established pattern continued during the autumn, when 'Abbas sent
his cavalry to lead a hoped-for uprising. Commander-in-chief Rtisch-
chev was convinced that he lacked the means to stage a major offen-
sive against the Iranians, so he concentrated instead on strengthening
border defenses against the recurrent raids. In keeping with that poli-
cy, he sent Kotliarevskii to take charge of the Oarabaghi frontier. At
the same time, 'Abbas made his camp as he often did just south of
the border at Aslanduz, where it was comparatively easy to ford the
Aras forty miles west of its confluence with the Kura.
Kotliarevskii exceeded his order to follow a purely defensive course
of action and decided to make a preemptive attack on the prince's
camp. The battle began at the end of October as Kotliarevskii caught
the Iranians unprepared. The Iranians had the larger force—some
5,000 men, including several hundred sarbaz as well as the shah's
elite infantry—but the 2,000 Russians had the advantage of surprise.
The camp was overrun, and the Iranians retreated in poor order, leav-
ing most of their supplies behind. Lindesay and the artillerymen were
not even at the camp at the time, having been sent to prepare for
'Abbas's planned hunting excursion. They returned when they heard
the sounds of battle and only with difficulty managed to save the can-
non and a small quantity of ammunition. Lindesay and Christie both
wanted to make a last-ditch stand at the camp, but 'Abbas insisted
on a retreat to a small fort on a nearby hill. After a few hours' fight-
ing, the Russian assault was contained. Many Iranians crowded into
the fort designed to hold a small fraction of their number. Two in-
fantry companies led by Christie blocked the Russians' path to the
hill, while the artillerymen under Lindesay's command did the best
they could until the ammunition ran out. There were also many de-
sertions. That night a despondent 'Abbas tried to decide what to do
next. He eventually resolved to stay and fight, despite the British of-
ficers' advice that he retreat beyond the Russians' range of attack. As
usual, there were no guards posted around the camp. Before dawn,
Christie finally obtained 'Abbas's permission to guard the most likely
attack route. By the time these soldiers moved into position, the
Russian attack had begun. What followed was less a battle than a
slaughter. Many Iranians fled in disorder, while those who remained
put up little resistance. Eleven of the thirteen artillery pieces were
lost after they became stuck in the uneven terrain as 'Abbas had them
moved from the fort to the base of the hill. The Russians advanced
on the heels of the fleeing Iranians, with the result that many of the
Iranians were caught in the crossfire as their fellow countrymen tried
to stave off the attack. The thatched roofs of the fort caught fire and
138 France and Britain in Iran