Battle of Shchedrinskaya
Part of Sheikh Mansur Movement
Date 16th January 1788 Location Plantage near Chervlyonnaya (Shchedrinskaya) Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Chechen fighters	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Lieutenant Gagarin
Units involved
Detachment of Chechen fighters from the villages Sunzha, Germenchuk, Shali, Aldy and others	Team of Rangers
Strength
~600	70
Casualties and losses
77 22 KIA 50 drowned	Light

On January 16, 1788, Chechen fighters attempted to attack a plantation near Chervlyonnaya as a result of letters sent by Sheikh Mansur to them, urging them to attack Russian settlements. The attack was repelled however.^[1][2][3][4]

History

After the heavy defeat Mansur suffered during the October Campaign, he was forced to retreat to the fortress Sudzhuk-Kale. There, he began sending several letters to the peoples of the Caucasus, in which he called on them to pick up arms against the Russian Empire and attack Russian and Cossack settlements. In one of the letters, sent to the Chechens on January 1, Mansur promised them that he would soon return to Chechnya with an army of 6,000 cavalry, 9,000 infantry and artillery, after which he would go to war with the Russians. Until then, he told them to intensify in their attacks on Russian borders. And the Chechens, General Tekelli noted, "supported by assurances from the shikh, gathering in large detachments, they carry out attacks everywhere."^[5]
The Chechens began carrying out more raids, such as a raid on the Novogladkovskaya state post office near Kizlyar, capturing the sergeant of the Kizlyar garrison battalion Osipov and several Cossacks. "Inflamed by Mansur's letters," Tekelli reported, "the Chechens are increasingly disobeying their rulers and elders and launching attacks on the Russian borders."^[5]
On the night of January 16th, a detachment of 600 Chechens crossed the Terek River and made their way to the plantage, 40 miles from the village Chervlyonnaya. The detachment, according to Russian authories, included several people from villages that are loyal to the Russian Empire. They also passed through villages subject to the Aksai princes, who were also loyal to Russia, however they didn't warn Russian authorities about the attack. Several pro-Russian Chechen princes reported that they "are not strong to keep their subjects, inflamed by Mansur's letters."^[5]
The same day, the Chechens attacked the plantage, but there they were met by a team of rangers, 70 strong. Disorganized, the Chechens were repelled by the team, suffering 22 killed. While trying to flee over the Terek River, another 50 fighters drowned.^[6][2][3][4]
The attack was the largest conflict in Chechnya in 1788.

References