The extremely virulent attacks of May 11th made it necessary to take an inventory of manpower and war material. On May 13th, and under the supervision of Aram, the task was carried out in great detail.
This was possible by the lull in fighting that day. The findings were presented to the Defense Command. It revealed the dismaying facts that the over seventy thousand Armenians in Aikesdan, besieged and hungry as they were, had to depend for protection on one thousand fifty-three combatants. The entire arsenal consisted of one thousand fifty-four firearms of which five-hundred forty-nine were pistols and 113,923 rounds of ammunition including the 39,089 for pistols. How long could they hold out against the enemy with a dozen artillery pieces, over ten thousand soldiers, unlimited military and food supplies, and impregnated with the frenzy of a “Holy War”?
Following is the list of Armenian defense positions as compiled on May 13th:
Area No. I comprised the Arark regions; the area leader was Nishan Nalbandian; assistants, were Ales Barsamian and Garabed Saroukhanian.
Post No. 1; the backyard of the church of Arark; leader, Dickran Ohanian; 8 combatants, 5 rifles and 3 Mauser pistols.
Post No. 2; the winery of Musho; leader, Dickran Chutjian; 6 combatants, 3 rifles and 3 pistols.
Post No. 3; Devey Boyun; leader, Mihran Khranian; 9 combatants, 9 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 4; “Dardanelles;” leader, Mihran Khranian, 15 combatants, 11 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 4a; “Dardanelles;” leader, Gregor Pazigian; 17 combatants, 10 rifles and 6 pistols.
Post No. 5; “Tirk;” leader, Artin Lordo; 18 combatants, 15 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 6; Mantagouni’s Woods (forest); leader, Joch Agha Solakhian; 7 combatants, 5 rifles, 3 pistols.
Post No. 7; Bneian’s house; leader, Dickran Bneian; 5 combatants, 3 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 8; Missakian’s house; leader, Aram Sabonjian, 5 combatants, 3 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 9; Fergulian’s house; leader, Armenag Arghetzian; 25 combatants, 10 rifles, 15 pistols.
Post No. 10; Tirk (Nakhry Poghan); leader, Mugurdich Salakhian; 9 combatants, 8 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 11; Markar of Dher’s house; leader, Nishan Der Melikian; 15 combatants, 8 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 12; Nerso of Dher’s house; leader, Dickran Nersoian; 11 combatants, 5 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 13; Salo’scafe; leader, Leon Jamgochian; 11 combatants, 8 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 14; Badour’s bakery; leader, David Jraghatzbanian; 13 combatants, 8 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 15; Mugurdich’s house; leader, A. Hussian; 8 combatants, 4 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 16; Kevork Peotigian’s house; leader, Nazareth Sabonjian; 7 combatants, 4 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 17; Vartan Shirini’s house; leader, Yeghia Boyajian; 4 combatants, 2 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 18; Charchi Baghdo’s house; leader, Thadeus Bjigian; 12 combatants, 4 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 19; H. Kalantarian’s house; leader, Galousd Merjanian; 5 combatants, 4 rifles, 2 pistols.
In Area No. I, there were altogether 20 posts, 19 leaders, 209 combatants, 127 rifles, 109 pistols, 26,029 cartridges.
Area No. II; bounded by Ourpat Creek, Avoyi Dm, and Taza Karez. Area leader, Raphael Der Khachadoorian.
Post No. 1; Der Khachadoorian's house; leader, Avedis Gandalian; 28 combatants, 16 rifles, 14 pistols.
Post No. 2; Solakhian’s house; leader, Hagop Gandalian; 17 combatants, 13 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 3; House of Haji Malkhas; leader, Abraham Khojayan; 19 combatants, 9 rifles, 6 pistols.
Post No. 4; Kreshjian’s house; leader, Kiavor; 17 combatants, 6 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 5; Houssian’s orchard; leader, Hagop Bazigian; 21 combatants, 11 rifles, 14 pistols.
Post No. 6; Simon Tato’s house; leader, Avedis Terchoonian; 22 combatants, 7 rifles, 15 pistols.
Post No. 7; House and orchard of Kher; leader. Bahhazar Melkonian, 37 combatants, 19 rifles, 20 pistols.
Post No. 8; Houssian’s orchard (2); leader, Gabriel of Gangvar; 20 combatants, 13 rifles, 6 pistols.
Post No. 9; Houssian’s orchard (3); leader, Armenag Kazazian; 11 combatants, 10 rifles, 6 pistols.
Post No. 10; Parsegh’s house; leader, Dickran of Bltentz; 17 combatants, 14 rifles, 9 pistols.
Post No. 11; Houssian’s orchard (4); leader, Nazareth Boumoutian; 13 combatants, 10 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 12; House of Deli Batman; leader. Toros Gharibian; 11 combatants, 4 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 13; House of Deli Batman (2); leader, Toros Gharibian; 6 combatants, 5 rifles, 1 pistol.
Post No. 14; Hatz Hamrogh’s house; leader. Hovhannes of Ardamed; 13 combatants, 6 rifles, 8 pistols.
In Area No. II there were 14 defense positions, 13 leaders, 352 combatants, 143 rifles, 128 Mauser pistols, and 28,536 rounds of ammunition.
Area No. III; Shan Tagh-Hanguisner; area leader, Hovhannes Manougian.
Post No. 1; Mukhsi Haroutian’s house; leader, Avedis Margosian; 13 combatants, 3 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 2; Boumoutian’s house; leader, Aram Shaljain; 18 combatants, 7 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 3; Garsian’s house; leader, Caspar Mugurdichian; 8 combatants, 3 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 4; Kadehjian’s house; leader, Bedros Rupenian; 14 combatants, 4 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 5; Murodian’s house; leader, Mugurdich Manoogian; 7 combatants, 3 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 6; Shmavonian’s house; leader, Ghevont Hussianj 9 combatants, 3 rifles, 3 pistols.
Post No. 7; Manassean’s house; leader, Mugurdich Pehrizian; 12 combatants, 6 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 8; Sanoyan’s house; leader, Senekerim Sanoyan; 7 combatants, 7 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 9; Denderchoyan’s house; leader, Yeghishe Vartanian; 11 combatants, 4 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 10; Touroyan's house; leader, Hovhannes Manougian; 15 combatants, 3 rifles, 9 pistols.
In Area No. III there were 10 defense positions with 10 leaders, 114 combatants, 40 rifles, 55 Mauser pistols, and 10,012 rounds of ammunition.
Area No. IV; East of Khach-Poghan as far as the barracks of Hamud Agha. Area commander, Melkeset Eynatian; assistant, Missak.
Post No. 1; Amirkhanian’s house; leader Hovsep from Vozm; 20 combatants, 11 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 2; Torkomian’s house; leader, Mugurdich Pehrizian; 15 combatants, 6 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 3; Berberian’s house; leader, Ghevont Aboubelekian; 24 combatants, 5 rifles, 13 pistols.
Post No. 4; Khrimian’s house; leader, Hovhannes Zeperian; 25 combatants, 13 rifles, 20 pistols.
Post No. 5; Vezvezian’s house; leader, Hampartzoum from Vozm; 22 combatants, 12 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 6; Zervandian's house; leader, Kerim Chavoush; 26 combatants, 9 rifles, 20 pistols.
Post No. 7; Simon Terlemezian’s house; leader, David Chavoush; 37 combatants, 4 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 8; Simon Terlemezian's house (2); leader, Vahan Gailian; 13 combatants, 5 rifles, 9 pistols.
Post No. 9; Yeghigian’s house; leader, Nerses Mardirosian; 19 combatants, 8 rifles, 9 pistols.
Post No. 10; Shaghoyan’s house; leader, Garabed Barigian; 11 combatants, 7 rifles, 4 pistols.
Post No. 11; Janoyan’s house; leader, Yeghishe Nalbandian; 7 combatants, 2 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 12; Manachou’s house; leader, Sahag Pokhararian; 4 combatants, 2 rifles, 2 pistols.
In Area No. IV there were altogether 12 positions with 12 leaders, 215 combatants, 89 rifles, 119 Mauser pistols, and 25,117 rounds of ammunition.
Area No. V; South of Khach-Poghan as far as Arark sector, Tutunjian's post. Area leader, Panos Jamgochian; assistant, Nishan Jamgochian.
Post No. 1; Khosdigian-Aboyan’s house; leader, Manoug Barsamian, 14 combatants, 9 rifles, 2 pistols.
Post No. 2; Sahag Bey’s house; leader, Ruben Israelian; 29 combatants, 17 rifles, 13 pistols.
Post No. 3; Sunetjian’s house; leader, Joch Agha Alemkalemian; 33 combatants, 17 rifles, 13 pistols.
Post No. 4; Tovmazian’s house; leader, Nishan Aghanigian; 28 combatants, 16 rifles, 12 pistols.
Post No. 5; Sahag Bey’s house (2); leader, Yeprem Jerpashkhian; 16 combatants; 4 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 6; Piroumian’s house; leader, Kassab Arshag; 17 combatants, 5 rifles, 10 pistols.
Post No. 7; Maksabedian-Yaghjian’s house; leader, Aram Shaljian; 11 combatants, 4 rifles, 8 pistols.
Post No. 8; Sarajian’s house; leader, Gamsar Bailian; 15 combatants, 4 rifles, 10 pistols.
Post No. 9; Noramirian’s house; leader, Dickran Yaghjian; 11 combatants, 4 rifles, 14 pistols.
Post No. 10; Kaligian’s house; leader, Armenag Sahatjian; 8 combatants, 2 rifles, 5 pistols.
Post No. 11; Simsarian’s house; leader, Armenag Sarkisian; 10 combatants, 5 rifles, 6 pistols.
Post No. 12; Yavrouyan’s house; leader, Hovhannes Ghazarian; 15 combatants, 6 rifles, 11 pistols.
Post No. 13; “Hotel” at Khach-Poghan; leader, Hovhannes Ashjian; 13 combatants, 8 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 14; Nalbandian’s house; leader, Mardiros Gotoyan-Dayi; 12 combatants, 7 rifles, 7 pistols.
Post No. 15; Casino-Asgueran; leader, Gnel Gasbarian; 15 combatants, 7 rifles, 6 pistols.
Post No. 16; Chachal (Bald) Mugurdiche’s house; leader, Vahan Hatzakordzian; 10 combatants, 5 rifles, 7 pistols.
In Area No. V there were altogether 16 defense positions with 16 leaders, 263 combatants, 106 rifles, 138 Mauser pistols and 24,229 rounds of ammunition.
This made a grand total of 5 area defenses with 9 area leaders, 73 defense positions with 71 leaders, 1,053 combatants, 505 rifles, 549 Mauser pistols with 74,824 rifle cartridges and 39,069 Mauser bullets. These figures varied considerably during the period of the conflict; the number of defense posts were increased while the reserves in ammunition dwindled.
It can be safely stated that fully one quarter of the available weapons were furnished by refugee peasants. They also contributed over 200 combatants to the defense force. Of the 800 construction and trenching laborers, 500 were villagers.
We have not included in the above figures those men serving as bodyguards to Aram, or serving with the Defense Command and other agencies. Among them, they had 40 rifles with 6,000 rounds of ammunition, and were always participating in the combats; neither is the reserve of 30,000 cartridges at the Armenian Revolutionary Federation's arsenal included.