upon the start of the russo-turkish war (1877-78) he formally left british military service and volunteered as an officer in the ottoman army under suleiman pasha's command, later promoted to the rank of birindji ferik (general). his adjutant was the englishman john paget and his deputy - a pole konrad bey. after the retreat of the ottoman army from sofia and their defeat at plovdiv, ottoman troops scattered towards the rhodope mountains and istanbul. saint clair retreated with suleyman pasha and found himself in the vicinity of kardzhali.