Velyaminov's winter raids on Chechen hamlets and villages along the Sunzha: capture of women and devastation of homesteads (1831-1832)
In December 1831, General Velyaminov, without disbanding the detachment encamped near the fortress of Groznaya, switched to a tactic of raids on Chechen settlements. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote: Velyaminov "decided to harass the enemy and divert his attention from our borders. Thus, on December 23, 1831, he sent on a raid the commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Zass, who devastated several Chechen hamlets on the right side of the Sunzha, lying opposite the village of Chertugai, and delivered to the camp three captive women and up to 250 head of cattle. In this raid the enemy left 7 bodies on the spot"[1]. In February 1832 the raiding tactic grew into an expedition through the villages standing along the Sunzha River above the fortress of Groznaya. The imperial review of military operations admits: "Lieutenant General Velyaminov in February 1832 undertook an expedition to punish the Chechen villages lying up the Sunzha from the fortress of Groznaya"[2]. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov wrote of the same strike: "Another large expedition was directed against the Chechen auls located along the banks of the Sunzha"[3].
Actors
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire |
In the winter of 1831–1832, General Velyaminov, from his camp near the Groznaya fortress, dispatched troops against Chechen settlements in revenge for their support of the uprising: on December 23, 1831, Lieutenant Colonel Zass, commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, devastated the hamlets on the right side of the Sunzha opposite the village of Chertugai, and in February 1832 Velyaminov "undertook an expedition to punish the Chechen villages lying up the Sunzha from the Groznaya fortress" — this is acknowledged by the imperial survey of military operations[2]. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote of the purpose of the raids: "to harass the enemy and divert his attention from our borders"[1]. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov recorded: "Another large expedition was directed against the Chechen auls situated along the banks of the Sunzha"[3]. |
Techniques Used
| ID | Name | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|
| T0053 | Abduction of People |
On December 23, 1831, during the devastation of the hamlets near the village of Chertugai, Cossacks of the detachment of Lieutenant Colonel Zass, commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, took three women captive. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote: Zass "delivered three captive women to the camp"[1]. |
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| T0052 | Expropriation of Resources |
On December 23, 1831, the detachment of Lieutenant Colonel Zass, commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, dispatched by General Velyaminov, drove off the livestock of the inhabitants of the devastated hamlets near the village of Chertugai. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote: Zass "delivered to the camp... up to 250 head of cattle"[1]. Driving off 250 head of livestock in the middle of winter deprived the inhabitants of the devastated hamlets of their basic means of subsistence. |
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| T0077 | Punitive Expeditions |
In the winter of 1831–1832, General Velyaminov, from his camp near the Groznaya fortress, dispatched troops against Chechen settlements in revenge for their support of the uprising: on December 23, 1831, Lieutenant Colonel Zass, commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, devastated the hamlets on the right side of the Sunzha opposite the village of Chertugai, and in February 1832 Velyaminov "undertook an expedition to punish the Chechen villages lying up the Sunzha from the Groznaya fortress" — this is acknowledged by the imperial survey of military operations[2]. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote of the purpose of the raids: "to harass the enemy and divert his attention from our borders"[1]. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov recorded: "Another large expedition was directed against the Chechen auls situated along the banks of the Sunzha"[3]. |
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Instruments
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army |
In the winter of 1831–1832, General Velyaminov, from his camp near the Groznaya fortress, dispatched troops against Chechen settlements in revenge for their support of the uprising: on December 23, 1831, Lieutenant Colonel Zass, commander of the Mozdok Cossack Regiment, devastated the hamlets on the right side of the Sunzha opposite the village of Chertugai, and in February 1832 Velyaminov "undertook an expedition to punish the Chechen villages lying up the Sunzha from the Groznaya fortress" — this is acknowledged by the imperial survey of military operations[2]. The imperial historian Volkonsky wrote of the purpose of the raids: "to harass the enemy and divert his attention from our borders"[1]. The historian Ya. Z. Akhmadov recorded: "Another large expedition was directed against the Chechen auls situated along the banks of the Sunzha"[3]. |