkey. I cannot hide on Your Excellency that the plan of
deportation of Mountaineers to Turkey, and as expected, has caused confusion
and embarrassment for the Turkish government, so the answer from Ali Pasha, can
be considered a very satisfactory result. And by informing Your Excellency of
all the mentioned of information for the purposes of presenting a report to His
Majesty the Emperor about that, and awaiting your instructions to come, I think
it is advantageous to continue the negotiations with the Turkish government to
this issue so as not to give them an opportunity to change their mind and
intent, but on the contrary, we take from them further details of the
implementations of their obligations.
In this regard, I would be grateful to Your Excellency if you inform me
about your opinion in regard to transferring your point of view to the Turkish
Foreign Minister, regarding the appropriate measures to implement the plan of
deportation, and the approximate number of deportees to Turkey, and the
possibility of providing facilities when the time limit is determined to begin
the process of deportation, and so on of other matters.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b
.1097, for .1-2.
Document 229
6, December, 1863
The message of Russian Vice-Consul, Moshanina, addressed to the Chief of
Staff of the Caucasus Army, General Kartsovo regarding the transfer of
Circassians from Constantinople to the cities of Varna and Samson, and
regarding the behavior of English and the French consuls. In addition to my
previous letters on the number of Circassians arriving and departing from
Trabzon, I sense it is my duty to inform Your Excellency that the early onset
of winter stopped the process of sending the ferries to the Mountaineers, but
in any case and since the last message that I sent, ferries had sailed from
here to bring the Circassians, and 8 ferries arrived having onboard 2000
Circassians, Currently, the Turkish ships have transferred 400 deportees to
Samson and 1000 to Varna. The Turkish Special Commissioner has arrived here to
monitor the deportation process, and instructions have been issued from
Constantinople to allocate two ships (KARI) and (Malakhov) to transfer all
Circassians coming to Varna. The English Consular and Mr. Podaiski are not satisfied
with what is happening and they are criticizing our operations and they are
looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble against me. Steven was able
without much difficulty, to stir the French consular against me, who in turn
has raised a complaint against me to Constantinople, where he accused me of
insulting his private secretary. Then, Steven tried also to incite the Italian
consular against me, which is always drunk, and because of my desire not to
deal with those people, hostile and drunk; I try to stay away from them as much
as possible.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by 8, b
.1114, to .31.
Document 230
10, December, 1863 A copy of the letter of Commander in Chief of the
Caucasus Army, the Great Duke, Mikhail Nikolayevich, addressed to the Minister
of War, Milutin, on the colonization of the Eastern coast of the Black Sea and
to be cleansed of Mountaineers, and its importance for the Russian state. All
correspondences of His Imperial Highness, the Commander in Chief of the
Caucasus Army, have been approved by General - Milutin on December, 1863. The
process of final subjugation of the western Caucasus will be concluded only
when the Eastern Coast of the Black Sea is fully colonized by the Russian
population. And the implementation of this important procedure for the State
will take place in the near future. Our Cossack stations have seized the areas
stretching from the mouth of the Kuban River to the Gulf of Tsemeskoy, but the
coastline, it had been cleansed up the mouth of the River Jodji, and should not
keep the Mountaineer people by next spring, on the rest of the spaces that were
allocated for the settlement of the Cossack population in accordance with the
provisions of the settlement of Western Caucasus, and if external events do not
put obstacles concerning my suggestions, I hope by next summer, to cleanse the
coast to Bzyb River and the implementation of the contents of the general
provisions. In case of the implementation of this plan, there will not be there
a presence for the enemy that can impede the resettlement of our population on
all the area stretching across the coastal strip. At the present time, I cannot
determine the portion of this area, which can be colonized by the arrival of
the year 1864, in addition to determining the number of families to be
permanently re-settled in this part in the year 1865, and in any case, I am
fully convinced that the resettlement of the coastal strip will not take place
the same way that was used for the settlement of the Northern slope of the
Caucasus mountains’ range.
The area of land located between the main peaks of the Caucasus Mountains
range and the sea coast extending at a width of 15 to 40 Ferst. Because of the
slopes and the other mountainous highlands that got lots of narrow valleys,
that contain a lot of nature's bounties, but there are places unsuitable for
cultivation. Under these circumstances, stations cannot be set on the
coastline, such as those areas that we have distributed in the North Caucasus,
thus the nature of the terrain here, imposes to live in the farms. So the
Mountaineers that inhibited these areas had lived. Their villages couldn’t
establish communities of large population, but have set up farms spread across
the valleys. Therefore the way to establish houses must differ and distribution
of land ownership among the individuals who will be resettled within the
coastline from those individuals who will be resettled within the stations that
were built on the Northern slope. Residents of coastal areas cannot live under
the same conditions in which the Cossacks, who settled in the Northern slope
and the plains nearby. On one hand, the mountainous nature of the places near
the coast will be a hindrance for them to herd flocks of horses and other
agricultural necessary matters for Cossacks, and on the other hand, the sea
will always force them to engage in works that are not commensurate with the
nature of Cossack equestrian. The terrain, climate and marine natural products
are all factors that contributed to the development of industrial products
here, which Russia needs more than it needs to increase the number of Cossacks,
and regardless of the measures taken by the government for the settlement of
Cossacks loyal to us in coastal locations, it will not achieve this goal.
While, for making them sailors, and to help them develop their marine skills,
they are only in need for one thing, that is to give them a great deal of
freedom to practice these works and to provide them initially with care. If we
take these things into account, I think it is of necessity to direct
inhabitants of the Eastern coast of the Black Sea in the future to maritime
industries, and to obligate them by Marine Service, and at the same time to identify
the places allocated for the settlement of maritime Cossacks, as well as to
determine their duties and the type of settlers’ work. The Commander of the
Kuban Region forces had been informed of some opinions on this subject in the
previous year in order to provide his opinion on that, but General Baron
Evdokimov, was not satisfied with the nature of the topography of the places
along the coastline which had known before, and believed it was possible to
settle these places on the same foundations that have been followed for the
settlement of the Northern slope, indicating that the settlers in the beginning
until the final expulsion of the enemies “once and for all” they have to
establish a security belt around their military stations, and if the terrain of
the mountainous places does not form an obstacle for the Mountaineers for
riding their horses, that will not prevent the Cossacks from the service in the
Cavalry. Now with the approach of identifying the nature of the terrain of
places and lifestyle of Mountaineers living near the coastline, the General
Commander of the Kuban Region forces has absolutely changed his point of view
on this subject, and requests the following: 1. That when completely done and
cleansing the close areas of the coastline of the Mountaineers, and when
protected from Ubykh side, across Mokupse River or Psezyuape River, through the
establishment of strong scope of security, based on two wings, the first from
the sea side, and the second from the snowy peaks along a distance that does
not exceed 40 Ferst, and it is possible to close the entire strip entirely in
avoidance of attacks and robbery.
2. Territories in the vicinity of the coastline stretching from Gelendzhik
River until our new borders will be divided to land plots, and to be
distributed into private ownership to individuals from different social
classes, taking into account that the Cossack element is not useful for the
development of industrial products in the region, but in case of war, Cossacks
may be a target of hostilities from our enemies, because they are armed, and
that the modern concepts of warfare does not give the right to carry out any
hostile acts if the inhabitants of the region were limited to the civilian
population only.
3. For the future, a resettlement of 3500 families will be carried out,
which was decided in their resettlement in the new military stations, in the
Western Caucasus, on the Northern slope, on the area stretching between
Pshishem River and the Ile River, and therefore, all military stations will be
connected permanently with the areas beyond the Kuban by the Cossack
population, and then to leave the colonization of the territories situated in
the South-west of the Caucasus until the completion of a final resolution of
all matters related to this subject. I have written to Baron Evdokimov to
proceed with the implementation of the first paragraph mentioned in this
proposal, but must also take into consideration the need of not to stop at the
borders of the security scope that has been mentioned, and to commence
cleansing of the territories of the Ubykh people. According to the information
available to us, the majority of this people, and because of the deportation of
the Abzakh, the cannot stay in areas in which they live, even if they wanted to
undergo our demands, because all cattle belonging to the Ubykh are located on
the Northern Slope, which belong to the Abzakh, which is currently located
within the vicinity of the Cossack stations. In winter season, the cattle were
transferred to the territory located in Psekups valley.
Many of the Ubykh families feel powerless, and they have already begun to
move to Turkey, and three or four thousand families who are hostile for us,
have remained on the coast, where intolerance had mounted without assessing the
consequences. And therefore, any administration they will belong to, they will
not change their habits, of robbery and theft, and that would force us to
establish a powerful security scope, not only in the coastal part of the
region, but also in the stations located on the upper slopes of the Northern
mountains. Moreover, in the event of the eruption of foreign war, this
population will form benefit for our enemies and a problem for us. To be able
to cleanse this area, I suggest that we at the end of next April or early in
the month of May, to land troops in Sochi, and from there to attack them, until
meeting the troops of Baron Evdokimov, which would advance from Tuapse side or
from Pseh Zuwa Pseh. In the same time, if circumstances permit, that a third
faction to attack them and to work for establishing roads from Fort Gagri until
reaching the land of Mountaineers. Turning to the second and third paragraphs, presented
by Baron Evdokimov, I agree with the need to link the settlements located on
the Northern slope, with a line of stations on the area stretching between
Pshish River and the Ile River, because of the impossibility of establishing
stations in the areas of the coastline, that have already been awarded to local
communities, as is the case on the North Slope. Are all close areas near the
coastline will be granted for the settlement of the Cossack population, or part
of it will be granted to the civilian population, and here I think it's
important not to keep these areas vacant, and therefore to be resettled if
possible by the armed inhabitants, at least in some critical valleys. Without
this measure, it is not possible to attract the civilian inhabitants over tens
of years. The terrain of the remote places, the lack of communications and the
inability of establishing peace throughout the years, will take long to
convince the peaceful population to resettle in them, even that there is no
doubt that may Mountaineers that had been deported to other locations to return
to it, and to the inaccessible valleys, and because of their stupidity, they
will come back to looting and robbery. As for the Cossack settlements apart
from establishing them as military stations, farms or isolated houses along the
valleys, they will form assurance for the security civilian population, and a
reason to attract them to these places. Therefore, I wrote to Baron Evdokimov,
that settlers, who are numbered approximately 200 or 300 families, should be
granted new land plots in areas that have been cleansed that are close to the
coastal areas, and to allow them to identify the appropriate way to use these
lands. It is useful to us to settle the areas close to the coast by the armed
settlers, to develop trade and maritime industries in those places, and I think
that the candidates for such a settlement can be attracted from: 1. From Azov
Cossack troops, who over the decades had absolutely serviced onboard naval
vessels, including many individuals who were accustomed to service at sea. 2.
Call the sailors who serve in the fleet and their families on the same basis in
which the staff of the Caucasus Army. As those first two landmarks for the Cossacks
living on the coast, and those Cossacks with the passage, and gaining
experience, to go to serve in the Russian fleet. 3. From the Ural forces who
used to catch fish and the individuals who are accustomed to marine life.
Taking into account that the areas near the coastline is not well known to
us, and therefore it can be determined by the spring onset, some of the most
important points for settlement can be identified, so I think over the next
year 1864, 300 families will be resettled, and to postpone the settlement in
large numbers until the year 1865, and until that time, this region should be
explored in details, and if we can work on the development of communications
between its various parts. The settlers who will be resettled in areas near the
coastline will not be bound by the Service in the Cossack Cavalry Corps, but
make them accustomed to service if possible. To achieve this purpose, I think
it is helpful to put them under the command of naval officers appointed by the
Ministry of the Navy, and to be placed at the disposal of the Commander of the
Kuban Region forces and at least three persons.
Additionally, a boat to be allocated to each Cossack military station, in
addition to a neighborhood or a farm located in every valley, when they form
teams of the Cossacks to be educated gradually to serve on board naval vessels.
When choosing the appropriate places for the establishment of settlements, the
places near the sea-shore should be avoided, where the weather is bad due to
the rivers’ sluggish water, while the people who live a distance of one ferst
away from the Coast, they enjoy a healthy weather. At the beginning military
settlements should be settled, and should settle the settlements that are
located in appropriate places and enjoy a naval gulf and an adequate space, for
the establishment of agricultural land, so that during the first years of the
settlement, we do not need the densely populated coast, where we do not face
any danger from our enemies. Later on, fishermen can be resettled to this area
and gradually, and with their help we can help develop the means of maritime
transport at a maximum speed rather than the resettlement of ordinary people.
By informing Your Excellency of my put-forward opinions, to be transferred to
the high command, I ask you if His Majesty deems this appropriate, to be
approved and provide your possible help to engage in its implementation. As for
the administrative divisions of the coastal strip, and the duties of service,
which will be the responsibility of the coast Cossacks, and on the
establishment of a customs line along the Eastern coast, I think it is not
possible to develop an idea about that until the settlement of these areas is
totally completed. -------------------- Government archives - the territory of
Georgia P .416, and by .3, B .216, for .1-8.
Document 231
11, December, 1863 Letter from the Deputy Russian Consular in Trabzon,
Moshanina addressed to the Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General
Kartsovo regarding the activities of the named Hajji Khazpolat, related to the
transfer of the Shabsoughs and on the English consular’s attempts to stop the
deportation. Last week, 1680 Circassian individual were deported to
Constantinople, as well as the arrival of two ferries carrying 400 Circassians,
and three ferries sailed from here to the Caucasian coast to bring the
Circassians, and on board the last ferry left, was the Shabsoughian Hajji
Khazpolat, who I had recommended to the head of Dakhoviskojo detachment, and
the head of Nagorno Kavkas forces, which had on my way rental of 8 ferries for
the transfer of Shabsough. Both the English Consular and Podaiski to stop the
deportation, where they instigate the Pasha and the other consuls by presenting
the serious consequences that can arise due to the spread of diseases during
the spring season. At first, the local Muslim population due to fear of
deportation, they gradually accustomed to this issue and have-rewarded
themselves generously to this sacrifice by owning female slaves, whose prices
declined to a large extent. I have been told that the Pasha has purchased the
most beautiful eight girls and paid 60 or 80 rubles for each. To be presented
as gifts to the Pashas in Constantinople. In any case, it is possible here to
purchase a child aged 10 or 12 years of both sexes at 30 or 40 rubles each, and
the Pasha has worked with the English consul’s advice, where he demanded that
the port authority stops deportation until the arrival of the spring season if
possible. Currently, the number of Circassians living in Trabzon is estimated
approximately between 4 to 5 thousand Circassians.
One of the Poles who is currently staying with the Ubykh, has recently
arrived to Constantinople, that the conditions of the European gangs who are
hanging about with the Ubykh are not going well, to the extent that they are
waiting for the right time to return.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b
.1102, for .2-2 up.
Document 232
12, December, 1863 Message of Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General
Kartsovo, addressed to the Russian Affairs Deputy in Constantinople, Mr.
Novikova pertaining to the conditions of deported Mountaineers. I received your
letter on date 23, November, at the same time that I received a notice from Mr.
Moshanina, containing that the deportation process of the Mountaineers from the
Eastern coast of the Black Sea has reached large numbers, so that has raised
fears among local authorities, which did not understand the reasons for this
phenomenon. But because of those Mountaineers (most of them Shapsoughs), who
didn’t subjugate to us, who are moving from points that we had not yet
occupied, onboard the Turkish ships, our Government cannot and will not assume
responsibility for the consequences and the difficulties currently faced by
Turkish leaderships. The Mountaineers tried to win the sympathy of the Turkish
state and stirring up hostility against the Russians, and their deportation was
due to their awful works, and to avoid the difficulties that could face the
Turkish government due to the deportation of Mountaineers, they introduced two
basic preconditions:
First: to give the government a period of time almost until May in order to
be able to search for places for the resettlement of deported people.
Second: Not to have Constantinople and Trabzon, the only places for the
resettlement of Mountaineers who will be deported. As for the first condition,
we can implement it without difficulty with regard to deportees who have
acknowledged our authority, which will be deported via our ports with numbers
that will not exceed 30 or 35 soles. As for the rebel deportees, who will leave
from points that we did not conquer yet, that our authorities will not be able
to determine their numbers, and not the time that they will leave, because
their departure will be onboard the Turkish ships. If our government desires to
block this departure, the small number of charter vessels and the inappropriate
time of the year, cannot succeed in this task. As for the second precondition,
what is presented forms added difficulty for us, since our local authorities
cannot label or identify the places for the resettlement of Mountaineers in
Turkey, and they cannot give any promises on this matter?
In the conception of Mountaineers, particularly those who were deported
from the coast, the greatness of Turkey and the comfortable life ahead of them
are available in Istanbul and Trabzon, so that every one of them seeks to leave
there. We are confident that our local authorities, does not have the
capability to prevent the displaced to go to Trabzon and Constantinople, and
therefore to determine the places where they will go to, is fully the
responsibility of the Turkish government, and here we have only one interest
and that is not resettle the deported Mountaineers in those places close to our
Caucasian territorial boundaries. I hope to achieve the desire of Your
Excellency, by informing you the details of our future plan of deporting
Mountaineers. But unfortunately, I can only now inform you with regard to our
proposals regarding the Abzakh, because they are the only ones who have
declared their submission, and will be deported from our ports, and aboard our
ships, and their total number ranges from 60 to 70 thousand soles. I think that
at least half of them will decide to move to Turkey, and the rest will be
deported to the plains of the Kuban, and I built this assumption on the basis of
information that I managed to obtain, but our government does not force any one
to leave, and does not force anyone to stay, so it is expected that the
proposed numbers could be possibly changed by the onset of spring. After all,
we are able to issue instructions that deportee Mountaineers will not be
deported from our ports until the commencement of the second half the month of
April, and that is during each month to send a specified number of families,
for example, that does not exceed 4 or 5 thousand families. In any case, the
process of Mountaineers deportation is currently considered the subject of a
priority for us. And if it continues without hindrances, we can hope that
during the next summer the war will end in the Western Caucasus. Therefore, His
Majesty the Emperor asks Your Excellency to use all available means and to
develop the necessary efforts so that the Turkish government cannot put any
obstacles in order to ensure the success of this matter, which depends fully on
your efforts. As for your opinion regarding non-stop of negotiations with the
Turkish government, His Majesty the Emperor fully supports them, and views that
these negotiations are useful if it is possible to buy time until the spring,
where it is expected a final blow to what remains of indigenous rebels. --------------------
Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1096, for .1-2.
Document 233
18, December, 1863 The report of the Acting Charge Affaire of the Russian
Consulate in Varna, directed to the Russian envoy to Constantinople, regarding
the poor conditions of the Circassian deportees who arrived from Trabzon. In
11, December, a ship belonging to the Turkish government has arrived to the port
of Varna, coming from Trabzon. 850 soles of both sexes and children of
anti-Russian Caucasian tribes’ rebels were onboard. On December, 14, another
ship carrying onboard 980 soles of rebel Circassian tribes from the city of
Trabzon. Initially the Turkish authorities received their brothers in religion
with great greetings, for example, when they brought the deported Caucasians to
Varna, weather was cold, so the Turks set fire to several points on the ports’
quayside to warm up their brothers in faith who were frozen because of the
extreme cold. But when the boats started disembarking passengers, who were
naked, barefooted, exhausted, sick and barely alive, and they offloaded about
46 bodies of Circassians who were onboard the ship in a one single night, the
Turks dread feared, wondering (aren’t our new guests who are coming from Asia,
have got infectious diseases!) And they started to treat them in a cold manner,
and Circassians had been placed in the local military barracks at Sinop, and
Trabzon stressed, that there are still 12 thousand remaining Circassians, and
will be brought later on to Varna, and that has bothered the local population,
because the two mentioned ships had sailed back to Trabzon to bring the
remaining deportees. I will inform Your Excellency on any new developments
later on.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b
.1096, for .3-3 up.
Document 234
28, December, 1863 Letter of the Deputy Russian Consular in Trabzon,
Moshanina addressed to Army Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army General
Kartsova, over the number of Circassians who were transported to Varna and
Samson and in regard to their bad conditions. In response to Your Excellency’s
letter No. 7, addressed on date 9, December, which you kindly mentioned
laudatory towards me, by His Majesty the Emperor about my given efforts and
discretionary for the deportation of the Mountaineers from the Caucasus to
Turkey, I hasten to inform Your Excellency that I always try to be as useful as
possible, and currently, I have to double my efforts more. As I have previously
informed you, the majority of the mentioned ferries, were sent to fetch the
Mountaineers. At the present time, the total number of ferries that were sent
from Trabzon to the Circassian coasts is almost 70 ferries, not to mention
those ferries sent from ports near the Circassian coasts. I would like to state
to you here the approximate numbers of deportee Circassians during the previous
two months - November and December: The number of deportees who arrived in the
city of Trabzon and the city of Platania is approximately 10 thousand
deportees. Numbers that have been sent to Constantinople, Samson and Varna: 17,
November 20 persons 19, November 950 persons 01, December 180 persons 05,
December, 1500 persons 07, December, 1000 persons 15, December, 900 persons The
Total 4550 persons The number of deaths with an average of 40 persons per day
2400 persons
The number currently in Trabzon 3150 persons As I informed Your Excellency
earlier, the Turkish government as I know, is pleased with this deportation,
and the port has taken the necessary measures to speed up the deportation of
deportees from Trabzon, and unfortunately, the local governor is a negligent
and careless individual. On his conscience lays the responsibility for
illnesses suffered by the deportees, including typhoid and smallpox. Despite
that, they have sailed across the Black Sea in winter which made them exhausted
of disease, cold and hunger, and did not receive any assistance here, which was
important for local authorities are provided. Rather than locating them in
suitable and good places, near the city, the put them in worn-out tents in the
main square where they are literally drowning in the dirt. Hence caused in the
spread of smallpox, typhoid, that they have suffered constantly. Therefore
appear the tragic statistics of mortality, which ranged between 40-60 persons
per day that is a quarter of the total number of deportees. The bodies of the
dead are buried in a brutal and serious negligence, even though if this
happened in any other country, a criminal complaint would have been pressed against
the local authorities. And here they intentionally bury the dead in the best
Christian neighborhoods, and on this matter, the Pasha responds for the foreign
consuls’ protests that Circassian issue does not interest them. It is obvious
in fact that the issue of these unfortunate people is not of his concern. And
all what he is doing here is just for show-off, for example, he wanted to fix
Erzurum road with only twelve shovels that were brought from Constantinople.
The telegraph communications, they have developed in a manner so bad that at a
distance of one station, which is a distance of 6 hours connection has been
broken in 18 points, and I take the opportunity to inform you that in recent
days, military equipment was brought in for the Anatolia Army for the winter
season. -------------------- The Georgian Central State Historical Archives, f.
416, he said, 3, etc. 1096, p. 1-7.
Document 235
31, December, 1863 The correspondence by General Evdokimov directed to the
Head of Natokhawaj Region, regarding the transportation of the Natokhaway
onboard the Turkish ferries and aid disburse worth 2 rubles per soul (for the
extreme cases only) Stavropol. Depending on Your Excellency’s report of 16,
December No. 2554, I hasten let you know that we do not have chartered ships to
transport the deported Mountaineers, and an agreement has been signed with the
merchant, von Stein and the deputies of the Abzakh People, provided that the
latter secures ferries to transport Abzakh who wish to move to Turkish ports,
for a value of 5 rubles per adult soul (according to the conditions attached
herewith). Under these circumstances, the cost of transporting every adult soul
is allocated by the Treasury for 2 rubles, but remaining value is the
responsibility of the deportee inhabitants. For information, the conclusion of
such an agreement with the merchant von Stein for transporting the Natokhaway to
Turkey, will not give us the desired results, because he is obligated to steer
the ships to several areas to embark the deportees, time to embark onboard
ships for their transportation to new places of residence. I therefore ask you
to take the necessary action, and not to wait for chartered vessels, and to
force the indigenous population of the Natokhaway Region, to start their
leaving to Turkey right away, and if the weather condition is appropriate we
should by all means at our disposal, to contract with the Turkish ferries that
had been known about, assisted by local chiefs and the protection of the ship
owners. As to allow the Natokhaway to hasten take the opportunity to gather
their properties slowly and not in a hurry and go to head to Turkey in stages
until the commence of spring, so that when there is movement of large numbers
of indigenous people, goods prices will be reduced, unlike the prices of
transportation, which will multiply. When transporting the Natokhaway to
Turkey, there should be a attempt to push the Natokhaway to bear the costs of
their transportation at their own expense, so I solicit you to disburse aid
worth 2 silver rubles per adult soul when absolutely necessary, and when a
reason appears to stop the deportation of part of the Natokhaway to Turkey,
then assistance should be disbursed to them. Therefore, I paid special
attention to the provision of funds for aid to the deported indigenous people.
As these amounts are small, and at the same time we need to send a number that
is not insignificant of poor families to Turkey, which is unable to pay any
amounts of money for their transportation.
In the end, I add, that regardless of the progress of the deportation of
Natokhaway to Turkey on board ferries, you will be able to invite merchant von
Stein and reach a deal with him with special conditions for the deportation of
that portion of Natokhaway, who do not have the ability to move to Turkey at
their own expense until the spring, and this agreement could be reached with
better conditions for the Abzakh, because the ships coming from Kirsch to load
the deportees, are closer to Anapa or Konstntinovskaya from the side of the
mouth of Tuapse River. At the conclusion of the agreement, Natokhaway must
depend on own resources and not on the special assistance from the Treasury,
which, as mentioned above can be used in extreme cases. Overall, the
deportation on board ferries will be more profitable than to leave on board the
ships. -------------------- Government Archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325,
and by .1, B .301, for .1144, .152 web web.
Document 236
Year 1863
With respect to the Circassians’ free transportation of Turkey. In case a
possibility has developed new conditions for the agreement with Russian marine
and commercial shipping companies to transfer all Abzakh and Shabsough wishing
to move to Turkey from the Gulfs of Galindjiskoy and Novorasesskoy on board
ferries at the expense of the Treasury, so it is likely that most of the rebels
would show their interest in free departure and they will leave their homeland
without a fight. Russian companies are currently charging 4 rubles per person
for the transfer of Mountaineers, but if they reduce this price, it would have
annual expenses that were allocated from the annual budget for this purpose,
inexpensive, and the best reward was to speed up the end of the war.
-------------------- Government archives - the Krasnodar region, P .325, and by
.1, b .301.
Document 237
In the year 1863 Submissions
presented to the Emperor by the Deputy of the Caucasus during the Emperor’s
stay in the Crimean Peninsula. By the end of the year, in the Kuban Region, on
the Northern side of the Caucasus Mountains’ range that we have fully occupied:
All territory had been evacuated from the Mountaineers, from the East side as
far as Pshish River, and from in the West, from Anapa River as far as Ile
River, and the area between Ell river as far as Shepsh River, but had not yet
established military stations. And the area between Geybshem River and Shepshem
River across the front lines along psheshskoy, reaching to Fort Gregorveskojo
in an area of approximately 50 Ferst remained in possession of Mountaineers.
The Northern strip of this area, which is near the Kuban River, it is occupied
by the Bjadogh tribe that had been subdued, but in the remaining part of this
area, reaching the main chain of the Caucasus Mountains, the Abzakh that have
not been subjected yet, have gathered there. The topography of the places here,
do not create any difficulty for us, in comparison with those encountered near
the Beloy River and Bshekheh River, they are open areas and mountain slopes are
exposed.
The slope that is located South-east of the mountainous range, we have
cleansed and we colonized part of the southern coast, from the mouth of the
Kuban River until reaching Gelinjika River, along the extension of more than
100 Ferst, sll the way to the borders of the Ubykh territories and remained 120
Ferst, we did not settle, and to subdue the rebel regions permanently, there
are 4 main military faction working on that: 1. Dakhovski Faction from Jeymana
Regiment – Battalion 12 are constructing a road from the headwaters of the
Bshekheh River to the headwaters of the Bshesheh River, so to be able to climb
through the valleys of these two rivers or the course of one of them, to the
slope down towards the Tuapse River. Currently it is difficult to determine the
time required for this faction to carry out its mission. If it could do that
before the commencement of winter, and completed the construction of the road
across the tops of the mountain range, and attainment the headwaters of the
Tuapse River, it will get by the spring to the sea coast. 2. Bshekhski Faction,
from Grabi Regiment – of the 12th Battalion, is working to construct road and
to build barriers from Teverskoy station towards, and moves in the coming days
towards Pseh Kobseh River, in the center of the Abzakh rebel areas, and will
work to cleanse the area of the inhabitants, and will build protection walls
and barriers, and to build roads to connect the stations with each other. And
can confidently say that by the commencement of winter, Areas will be cleansed
of all insurgent inhabitants; living on the Northern slopes of the mountain
range, and will be expelled from there. But we will gain ultimate control over
these areas, only when military stations would be built on this area, and until
then, if hostile residents remained in these areas, there will always hanging
around and groups hiding in the forest. 3. Shibski Faction – of 10th Battalion
of Gregorveskojo Regiment (Baron Eliston - Soma Rokauf), is working on
constructing an upper road, across Shibskomo Valley and should reach by the
commencement of winter to the mouth of Gepy River.
4. Adaghom Faction – 6 battalions are working to construct a road from
Ervanskoy Station across Mezba Valley slope, and by controlling Galinjek, the
road in the direction of Bshadeh River will be continued to construct, in
parallel to the sea coast that cleans the coastal areas of the Shabsough
inhabitants. We must hope that by the spring that the two other factions will
clear the entire area located in south-west of mountainous slope of the
Caucasus, until Gelinjika River, down to Gopy River. When this objective is
achieved, only then the rest of the Shabsough population of Caucasian, who were
crammed into the area located on the south-western slope between Goboy River
and Sobashi River, who are threatened by the military forces on one hand, which
will continue to move along the Bank until reaching Gopy River, and on the
other hand the Dakhovski Faction, that is ready to go to Tuapse River, where
They will not be able to resist us. In such cases, the troops that have been
landed from the sea side will have the final effect on the course of the war.
At the present time is difficult to determine location that landing will be
used for, so, Jeyman Faction has encountered a difficulty in road construction
by the commence of spring, it will be too far from the coast, and then it would
be best to carry out the landing at Tuapse River, and to go from the coast to
be met. If the manouvers of this Faction was successful, it would need a
support from the landing troops which in this case, landing should take place
in Sochi, and take the fight to Ubykh territories, who have not yet experienced
until now the actual power of our weapons, who form the main seed of the
aggressive direction against us, in support for their neighboring peoples. The
settlement of the strip, which we have annexed, it forms for us and without
doubt a difficulty, and moreover, the indigenous people residing on these
areas, are unlikely to easily agree to move into the plains of the Kuban,
therefore we should expect fierce resistance by them, but it is on the other
hand, that fact would ease on us, that we will not have to set up many stations
and construct many roads, as happened on the Northern slope of the mountainous
range, where bordering of the Mountaineers had forced us to be careful, and to
establish military stations in a manner supportive of each other. But whatever
the difficulties we face when occupying the large coastal areas, they are not
comparable to the difficulties that we experienced previously, so we do not
have in any way to withdraw from the set plan of occupying the east coast by
the Russian military stations, even if the Mountaineers declared their
submission to us and without conditions. And the recent negotiations with the
Abzakh have proved to us once again, that it is not possible to rely on the
conditions or agreements with these peoples. It is enough that we allow, two or
three adventurers to spread silly rumors, then they will forget the agreement,
but for those who decided to immigrate to Turkey, they have sold their
livestock, and they arrived to the coast, then they carried arms again, and
they did not just forget their promises, but the horrors of war also, that
forced them to leave their homeland. -------------------- Government Archives -
Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1176, for .1-3 up.
Document 238
The year 1863 Project of General Command of the Army concerning the
construction of 11 new military stations in the year 1863 in the East coast of
the Black Sea. Shabsougsky Regiment 1. Abinskaya Military Station, 250
families. 2. Shabsougskaya Station (near Nikolai military Fort) 150 families.
3. Ayrevainscia station (in the upper Abena River) 200 families. 4. Bshedskaya
Station (on the side of Bshade River) 150 families. 5. Bshadeski District (the
coastal side at the mouth of Bshade River) 50 families. 6. Bojondrndreskaya
Station (in the mountains) 250 families. 7. Antkhrrskaya Station (at the
course) 250 families.
8. Khableskaya Station (at the Khabel River’s course) 275 families. 9.
Grozneskaya Station (near Khabel River, in the mountains) 200 families 10.
Glendeskaya Station 100 families. 11. Kabardenskaya Station 100 families. These
families should be resettled immediately.
The total number of families who are residing in the stations affiliated to
Shabsougsky Regiment is 1875 families. To the side of Belwi River - Regiment 26
1. Kordjeskaya Military Station (by 22 Ferst of Maykup in the central of the
Korjepseh River) 200 families). 2. Dagestanskaya Station (in the upper
Korjepseh River) 175 families. 3. Bshekhskaya Station (200 families have been
resettled). 4. Kubanskaya Station (in upper Bshekheh, a distance of 8 Ferst)
200 families. 5. Abshirawenukaya Station (on Bshekheh River) 250 families. 6.
Samorskaya Station (on Bshekheh River, on the same elevation with Kordji River)
250 families. 7. Berioskaya Station, (half the distance between Kardzhinskoyo
and Smorskoyo) 175 families. 8. Jabokayveskaya Station (near Pedsheh River,
then to settle in it) 200 families. 9. Bjadoghskaya Station (on the border
between the Abzakh and the Bjadogh) 200 families. 10. Bsheleskaya Station (near
the Bshesheh River) 250 families. The total of households in the stations
affiliated to the Regiment (26) 2100 families. The total of households in the
stations attached to both battalions 3975 families. Note: It is necessary to
take into consideration that in the year 1863, there will be 3236 families of
the officers, Rural Police, and Cossack families to be settled, and in
particular 26 families, of the Kuban Cossack Forces officers’ families, 4
families from the Azovskojo Cossack Forces, 137 families of the Caucasus army
military personnel, Dunskojo Cossack Forces 533 families, Kubanskojo Cossack
Forces 962 families, Governmental farmers 1000 families, according to the
instructions of the General Command, Azovskojo Cossack Forces 502 families,
Fishermen of government’s peasants, who have applied to General Command of the
Kuban Region’s Forces, and they have a permission 33 families, the peasants
instigated against the Dunskojo Forces 3 families.
The total 3236 families settlers in addition to the settlers mentioned
above, there will be fishermen (or hunters) who have filed a requisition to the
Kuban Region Forces Command to join the Cossacks’ category in the new stations,
and the fishermen (or hunters) who will come from the various categories of the
empire’s society until the date of August 1, 1863. Commander in Chief of the
Kuban Region’s Forces
(Signature) -------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and
by .3, B .250, for up .4-4.
Document 239
5 January 1864 The letter of the Commander in Chief of the Caucasus Army,
Great Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich, addressed to the Minister of War Milutin, in
regard to providing possible assistance to the sailors who wish to settle in
the Eastern coast of the Black Sea. After the end of the Crimean War, there are
large numbers of retired sailors and their families residing in the city of
Stavropol and the city of Nikolayev, and they do not have savings or work. For
the importance and necessity to accelerate the process of settlement in the
coast line by inhabitants that have the knowledge of how to deal with the sea,
and knowledge of maritime affairs, and over time the possibility to avail
individuals able to work in the navy. I kindly request from Your Excellency to
provide the possible support to bring in individuals willing to settle the
Eastern coast of the Black Sea from the families of the retired sailors who
have children, and if their families are without children, then the members of
these families must not be very old. And whoever declares his wish to settle
the Caucasus, must be present in Fort Constantine at the end of May 1864, and
could be brought onboard government vessels or the vessels belonging to the
Russian companies, as for the cost of transportation and feeding them during
the process of transportation, will be disbursed that from the amounts that
have been allocated from the capital of the Administration of the Black Sea
Region earmarked for the construction of rural houses for sailors working near
the city and the cities of Nikolayev and Stavropol, therefore who have the
desire to move to the Caucasus, there will be the need to build new houses for
them. As for the government departments in the Caucasus, in addition to
granting lands to settlers, they would present them with aids, rights and
privileges mentioned in provisions related to settling the plains of the Western
regions of the Caucasus Mountains. I request from Your Excellency to let us
know the orders of His Majesty the Emperor.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B
.221, for .1-2.
Document 240
9, January, 1864 Letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon, Moshanina
addressed to General Kartsovo on progress regarding the deportation of the Circassians
and concerning the epidemic that has spread among them and attempts to England,
France and Italy to stop deportation, and regarding the transfer of and the
Circassians, the Poles and the Russians. I had the honor of getting through the
previous mail, Your Excellency’s letter dated 10, December, No. 13, and I
hasten to thank you for the attention you gave to my letters. That the winter
we faced this year, and according to the talk of the ancient inhabitants, we
have not seen since 1810, and this matter had slowed the communications with
the Caucasus, and communications were completely cut off with the inland
provinces, in spite of that, the deportation of the Circassians is going on,
but slowly, and in the previous days 4 ferries had arrived, carrying onboard,
about 750 persons from the Abzakh and the Shabsough. According to information I
received from the Turkish coasts, that approximately 100 ferries had sailed
from several small ports to bring deportees, in addition to 50 to 60 ferries
had sailed from Trabzon, so with the return of good weather we are awaiting the
arrival of several thousands of the Mountaineers. For this reason my English,
French and Italian colleagues are not satisfied and are trying by all means to
stop the deportation. Because of the narrow and awful houses, diseases such as
typhoid and smallpox have spread among Mountaineers, and local authorities feared
the spread of diseases and due to the instigation of our enemies, deportees
have been placed for a period of 15 days in quarantine. This move itself is a
good thing, that is if the objective was good, and not for the instigation
against us. Because of our success in the Caucasus, another reason had been
added to the mentioned above, that is the fear of the Persian transit, which
went to Tbilisi instead of Erzrom. Hence, the new plots to create 15 days of
quarantine for the Deportee Caucasians. I declared my protest on this matter,
and I do not know what they would reach in Constantinople, and I hope that Your
Excellency would comfort me about Mr. Kichmicheva, that I don’t know any news
about him or about Kavasi, and I do not know where they spent the winter. Here
we have 17 or 18 of our Polish soldier-deserters, who came along with the
Circassians; some of them have come to me hoping for amnesty, and declared
their intention to return to their homeland. During this time there have been
no problems, and at the same time, the Polish fraudster Mr. Bodaiski and the
other adventurers, have tried to dissuade them from returning, and I tried hard
to gather them all day long, but I did not find any one of them; Some of them
are sick and some others do not wish to return, and I have sent on board one of
the ships that had recently sailed, three Russian citizens, who were able to
escape from captivity to General Chatilovo in the city of Sukhumi Calais. With
great respect for you personally, and the absolute loyalty, I have the honor to
greet you. Note: Today in the bazaar, a rumor was circulated, that our army was
trapped in the mountains stuck between the snow, and without supplies.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114,
for .1-1 up.
Document 241
11, January, 1864 Requisition the acting Russian government’s Charge
Affaire in Constantinople, Novikova directed to the Chief of Staff of the
Caucasus army Kartsovo, on the outcome of talks with Fuad Pasha. I was honored
to receive Your Excellency’s letter dated 10, December, No. 14, on the
resettlement of Mountaineers in Turkish territory. For my part I believe it is
my obligation to convey to Your Excellency a copy of my urgent letter directed
to the Vice-Chancellor on January 7, No. 3, on my talks with His Excellency the
Minister on this subject. The most important to know of all mentioned above, that
I used all the arguments stated in Your Excellency’s letter, referred to above
in my talks with Fuad Pasha. --------------------
Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1097, for .3.
Document 242
13, January, 1864 Letter of the Commander in Chief of the Kuban Army, Major
General Zablodskojo, directed to Lieutenant Colonel Chirkisova, with a summary
report concerning the discussions in regard to the financial aids to the
deportee Mountaineers to the plains or to Turkey, all of them being poor and without
exception. Further to your letter dated 31, December, of last year, under
number 3048, I inform you that 10,000 rubles mentioned in the letter of Chief
in staff of the Caucasus Army, No. 1532, was placed at the disposal of
Lieutenant General Kartsova, according to the letter dated 28, December, 1862,
No. 2827, for the disbursement as aid to the indigenous population who have
been subjected, provided that the disbursement of these funds are done in a
proper way and for the poorest families. Lieutenant General Baron Evdakimov
aware that 10 thousand rubles is not enough to meet the needs of all deportees,
for they are all, without exception, are poor and needed the attention of the
command, and the leaders of the indigenous people suggested that they will be
given assistance from the Treasury, but the money will remain in the Treasury
and would be dispersed in case of emergency cases only, and the proposal No.
159, of Lieutenant General had been approved on 17, January, of last year. Same
year, 1863, the order of His Majesty the Emperor, had reached the Commander in
Chief of the mentioned army, through the requisition of Major-General Kartsova
of 5th of May, No. 874, on disbursing aids to the Natokhaway and Shabsoughs who
are heading to Turkey for not more than 10 rubles per family, but without
clarifying the source that these aids would be disbursed through. Duke Nikolai
Ivanovic (Evdokimov) had ordered to disburse aids to the Mountaineers that are
deported to Turkey, from the amounts that have been adopted to assist
indigenous people who have been subjected, because experiences have proven that
the indigenous people who have been subjected, are in need of supplies and do
not in need for the money, and these supplies were remunerated in small
quantities that can protect them from the scourge of hunger for several days
only.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, B
.148, for up .1-2.
Document 243
January, 1864. An urgent message
from Constantinople, concerning to the deportation process. The information
sent by me in 11, January, 1864, under No. 16, to Our Charge D'affaires in
Constantinople, has led me to discuss the matter directly with the Chief of
General Staff, and conveyed to him all the information related to the
deportation of new deportees (where the information on the deportation of the
Mountaineers to Turkey, has a special importance for the military commandants
in the Caucasus). After the implementation of the orders of the Russian affairs
deputy in Constantinople, so it honors me to add to the Chief of General Staff
that in 20, January, and in addition to the mentioned ferries, the Turkish
ferry landed 370 soles of the Mountaineers in Varna, and yesterday
(Shakhiki-Dyrya) ferry had arrived to Varna, with also 800 souls onboard.
Before the arrival of the ferry, which sailed yesterday, the local quarantine
department had received a message from Trabzon that included information about
the sail of the ferry towards Varna and all 800 soles are infected. Therefore,
and at the arrival of the ferry, the director of quarantine in addition to the
doctor had prevented the landing of the infected Mountaineers. But the local
mayor had opposed these instructions and ordered the boats to go to the ferry
and unload all the Mountaineers right away, and that what has been implemented.
But when the boats arrived to the coast and began disembarking inflected
Mountaineers, he was keen and unrelenting that they don’t mingle with the local
population, so they transferred them immediately to the military barracks.
Because all deportees, and although they are infected with different
diseases: typhoid, scabies, and winter fever, and all of them are naked and
barefooted, the local Turkish authorities have ordered to prepare old military
clothes and to be delivered to them, which were sent from Constantinople. But
these precautions did not help solve their tragedy, as the Mountaineers arrive
here in a state of chaos and bad health. They will be placed in empty, humid
and dirty military barracks and the rooms in poor condition and not equipped
with stoves and without appropriate windows. The Mountaineers reside away from
the city, and in the wild. With physician comes once a day and in result,
illness spread very quickly, where deaths have reached from 12 to 20 daily, and
after the weather became warm, those who are in acceptable physical condition,
were allowed to go to the city, and the Pasha accompanied by the doctor have
started visiting them often. The orders were given to send the cured families
to homes allocated to them in the nearest residential community. There is fear
of the merger by the both Turks and Christians, because of the experience that
they have experienced due to the deportation of the Tatars to Turkey in the
years 1860 and 1861, and they view with dismay to their new guests. In one
word, the fate of Caucasian Mountaineers is very sensitive in Turkey.
--------------------
Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1096, for .3-4
Document 244
30, January, 1864
Letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon, Moshanina addressed to the
Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General Kartsovo, in regard to plots of
the English Consul Stevens, and concerning the establishment of a quarantine of
15 days, and on the transfer of Circassians from the Caucasus to Varna. In my
letter, dated 22, November, I had the honor to inform you that the English
Consul, Mr. Stevens, has held a meeting of all consuls at his headquarters, in
order to converse about the deportation of Circassians. The objective of this
meeting was to present support to Mr. Padayski – and those who support him - in
order to halt the deportation process referred to above. Even though the
consuls’ meeting did not reach to the result he wanted, Mr. Stevens and his
associates, a phrase was written in the meeting’s protocol proposed by the
French consul, stating the establishment of 4-5 days quarantine, and not only
for the Circassians, but also for the ferries and their crews who brought the
Circassians, because of that the Turkish government until now, had included
deportee Circassians only quarantine, and excluded the ferries and their crews
and even the Circassians who arrived through Russia auth rizations to do
business. No one had paid any attention to this sentence that it deserves, as
some of my colleagues did not understand its purpose and others did not want to
understand this goal. This suggested measure that was suggested, had not been
implemented, and that did not satisfy the English and the French Consuls.
Shortly thereafter, a rumor was published, that the plague had appeared in the
vicinity of the city of Macon between the Kurds among the Jilali Tribe, and one
of the most supporters of this rumor, was the Italian consul, who was residing
at his home at the time, the Pole who was called Podayski. Despite the fact
that these rumors had not been officially confirmed, they arrived to
Constantinople in an exaggerated manner, as a result of that, a quarantine of
15 days has been established on the Persian border, where commercial convoys
pass. Not too long ago, traders expressed their resentment of the poor
condition of Erzurumskoy road, in addition to the thefts which they are exposed
to, in recent time, and their dissatisfaction about the 2% imposed tax on
the value of the goods, in addition to including them in the quarantine of
15 days, and as a result they had to send their goods through the city of
Tbilisi.
When Mr. Stevens annoyance had reached alarming level, in conjunction with
the French consul he convinced the Pasha to take the necessary measures to
prevent the transfer of goods through Georgia. There is nothing left for them
except only one solution, which is the establishment of a quarantine for the
whole Caucasus Region, and that is what they got to, and resulted in consequent
establishment of a quarantine through the intrigues and conspiracies for all
the products coming from the areas extended from Anapa to Batumi, and from
Batumi to the Persian borders, on the grounds that Russia did not establish a
quarantine for the Persian products, and I will not mention all the irrational
measures, where it is worth to look at the map to make sure that the transfer
of these products are not related to the city of Macon which is suspected the
spread of plague there. In any case, the purpose of these measures, to achieve
two goals: in Constantinople, they wanted to force the traders to transport the
Persian goods via Erzurumskoy Road again, and in Trabzon, in addition to the
first goal, they wanted to stop the process of Circassians’ deportation. For
the first goal, the Turkish government had erred calculations, because the
traders prefer to keep the goods for 15 days in quarantine in Batumi under the
supervision of our agent and the Deputy of our consul, rather to keep them on
the Persian borders, where they may be exposed to looting. For the second goal,
Mr. Stevens and his colleagues, they tried to stop the process of deportation,
as a result, the ferries and their crews, and the deportee Circassians are subject
to a quarantine of 15 days, and that will lead to higher ferries’ rental value
terms. All these machinations and the intrigues of my colleague consuls,
involved to show their good intentions, for example, their desire to protect
Turkey from infectious diseases brought by the Circassians from an infected
country. at the same time, all know here that Circassians are brought to Turkey
in good health, and that was confirmed to me by one of the doctors of the quarantine
and the Prussian consul, during my talk with both of them, as they get the
typhoid infection here, due to malnutrition and dirty places of residence. As
far as I know, Mr. Stevens was the only consul, that didn’t file a complaint
against the Pasha on this subject, and it confirms to expose his intentions, in
the end I have the honor to inform you that ing 1000 Circassians to ), for
transportCarréyesterday, a ferry had arrived here (Varna, and today, 10 ferries
have arrived from the Circassian coast lines, which had 1500 persons onboard,
and with the improvement of weather, the ferries sailed again to bring
Circassians. As for the typhoid, it is truly widespread here especially among
Circassians and Armenians. With my sincerity, and loyalty for Your Highness,
and I have the honor to serve you. -------------------- Government Archives -
Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114, for .2 _4.
Document 245
14, February, 1864. From the messages of the Russian Consul in the Turkish
city of Yanin, on the resettlement of the Caucasian Mountaineers away from the
Russian borders. In response to the information regarding the bad conditions
for one thousand Circassian families deported to the city of Epirus , I
received an order three months ago from His Imperial Highness, the Commander of
the Caucasus Army, to head to the ports, and to work to facilitate the
resettlement of Caucasian Mountaineers in the Turkish Empire, that’s because we
are waiting by the arrival of next spring, deportees in large numbers, tens of
thousands of Abzakh, and in Constantinople and Varna, up to 17 of Shabsoughs, and that under the conditions
of
deportation, we have to verify the readiness of the ports, to achieve the
desire of our Caucasus leadership, that we offer the Turkish government, to
choose the places that deems appropriate for the resettlement of the deportees,
and not to obstruct its fair instructions for administrative grounds, such as
those mentioned in your letter. Where Mountaineers settled between Christians,
they constitute a significant burden on the country and the local population.
On the other hand, it is in our interest that Muslim Mountaineers are not
resettled between their brethrens in faith of the local population, where they
can become a significant force and in large numbers, and anti-Christians, and
not to be resettled in the Christian areas in Turkey, adjacent to our borders.
--------------------
Archive Main - St. Petersburg, 1-9. Web .8, b .19, l .19
Document 246
21, February, 1864 Letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon
Moshanina, addressed to the the chief of General Staff of the Caucasus Army,
General Kartsovo, on the subject of the numbers of deportees, and the
machinations of the English and Italian diplomats for the aim of stopping the
deportation, and about the epidemic among Circassians. I take the opportunity
to inform Your Excellency that the progression of Mountaineers deportation is
going on successfully, despite the obstacles that we face. Since sending my
last letter, four thousand deportees have arrived here, and 700 people out of
them were deported to Samson, but the remaining, they have been resettled in
the vicinity of Trabzon, and inside the city. And currently their total number
has reached in the cities of Reese and Platini approximately 9 thousand, and
thus the total number of deportees from the month of November until the present
time amounted to 20 thousand. We have sent two ferries to bring the
Mountaineers, so that we will not miss the opportunity of disabling the
quarantine of 15 days, and secret instructions had been given to the ferries
for the transfer of goods to Batumi, Sukhumi and other places, and from there,
after offloading the goods, to head to the places where Mountaineers are, to
transport them. As for the Turkish ship (Khadasti - Boukri), I have not
finished with them yet because of the maneuverings of our enemies, since they
were not supplied with coal to sail to our shores. And I hope to resolve this
matter for our interest. If this matter succeeds, I think we can count on
transporting 15 thousand individuals during the summer. In the end, other
ferries will follow, where I heard that there are those who want to bring small
ferries from Constantinople. I do not know what the Turkish government is going
to do with the deportees, as it is paying large sums of money that are being
mishandled. That the mountaineers as I stated previously to Your Excellency,
were crammed in their homes and as a result, diseases had spread among them,
such as typhoid and smallpox, which sustained the local population, but for us
living in Trabzon, it a punishment from God. The city, which was previously
clean, has become dirty and contaminated in a short time, so that we cannot get
out of our homes. The Pasha has received a stern notice from Constantinople,
but he didn’t implement any of the orders he received from Constantinople.
Since he got the Majidi medal of first Class in his last trip to
Constantinople, he scoffs of all orders which he receives. I would inform you
that we are waiting for the arrival of a member of a Committee in Constantinople,
in the name of Barutse, an inspector in the Department of quarantine. As for
the Polish machinations in Trabzon, it seem to have reached an end as the Polish
called Padayski has gone to Constantinople, his properties were sent after him,
and his horse was sold, his associates were disbursed, while a room in the
French Hotels was left rented in his name, but another Polish reside in it, and
maybe he did that in order to disguise his departure, so he departed without
saying goodbye to anyone. Mr. Bouzyo, the Italian Consul was faithful to him
for the last moment, despite assurances given by the Italian envoy in Constantinople,
to our envoy that Italy will does not and will never allow such manipulation,
and it appears that Mr. Bouzyo wanted for himself, to create an important
status in case he succeeded in supporting Mountaineers’ resistance, but
currently, he says that Mountaineers (dastardly and sour people), and cannot
rely on them at all. A few days ago, Colonel Shtraker has arrived here, coming
from the Arzinjana, which I mentioned in my prior correspondence to Mr.
Bataizatomo. According to the assertions of this officer, the Turkish army does
not prepare for war, nor there do any intended future preparations, so he has
been granted two weeks leave. Mushir Mustafa, who accepts only the fur gifts
and sends them to Constantinople, a person is not qualified and was substituted
with Darwish Pasha, who recently arrived from Herzegovina. Shtraker told me
that there is a rumor that had spread in the Turkish Army, that our Russian
troops is gathering in Alexandra-Pole and we are preparing for war, so it's not
wise to transfer the command of the Turkish Army to Erzurum as planned earlier.
According to the words of Mr. Shtraker, the Turkish troops fear war.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114,
for .5, 4.
Document 247
4, March, 1864 Letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon, Moshanina,
addressed to the Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, General Kartsovo, in
regard to the Turkish ferry (Khedasti Bahri), and in regard to interventions by
the French Consul in the deportee Mountaineers’ issue, in order to prolong the
time of their resistance against Russia and in regard of the poor conditions of
the deportees. I managed yesterday the Turkish ferry that is called (Khadaste -
Bahri) to the city of Sukhumkala, where it will go from there to bring the
deportees. The process of sending the ferry had been strongly opposed by the
local Turkish authorities, most notably by the French Consul who resides here,
which currently has a strong influence on the Pasha. Because of the intrigues,
no one got the desire to supply this ferry with cool, in case it headed to
fetch Circassians, therefore I made a request General - Mayor Shatilova to
provide the ferry with fuel at the expense of the commercial centers that
belong to our stations, that in the absence of the impossibility of supplying
fuel for the ferry in Sukhumi by the traders, because I think that sending the
ferry would participate in speeding up the deportation of Mountaineers,
especially that citizens of the Russian dependence are considered part of the
agreement, which was held with the owner of this ferry and this in itself is a
guarantee for the success of the process and our objectives, and if this is not
enough fuel, we will make arrangements to bring it from Constantinople, and to
dispatch the journey from here to Sukhumi and Tuapse, I have managed to avail a
sufficient quantity of coal from a Prussian trader. What I think that it can
explain the reason of the French Consul’s interventions in the process of
deportation, for the purpose of keeping the Mountaineers as much as possible on
the East Coast of the Black Sea in order to resist us. And if we read Mr. Chevera’s
(the French Consul) article carefully, we will see that the French wish the
continuity of the Circassian resistance, in addition, we should remember that
part of the Poles still living with Ubykh. In any case, the Turkish authorities
are still under cold-blooded consideration towards deportation process of the
Circassians, and now they are afraid of this deportation, or pretending
apprehension, and they are trying indirectly to send ferries. However, since
the last message that I sent to Your Excellency, there are 37 ferries have
sailed again, and presently the numbers of deportees who are here have
decreased to seven thousand, due to sending approximately two thousand
Mountaineers to Varna and Samson. I have notified Your Excellency and through
my previous letters that due to the negligence of the Turkish Government during
its processing of housing for the deportee Mountaineers, it led to the spread
of typhoid among the deportees on a large scale, so the doctors of quarantine
management and the majority of consuls have hastened to inform the Pasha about
the adverse consequences that can result by the failure of the local authorities
to take necessary measures to prevent the spread of diseases that spread
rapidly among the local population of Trabzon. As a result of a complaint filed
against the Pasha in Constantinople, which is a fair complaint, the authorities
in Constantinople, have sent Prof. Dr. Barutse and was authorized with much
authorities, it seems that the authorities took the opinions of the consuls,
according to my knowledge, they have received their orders from their embassies
in cooperation with Mr. Barutse, and they cooperated with one another to
influence the Pasha. It seems that Mr. Barutse had done so in the beginning,
but because he is a French citizen, he decided foremost, to have the advice of
the French Consul, who in turn persuaded him by the latter not to take the
opinion of others.
A week had elapsed since the arrival of Mr. Barutse, and he devotes all his
time to meet with the Pasha and Mr. Chaver, avoiding getting to know others,
and the first action he adopted was to prevent the spread of diseases, is to
deport all Circassians outside the city, and he gave orders to stop bringing
Circassians to Trabzon. I think that this action has been directed against us.
Mr. Chever fears more than any other person, the death of the French fear of
the onset of typhoid, and he has filed a complaint against the Pasha as he
feels it is his duty, but now it seems that he is protecting the Pasha. When
the Pasha had received a reprimand from Constantinople for neglect, he sent a
request to all consuls, he requested to send two deputies from each one of them
to meet him, to discuss the measures that must be taken regarding the
deportees, and for his desire not to hold responsibility. As far as I know, the
Italian Consul, ordered his deputies to keep silent in this meeting, as for the
French and English consuls, they did not send their deputies and replaced them
by their assistants of Turkish citizenship, who were not ashamed during the
meeting of Council to look in the eyes of the Pasha and praise him, and told
him that after all what he has done for the mountaineers, there is nothing left
to be done for them or for the city. In this case, the meeting adjourned
without reaching any result. As for the behavior Chaver, Some clarify that he
wanted to get satisfying the Pasha and to achieve a Turkish award, and some
attributed that to his ambition of his government’s blessing.
In any case, we can only aspire that the Mr. Barutse will do a good job. As
for sending ferries to fetch the Circassians, I am sure that we will succeed to
send all means of transportation available in Trabzon, which is not
inconsiderable number. The so-called (not clear for the translator) of
Hungarian nationality, who participated in the revolution of 1849, who holds a
Colonel rank, has arrived here yesterday from Constantinople onboard a Russian
ferry, and now presents himself on the grounds that he is a doctor (Podaiski
introduced himself this way as well).
I will monitor the movement of this so-called closely, and in case I learn
anything about him I will inform Your Excellency right away.
And yesterday General Mustafa Pasha has arrived here from Arzangan, who is
from Bosnia-Herzegovinian origin, who was replaced, and who could have a bright
future since his youth, but he showed inefficiency when he was commander of a
division in the army. He was replaced by Darwish Pasha, Commander of the
Reconnaissance Division in Herzegovina, who has not arrived yet. Note: I just
received information about the arrival of seven ferries during night time, with
four thousand Circassians onboard. The Quarantine Administration by the request
of Mr. Barutse has barred them from disembarkation, and then the ferries headed
to Aksha Calais. On top of that, Mr. Barutse has insisted to the Pasha not to
allow the ferries to bring the Circassians into here, and to be sent
immediately to Varna, and of course the ferries do not want an adventure of
long trip to that limit, so Mr. Chaver was able to achieve his goal to stop the
deportation. I had predicted the occurrence of these difficulties in the past,
when I had to suffer to send these ferries to bring the Mountaineers, so I
negotiated with my consul colleagues, as I thought it would be useful for the
Mountaineers and the Turkish government to send large ships to bring up the Mountaineers,
and the Pasha had shared this view with others against his will, I think that
what encouraged him to do so is the financial considerations, where the
deportation process will bring him a significant financial advantages. Now,
when he is placed in a difficult situation between the harassment of Mr.
Barutse on one hand, and clean up the city from the Mountaineers on the other
hand, in addition to the desire of the Sultan to deport them from Trabzon, the
Pasha, as it is said had written to Constantinople to send large ships to
transport the Mountaineers directly from the Circassian coasts to Varna. I will
convey immediately to Your Excellency the new developments.
-------------------- Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114,
for .8-10
Document 248
4, March, 1864 A letter by General Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich, addressed to
the Minister of War regarding the completion of settlement of mountain slopes,
and on the success of the Dokhoskoju and Dakobeskoju Battalions’ operations.
Handwriting on the document Written by His Majesty Signed Lt. Gen. Milutin 14,
March. I hope that Your Excellency would kindly convey to His Majesty the
Emperor, that the task entrusted to the Caucasus Army on the settlement of
foothills of the Western part of the Caucasus Mountains has been successfully
concluded. As the area from the Northern slope until Labe River, and the
Southern slope from the Kuban until the former Fort VellamenusKoju had been
cleansed of the hostile population to us. The large Shaparov tribe with the
exception of that part of them who were deported to the Kuban has moved to
Turkey. The Abzakh were pressed by the military stations of the Cossacks, and
were separated from the mountains by factions of our military, which they are
in a situation that they cannot respond to our demands, and during the month of
February, they have left their villages to the last person with their families
and their properties to the areas that have been allocated to them, and part of
them were deported to the plains of the Kuban, and another part were deported
to Turkey. In the second half of the month of February, the Dakhoviskojo Regiment
Forces, and Jobskojo Regiment led by Lieutenant General Baron Evdokimov to move
into the upper reaches of Pshish River and Psekups River through the main
Caucasus Mountains range to Tuapse Valley. Despite all the difficulties we have
encountered, including the accumulation of snow, our military convoy arrived on
23, February to Tuapse boundaries, and has stationed at the former Fort
Valyamenovsko, and we lost 2 dead and 3 wounded. And all the tribes from Tuapse
until Pseh Zwabseh River had been fully subjected, and all cleansed areas,
whether from the North or the South of the mountain chain, they will be served
by the Cossack military stations with the beginning of the spring, and areas
allocated for this purpose had been identified. -------------------- Archive Me
Go - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114, for .3, 4.
Document 249
13, March, 1864 Of the letter by the Chief of General Staff of the Caucasus
Army, directed to the Russian envoy to Turkey in regard to the deportation of
the indigenous people from their lands in the Western Caucasus, and the
resettlement of the Cossacks in those lands. Confidential ... That Abzakh who
were besieged in the areas located from the Eastern and Western borders of the
Cossack stations between Pshish River and Shekepsho River, which are separated
from the mountainous areas by factions of our military forces, were forced to
declare their submission in accordance with the terms of Baron Evdokimov in
early February. They left their homes and places of their presence in the
Mountainous Straits and moved with their families and their properties to the
places that have been allocated to them, in preparation for transferring part
of them to areas beyond the Kuban, and the other part to transport them to
Turkey. In the previous Autumn 30 thousand souls of Shabsough of both sexes
were deported to the left bank of the Kuban River, and had been placed at the
disposal of our military forces administration, as for what was left of them,
we had deported them to Turkey, and some of them gathered near the sea coast
near the Psehzwapseh River. Because of the stringent measures taken by our
forces in Tuapse, it forced all remaining Shabsough to submit total subjugation
without conditions and they applied to let them go to Turkey. And therefore not
a single Mountaineer had remained in the territories located Northwest of the
Caucasus Mountains, and concerning the areas on the Southern slope along the
sea coast of the Gulf of Novorasesskoy all the way to Tuapse, it has been
cleansed of all population, and the Cossack inhabitants will be resettled in
these areas at the beginning of Summer, in addition to all areas situated in
the North Slope. As for the Mountaineers who did not admit subjugation, some of
the Ubykh and of small tribes (Bekho and Akhshebio and so on) have remained and
who are living in the Upper side of Bzyb River and Mazimta River, and their
total is no more than 20 thousand families. We will send them from all sides,
all the forces available from our side at the present time, and in any case we
expect to carry out landing operation from the sea side. The Mountaineers know
our intentions towards them and they realize the impossibility of resisting
such a strong blow. They are willing to yield, but our core of our condition to
declare submit is to move to areas located within the inner side of the Kuban,
but they expressed their desire to move to Turkey. Our only request from the
senior commandants is to allow the resettlement of Russian Cossacks along the
Eastern coast line of the Black Sea until Bzyb River that is to the borders of
Abkhazia. The time remaining for the end of the war depends on how long the
remaining knowing the time required to deport Mountaineers to Turkey, which is
providing necessary transportation means for their deportation. Recognizing the
importance of completing this matter as quickly as possible, His Majesty the
Emperor, the Chief in Command ordered the hiring of all available marine
transportation means to transport the Mountaineers to Turkey, as well as the
rental of one or two ferries from Russian sea shipping companies. If necessary,
it is possible to use the Russian military transport ships. But before
beginning this procedure, His Majesty the Emperor wants to know the possibility
of facing difficulties by the Turkish government, when the Mountaineers are
moved on board the Russian military transport ships or on the private ferries
had been chartered by the government. Please inform us about places and points
that deportees can be sent to, in preparation for deportation. For us, the
place is best suited for that is to send them to Trabzon, because of its
proximity to our coastlines. -------------------- Government Archives - St.
Petersburg, Archive main 1-2, 1863, up .19, for the .28-30.
Document 250
18, March, 1864 Letter of the Deputy Russian Consul in Trabzon Moshanina
addressed to the Chief of Staff of the Caucasus Army, Kartsovo regarding
suspicious activities of Mr. Barutse and the English, French, and Austrian
Consuls, and for the immediate restarting transporting the Circassians and
places of their resettlement. I had the honor in my last letter of informing
Your Excellency about the arrival of Dr. Barutse, and the first action he
adopted was the prevention of ferries to sail to bring the deportees several
days before the arrival of the Prussian Consul here, where has received a
letter from his embassy that contained the following:? The Austria, English,
and Italian consuls have received the same instructions. Also, these
instructions in addition to the report of the Commission of quarantine in
Trabzon have been sent to Khalil Pasha, Head of Quarantine in Constantinople,
where a detailed view had demonstrated the indifference and deficiency of Emine
Mukhles Pasha, all have thought that the priority of Mr. Barutse are
Circassians and the city of Trabzon, but he did not do anything useful thing to
them or to the city. As Mr. Barutse operates independently of Mr. Chever, and
as one of the French nationals, and the doctor of the French Embassy in
Constantinople, he did not until now get to know anybody, and his work was
limited only to visit the places where there are Circassians, and he held
several meetings with the Pasha and give some orders relating to public health,
but not any noticeable improvements has occurred, this matter has drawn the
attention of the Quarantine Administration in Constantinople. Among the
measures taken by Mr. Barutse, the expulsion of all Mountaineers from the city
to the outskirts of the area of Combos, Saradzih and Anchakalleh, and these
areas are known for with them a bad idea about Mr. Barutse, and they believe
that he received prior to departure from the Turkish government or from the
French government instructions to defend the Pasha, if possible, from Consuls
attack, and in order not to raise suspicions, he was placed under the
protection of the French Consul, that can to rely on and who is considered a
friend of the Pasha. With regard to my opinion, according to the actions of Mr.
Barutse, that he had received instructions to stop the deportation of
Circassians. Because of the strong relationship with Mr. Chaver and his
avoiding the acquaintance with the other consuls leads me to think that he was
sent here by the French government for the same purpose, which was Bodayski
sent for in the past, as well as the machinations of the French consulate clerk
- we had exposed - who has presented himself as a doctor, it is clear that the
purpose behind all this at the present time can be: trying to keep the
Circassians in the Caucasus in the light of political developments in Europe.
In any case, I have developed for myself a major task that is to block the
measures drawn up by Mr. Barutse on deportation of Mountaineers. And the
captains of the ferries are not satisfied with the decision to prevent them
from sailing to our shores, and it was easy to give them a tip in the fear that
they would go to the Pasha to make a complaint to him about turning them away
from sailing. Three days later, they were allowed to sail to fetch the
Circassians, provided they do not bring in large numbers, and this confirms the
ineffectiveness of instructions of Mr. Barutse especially that of his powers to
stop sailing terms of ferries, and he could count on to help of all consuls to
achieve that. In any case, the ferries set sail again to get the deportees and
their number is 32 ferries; however difficulties still face us, especially with
regard to quarantine. Who resides in Trabzon, and sees how the implementation
of quarantine measures, will be simply convinced that such measures were not
taken to protect the city from the so-called infectious diseases, but has been
taken as a measure against us. Currently, 54 ferries were put in quarantine in
a state of waiting, and no certificates were issued to them, stating that they
are free of diseases and/or to be placed in quarantine. I can give you examples
of violation of this quarantine on a daily basis and even by the authorities,
as well as examples about filth that plague the city and its inhabitants. The
consulate of the Empire is interested in sending ferries, and if conditions
remain as it is today, I hope that does not stop the process of deportation. 55
ferries have arrived during recent days with 14 thousand passengers onboard,
most of them are of Shabsough, and the ferry (Khadasti - Bakhri) has come back,
that I sent earlier having one thousand persons on board. Out of these numbers,
three thousand people had been sent onboard eight ferries to Samson in addition
to one thousand to Varna, therefore the total amount of Caucasian deportees who
are residing around Trabzon at the present time, more than twenty thousand
people, but who arrived from the Caucasus during the month of November has
numbered forty thousand people. The cost of providing sustenance for all
Circassians, costs the Turkish government, according to the accounts of the
official officer, 1000 Majidi Golden Pounds a day. The cost of the bread alone
is 20 thousand Piasters per day, for feeding the deported people, who reside in
Trabzon and its environs. I will go within coming few days to Krasnod and
Samson to collect accurate information about the existing maritime transport
available there to study the possibility of validity to bring Mountaineers.
Note: During this week, some Poles have arrived from Sochi, including the
French Divokte, and regardless of the quarantine of 15 days and the instructions
of Mr. Barutse, he immediately met with the Pasha, he immediately met with the
Pasha, and also he met with the French and Italian Consuls. I learned that the
Europeans, who were present with the Ubykh, became worried about the situation
became frustrated and ha low morale, and that raised concern of my colleagues
mentioned above, who have become aspirants to: 1. Suspension of deportation 2.
In the case of the inability to achieve this, to send a number of Mountaineers
to Varna and Samson to train them and then the formation of military
settlements of them along our borders, and to achieve this mission, the
government can request the assistance of the famous Fayez Pasha. The Arzynjana
Infantry Battalion has arrived here yesterday, and the objective of their
arrival is unknown, where currently 1500 individuals of infantry, Calvary, and
artillery reside in Trabzon, and today, the Cruiser that is present here has
sailed, and was said that it sailed for the purpose of interception and
detention of the ferries that do not hold licenses from the Department of
Quarantine and others say that it sailed to bring the Turkish Empire’s
Commissioner Rida – Bim. --------------------
Government Archives - Georgia, P .416, and by .3, b .1114, for the .11-14