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Map of Rimnik Battle, 11 (22) Sept 1789 - The
battle takes its name from the small river at right of the map over which
Suvorov forced to Turkish commander, Yusuf Pasha to retreat. The allied
Austrian- Russian army had 25,000 men, while the Turkish Army had 100,000 under
Grandvisier Yusuf Pasha. The Russians are shown in red and Turks in blue. At
first Yusuf Pasha used a corps of 30,000 troops as a decoy agaisnt G. A.
Potemkin's units to draw them toward Izmail. Yusuf Pasha then moved against the
Austrian Corps of Prince Josias of Saxe-Colburg (18,000) stationed near
Focsani. Suvorov had only 10,000 at Birland when he learned of the Turkish
advance. On Sept 8th he started a forced march with 7,000 to aid the Austrians.
The Russians covered 100 kilometers in only two and a half days in order to
beat theTurks to Focsani. Suvorof learned from reconnaissance that the Turks
were bivouaced in three widely separated camps and not expecting the Russians
to arrive, or attack. Again using a night-time forced march Suvorov moved the
remaining 14 kilometers and launched a surprise attack characterized by his
typical aggressive style. The Russians drove the Turks out of their camps in
succession, as the map shows, and captured their supplies, and artillery. The
Turks fled in panic loosing between 6 and 20 thousand while the Russia loss
amounted to 700. Yusuf Pasha was forced to retire behind the Danube.
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