In June 1855, attempting to alleviate pressure on the defence of Sevastopol, Emperor Alexander II ordered General Nikolay Muravyov to lead his troops against areas of Ottoman interest in Asia Minor.

Uniting disparate contingents under his command into a strong corps of 25,725 soldiers, 96 light guns,[4] Muravyov decided to attack Kars, the most important fortress of Eastern Anatolia.

On September 11, gunfire was fired in the fortress in honor of the fact that the long siege of Sevastopol ended with the victory of the Allies, which fueled the desire of the Russians to storm.

[13] Omar Pasha's arrival on the Black Sea coast north of Kars induced Muravyov to begin a third assault on the Ottoman forces, which had been nearly starved.

Selim Pasha, Omar's son, landed another army at the ancient city of Trebizond, to the west, and began marching south to Erzerum to prevent the Russians from advancing further into Anatolia.

Despite the lack of aid from Istanbul, Williams remained steadfast to his Ottoman troops and stated that "they fell dead at their posts, in the tents, and throughout the camp, as brave men should who cling to their duty through the slightest glimmering of hope of saving a place entrusted to their custody".