Maid of Baikal: A Novel of the Russian Civil War

As Panin predicted, the Red artillery barrage began that very evening, with Soviet scouts infiltrating overnight at key points overlooking the Belaya River. According to reconnaissance reports, Red gunboats appeared on the Belaya north of Ufa and were towing barges into position on the river’s west bank. All day long, Ned and Ivashov made the rounds of outposts on the river’s eastern side, distributing more handbills and reminding the Siberian sharpshooters and artillery spotters of the rewards in gold for killing Frunze and his top commanders. As night fell, the two retreated to a staff tent far behind the front and rested for several hours until noise from the barrage was too loud to permit sleep.

Two hours before dawn, Ned and Ivashov joined a party of staff officers for the ride to a bunker that commanded a panoramic view of the river. As dawn swept away the last stars in the sky, they studied the mists on the river for signs of disturbance. Then they saw the first Red barges make their way across. All at once, the Siberian artillery erupted, sending a hail of shells into the river surrounding the barges, but hitting only a few. Wave after wave of watercraft crossed the river, unloading Red attackers, weapons, and ammunition before returning for more. Yet, for all its salvos, the White artillery seemed incapable of sinking more than a handful.

Once across, the Red troops advanced slowly up the steep banks, frequently being pinned down by interlocking fields of machine gun fire and intense mortar barrages whenever they attempted a breakout. As a result, the Reds spread out along the east bank in a thin ribbon, waiting for reinforcements. As the morning wore on, the attackers managed to advance just far enough to occupy the first row of hills above the Belaya’s east bank, enabling newer arrivals to occupy their former positions. No matter how hard the Red artillery pounded the White fortifications, the White machine guns always came alive the moment the Red troops threatened to advance. By early afternoon, the entire attacking force was in place on the eastern side, with many barges standing by to carry wounded troops back to field hospitals in the west. Meanwhile, gunboats ferried back and forth to fetch fresh ammunition and supplies.

At mid-afternoon, a pair of Red gunboats arrived on the east bank to insert a small landing party there. Through his field binoculars, Ned could see that the party consisted almost entirely of senior Red officers. He signaled to Ivashov, who shouted a frantic command to the sub officers manning field telephones.

“He’s here! Frunze has arrived on a gunboat and is moving toward the Red command dugout. Hit him with all you’ve got!”

Immediately upon receiving the command, the Siberian batteries let loose a furious barrage aimed at the barges anchored along the Belaya’s east bank. One barge after another was demolished. Moments later, the White artillery fire began to creep up behind the attackers from the river’s eastern bank, flushing poorly trained attackers out of hiding and bringing them within view of the White machine gun crews. And all around the advancing Red troops, black puffs of smoke sprang up like poisoned toadstools, spewing clouds of deadly shrapnel.

Near the Red command dugout, sprays of dirt and sand popped up where sharpshooters’ bullets struck. It seemed that Ivashov’s orders had unleashed a concentrated hail of bullets upon the Red commanders. Soon Ned spotted four Red soldiers carrying a wounded officer by his arms and legs from the command dugout toward the remaining barges. A flurry of bullets pursued them and, within a few seconds, all four fell and lay still. Two more soldiers carried a senior Red field officer by the shoulders but were cut down by machine gun fire. Within a few minutes, as if a bugle had sounded the retreat, the entire line of Red attackers ceased to advance. First in one sector, then in another, the leaderless and demoralized Red soldiers fell back in disorder, despite the warnings of their political commissars, who made good on threats to shoot anyone who retreated. Some troops climbed aboard barges or took cover behind them, but not enough barges remained afloat for the Reds to escape. White machine gun fire mowed them down in droves.

Then the Siberian artillery launched a fresh barrage on the flats along the riverbank, catching more and more panicked troops out in the open. Some jumped into the river in an attempt to swim to safety, while others cowered helplessly behind whatever protection they could find, by now running low on ammunition. In the hills above, Ned noticed White infantry descending slowly toward the retreating Reds, taking well-aimed shots as they moved.