Battle of the Valerik River

Battle of the Valerik River
Part of the Caucasian War
Battle of the River Valerik by Mikhail Lermontov
Date 11–23 July 1840 Location Chekhinsky Forest, 30km southwest of Grozny 43°10′10″N 45°24′32″E / 43.16944°N 45.40889°E / 43.16944; 45.40889 Result Russian victory[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Russian Empire	Caucasian Imamate
Commanders and leaders
Apollon Galafeyev	Ahberdila Muhammad Isa of Gendergen
Strength
6 battalions 14 guns 1500 Cossacks[4]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
66 killed 265 wounded and shell-shocked 8 missing 1,400 soldiers and 45 officers according to De la Chapelle	Unknown

The Battle of the Valerik River on 11 July 1840 was fought as part of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus. It occurred about 30 km (19 miles) southwest of the fortress of Groznaya (now Grozny) between forces of the Imperial Russian Army and North Caucasian mountaineers led by the naib (viceroy) Ahberdila Muhammad. It remains famous because of the poem "Valerik" by Mikhail Lermontov, a participant.