Siege of Silistria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of Silistria |
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| Part of the Crimean War | |||||||
 "Victorious sally by the Turkish garrison of Silistria" Illustration by unknown artist |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Russian Empire |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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| Strength | |||||||
| 12,000 – 18,000 | 50,000 – 90,000 266 guns |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1,400 killed | 2,500 killed 1,783 wounded |
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The Siege of Silistria was an important event during the Crimean War. It happened from May 11 to June 23, 1854. During this time, Russian forces tried to capture the fortress of Silistria. This city is in present-day Bulgaria, but back then it was part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman soldiers defended the city very bravely. Their strong resistance gave French and British armies time to gather a large force nearby. Because of pressure from Austria, the Russian leaders were told to stop their attack and leave the area. This ended the part of the Crimean War that took place along the Danube River.
Contents
Why Did the Siege of Silistria Happen?
In March 1854, after a quiet winter, the Russian army moved into Ottoman land. Two large groups of Russian soldiers crossed the Danube River. In the east, about 50,000 soldiers, led by General Alexander von Lüders, entered a region called Dobruja. They quickly took control of important places.
Russian Advance Towards Silistria
By early April, these Russian forces reached the Trajan's Wall, which was about 30 miles east of Silistria. At the same time, another Russian army, led by Prince Mikhail Gorchakov, crossed the river. They began their attack on Silistria on April 14.
Silistria's Strong Defenses
Silistria was a very strong fortress. It had been built up by the Ottoman Empire as a major trading center. The city had an inner Citadel and an outer ring of ten forts. Between 12,000 and 18,000 Ottoman soldiers defended Silistria. Their commander was Musa Pasha. They also had help from foreign advisors. Another Ottoman army, with 40,000 to 45,000 soldiers, was based south of Silistria in Şumnu. This army was led by Omar Pasha.
What Happened During the Siege?
The Ottoman army in Silistria was mostly made up of soldiers from Albania and Egypt. About six British officers also helped the Ottomans. Captain James Butler and Lieutenant Charles Nasmyth were two of these foreign officers. They helped direct the Ottoman troops against the Russians. Nasmyth arrived in Silistria on March 28, 1854, before the Russians surrounded the city. Both Nasmyth and Butler had experience from serving with the East India Company Army.
Early Days of the Siege
On April 5, the first group of Russian soldiers arrived. They were led by General Karl Andreyevich Schilder and his assistant, Lieutenant-Colonel Eduard Totleben. They started the siege by building entrenchments, which are long ditches and walls to protect soldiers. Schilder had captured Silistria before, in 1829, by digging tunnels under its walls. This time, Totleben was in charge of the digging and building work. However, the Russians could not completely surround the city. This meant the Ottoman forces could still get supplies to their soldiers inside the fortress. On April 22, Field Marshal Prince Ivan Paskevich, the main commander of all Russian forces, arrived to take charge of the siege.
Fierce Fighting and Key Losses
On May 28, the Turkish soldiers inside Silistria made a surprise attack. They briefly captured a very important outer fort called Arab Tabia. But the attackers did not get enough support and had to pull back. They lost 700 men, including General Dmitriy Selvan, who was badly wounded. The Ottomans said they lost 189 men. Musa Pasha, the Ottoman commander, died on June 2. He was hit by shrapnel while praying. British officers Butler and Nasmyth took his place. Paskevich told his leader, Nicholas I, that the Ottomans were defending the city very well. He said this was because of the help from the foreign officers.
Russian Commanders Wounded
On June 10, Field Marshal Paskevich said he was hit when an Ottoman shell exploded nearby. He was not wounded, but the 72-year-old commander decided to leave. He went back to Warsaw, and General Gorchakov took his place. On June 13, Schilder was also wounded and died soon after. A week later, on June 20, the fort of Arab-Tabia was finally captured by the Russians. On June 21, the Russians were ready to storm the main fortress. The attack was planned for 4 AM.
The siege of Silistria must be raised if the fortress is not yet taken at the receipt of this letter.
—Nicholas I of Russia to Field Marshal Paskevich, 13 June 1854
The Russians Retreat
At 2 AM on June 21, just two hours before the big attack, Gorchakov received new orders. He was told to stop the siege and go back to his positions north of the Danube River. This sudden order came because many French and British troops had gathered near Varna. There were 50,000 French soldiers and 20,000 British soldiers. Also, Austria had signed a new agreement with Turkey on June 14. All these things made Nicholas I order his army to pull back. The order was followed right away. On June 24, the Russian army crossed the Danube, destroying the bridge behind them. The Ottoman army did not chase them. During the siege, the Russians lost 2,500 soldiers killed and 1,783 wounded.
What Happened After the Siege?
Most experts agree that the Russian attack stopped not because of the Ottoman resistance alone. It was mainly due to diplomatic pressure and the threat of Austria joining the fight. Austria had gathered a large number of troops, possibly 280,000, along the borders of Wallachia and Moldavia. They had warned Russia not to cross the Danube.
Allied Troops Arrive
Then, on June 30, 1854, 12,000 French troops arrived at Varna. 30,000 British troops had already arrived there on June 27. This large gathering of Allied forces put more pressure on the Russian commanders. They decided to abandon the siege and retreat back into Russia. To save face, the Russians called their retreat a "strategic withdrawal." This means they said they were leaving for a smart military reason, not because they were defeated.
End of the Danubian Phase
After the retreat, Nicholas I agreed to let Austria and the Ottoman Empire occupy the Danubian areas. This marked the end of the war's phase along the Danube River. The Ottoman forces, led by Omar Pasha, then crossed the Danube into Wallachia. They went on the attack, fighting the Russians in the city of Giurgevo in early July 1854.
