Battle of Velestino in the Greco-Turkish War

Background. As the Greek army withdrew from Larissa to Farsala, a reinforced brigade under Colonel Konstantinos Smolenskis was sent to occupy the pass and cover Volos and the right of the new Greek position. The first Greek detachments arrived in the area in the morning of 27 April, some hours ahead of the Ottomans, and occupied the heights around Velestino. The battle took place at Velestino in Thessaly, as part of the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.

First Engagement. Greek detachments arrived in the area on the morning of 27 April, occupying the heights around Velestino ahead of the Ottomans. The Ottoman forces resumed their attack on 29 April, with Colonel Mahmud Muhtar arriving as the representative of commander-in-chief Edhem Pasha. The Ottoman advance targeted the Greek right, but delays on the left allowed attacks on the Greek left.

Second Engagement. The second engagement took place on 5 May [O.S. 23 April] to 6 May [O.S. 24 April] 1897. On 5 May three Ottoman divisions attacked Farsala, forcing an orderly withdrawal of Greek forces to Domokos; on the eve of those events Smolenskis had withdrawn from newly recaptured Velestino to Almyros. The withdrawal from Velestino thus preceded the Farsala attack rather than being forced by it.