Kizlyar stands on a low, clayey and swampy bank, which is not only dirty during snowmelt and rainy weather, but also prone to flooding; that’s why they tried to help with this by building dams, which they diligently monitor during water flows.

Near Kizlyar and beyond, the wet and swampy soil and many standing waters often fill the air with thick and stinking fumes.

They moved here from Kazan, practice farming and receive a per capita salary, which none of the other residents of the Terek pay.

Due to the lack of forests, a small number of houses were built according to the Russian model from logs, but for the most part from raw and burnt bricks.

Most of the houses are mud huts, built from thin poles and cut straw mixed with clay, from which the roof is made.

Since both the soil and the coating of houses soften and become covered with salt in wet weather, the dwellings throughout the Terek, built in the above-mentioned manner, are neither strong nor healthy.

The wood rots very quickly, and the bricks, diluted with salt, become so loose that they rub in the fingers.”Throughout the summer of 1785, there was an intensive accumulation of troops in the Mansur camp, who were motivated by the Chechen victory at Aldy.

In his letters and proclamations to various mountain peoples, the imam called on them to unanimously stand with him against the common enemy - the Russian troops and the local princes allied with them.

These calls found a response among the Kabardians and Dagestanis, who were ready to join the rebels at any time, not to mention the imam's compatriots, the majority of whom went over to his side.

They build fortresses on our land, cut down our forests to make it easier for them to attack us, raise pigs, not caring about our laws and customs.

The first few attacks by the highlanders were repelled, after which they started several big fires, eventually reaching the powder magazine, as a result of which the entire redoubt, together with its defenders, blew up.

Many, not believing in the possibility of holding the city, fled to the Astrakhan steppes...”In the evening of the same day, the Cossacks were sent to meet the North Caucasian army.

The night passed, but the next day, people began yelling “They are coming!”, and the fortress fell into panic again.

To encourage the people, Russian and Armenian priests walked the streets, sang prayers and sprinkled holy water on the Christians and the walls of the fortress.

[3] At noon, the rebel forces began crossing the Terek River, where they were met by Cossack fighters, who tried preventing them as best as they could, but suffered heavy casualties.

The Russian side threw its last reserves at the slowly approaching highlanders, with even civilians picking up arms to fight them.

[3][4] The fierce fight lasted for more than an hour, and with the onset of night the Russians finally managed to repel the attack, and Mansur's army retreated to their camps.

[3][4][5] Early next morning, the Russian side planned an attack on the rebel camp with the Tomsk infantry regiment — The only unit that was capable of fighting after the fierce battle the day before.

The attack was mainly psychological — It was supposed to demonstrate to the rebels the ability of the Kizlyar army to take active actions.

Lining up in a square, and, accompanied with the beating of drums, the regiment left the fortress walls and advanced towards the rebel camp.

[3] Having realized that he would no longer be able to capture Kizlyar, Mansur focused all of his remaining strength to defeat the Tomsk infantry regiment.

The attack of Mansur's troops was carried out from 4 sides at the same time and was so successful that the regiment, having suffered heavy losses, were forced to retreat back into the fortress.

[3] On the next day, July 18th, Mansur ordered his troops to stop their assaults and Kizlyar and move away from the fortress.

[3] Mansur held a speech afterwards, in which he congratulated his army on the capture of Karginsk and the defeat of the Tomsk infantry regiment, but also motivated them to keep fighting.

With the help of Almighty Allah and thanks to you, courageous sons of the mountains, we were able to destroy significant enemy forces and blow up the Karginsky redoubt along with its defenders.

Know that everything you have done in this world, good and bad, will be remembered to you on the Day of Judgment.”[7]Mansur's speech had effect; Almost non of his supporters perceived the retreat from Kizlyar as a defeat.

The princes of Endirey wrote in a letter to Kizlyar commander Veshnyakov:[8][4] “The people have abandoned our obedience: they have an intention to drive us out of the village,...”At a meeting held by the people of Endirey, it was decided that if there was any traitor among them who revealed the plans of Sheikh Mansur to the Russian authorities, then “Kill such a person and plunder and burn the house with his estate”.