IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 43.

 THE BATTLES WITH RUSSIA.

While fighting raged in the west against Germany in late 1888 and early 1889 the two sides in Ukraine remained facing each other with neither side having the strength to force a decision. The Russians had committed virtually their whole army to the struggle but still could not risk an assault against the over whelming UNION artillery. The UNION had only four armies in Ukraine and until reinforcements became available after the defeat of Germany they too did not wish to risk an attack. Both sides contented themselves with digging in and exchanging regular artillery barrages although the Russians had soon learned that UNION counter battery fire was highly effective meaning Russian batteries had to move positions regularly.

When the Germans had initially invaded  in the west, the UNION was very concerned that the Russians would launch an attack to support their allies knowing that UNION forces would be weakened in Ukraine as a result of fighting on two fronts. They had therefore adopted a strategy of launching cavalry raids from the south of Ukraine against the 1000 mile long Russian supply lines in the north. The four cavalry brigades available were formed into an ad hoc  cavalry army under the command of General Forrest and he established a base just north of Kiev. The government of Ukraine supported the UNION cavalry by supplying food and fodder to the base meaning that UNION transport companies only had to deliver ammunition and other military supplies. In addition the UNION finally decided to construct a railway line from Richmond to Kiev, something the Ukrainians had been requesting for years but which the UNION had refused because of the conditions agreed with Russia in the peace treaty after the War of Independence which precluded either side from constructing any railways in Ukraine.

The cavalry under Forrest launched their first raid  against Russian supply lines and their railway on 7 December 1888. It was a great success and resulted in destruction of several Russian trains and substantial damage to the tracks in many  places as well as destruction of large amounts of supplies. Over the next few months the raids continued as the Russians desperately sought to defend their supply lines. A large number of Russian reserves as well as troops from the front line formations were deployed to protect the railway reaching over 50,000 men by January 1889. Blockhouses were constructed at intervals along the railway but UNION cavalry seemed able to slip between the Russian positions almost at will. By late February severe shortages of ammunition and other supplies were being felt throughout the Russian front line formations.

The Russians realised that their situation was becoming desperate and with news of the collapse of the German army it was only a matter of time before huge UNION reinforcements would arrive to launch an over whelming attack on the weakened Russian army. Clearly the Russian gamble had now failed and it was time for the Russians to retreat out of Ukraine and seek to defend the border where at least they would be free of the very damaging UNION cavalry attacks. Preparations immediately began to start a phased withdrawal using strong rearguards to prevent the UNION turning the retreat into a rout.

At the end of March 1889 the Russians began their retreat. The UNION had no idea at first the Russians were falling back as strong Russian rearguards gave the impression the Russian forces were still in position. A UNION cavalry attack on the Russian railway  on 2nd April gave the first serious indication of the Russian retreat. As UNION cavalry ambushed a Russian train moving east the cavalry were surprised to receive very fierce return fire from the train. As it came to a halt, over 2,000 Russian troops deployed from the train and assaulted the dismounted cavalry. Almost immediately another train arrived and also disgorged a large number of troops who joined the attack on the UNION cavalry. Vastly outnumbered and suffering heavy casualties, the UNION cavalry had to make a quick retreat.

The same thing happened two days later as the UNION command realised that railway traffic on the Russian tracks was now predominately east bound. A Russian retreat was clearly in progress. UNION forces were instructed to follow up the Russian withdrawal but, to avoid unnecessary casualties , to maintain a distance unless Russian troops showed an inclination to hold their ground for more than a day or two. The UNION cavalry were ordered to cease attacks on the Russian railways, except for horse artillery fire on passing trains, and just monitor the Russian withdrawal.

By early June 1889 the Russians had withdrawn to the Volga river and could be seen by UNION cavalry patrols to be entrenching on the eastern bank on Russian soil. The UNION army advance guard arrived on the west bank on 15th June and deployed opposite the main bridge. UNION heavy artillery was ordered to destroy the bridge with a bombardment  at dawn on 17th but during the evening of 16th June the bridge exploded and collapsed from the effects of Russian demolition charges. During the following days a number of Russian stragglers were captured along the line of the railway as they made their way east. All were escorted to the Volga and, after a short delay, a boat came over from the Russian side and was allowed to remove the last Russian troops from Ukraine. Further south, the other two light bridges over the Volga were destroyed by Russian demolition charges as soon as UNION forces came in sight.

As the UNION celebrated its victory over the combined forces of Germany and Russia, time was also taken to remember the many thousands of UNION soldiers who had been lost in the heavy fighting on both fronts. The war had cost more UNION lives than any other war and the UNION was very aware that defeat had come very close. The exhausted UNION armies remained in their front line positions while preparations were made for them to return to their bases and arrangements were made for small garrisons to monitor both the Volga and the Rhine. Without warning on 28th June a message was flashed to all UNION commands that cavalry from 10th Reserve army patrolling in southern China had located a very large Chinese army moving south towards the border.