"" (Based on the materials of the State Archives of the Russian Federation)

Cases from the archiveIII The offices of His Imperial Majesty's Chancellery, stored in the State Archives of the Russian Federation, provide an opportunity to look at the activities of the department, headed by the all-powerful Alexander Benckendorff, from a very unexpected angle.

Abuse near Krasnoe (village). A scene from camp life. Hood. P.A. Fedotov

Political free-thinkers and political exiles, as well as all sorts of adventurers and swindlers, censorship of the press, religious sects, thieving and simply stupid officials, peasant riots, complaints from peasants about landlords and conflicts between landowners and serfs in general, supervision of visiting foreigners, various incidents ... more or less obvious range of functions of the political police, but along with this, gentlemen, the gendarme officers did not do anything.

They handled cases of administrative expulsion of violent nobles, including for domestic violence; quite often they had to reconcile the generals with their wives, if the quarrel between the spouses went so far as to require such proceedings, or to pass a verdict on the impossibility of their reconciliation; settled gendarmes and other family conflicts, often intervening for offended children. The archive of Section III contains many such cases, the titles of which - "About the oppression done by retired Major General Selifontov to his mother-in-law, Volynskaya" or "About a family quarrel between Major General Grabbe and his wife" - speak for themselves. Or even at all we are talking about some monstrous criminal history that happened in the noble environment, such as the case "On the murder and premature burial of the Orenburg landowner Tauzakov by his wife and husband of his pupil Poltev" or "On the official Kholodnovskaya, who died from cutting her with whips by the priest Dobrotvorenin. "

The case "About the peasant boy Ivan Petrov, who has extraordinary power of consideration" from the archiveIIIDepartments

At the same time, we see documents about feats committed during the fire ("On the rescue of three sisters by a 13-year-old boy Zhavoronkov during a fire", "On the feat of the Cossack woman Chernushkina, who saved her mother and her son during a fire," who saved a sick peasant girl during a fire ”and others). There are bizarre stories like the case "About the peasant boy Ivan Petrov, who has an extraordinary power of consideration." Such a unique phenomenon as the ability of the 11-year-old illiterate serf boy Ivan Petrov to count brilliantly in his head also attracted the interest of the III Department. It is curious that it was the gendarmes who drew attention to this (perhaps at the suggestion of the landowner), and not the employees of the department of public education. The matter ended with the highest order to determine the boy to study. Finally, the ranks of the III Division, who had such broad powers, had to deal with specific swindlers (“About a gang of rogues who have formed in St. Petersburg, who are called belonging to the secret police”).

We bring some of this kaleidoscope of affairs to the attention of our readers.

№ 1. FROM THE CASE "ABOUT THE BENEFICIAL INFLUENCE OF THE HIGHEST BEHAVIOR, BY WHICH SENATORS ARE OBLIGED TO GET IN PRESENCE AT 9 HOURS", 1827

Extract from the report of Major General Volkov toIII Branch, October 1827

Major General Volkov informs from Moscow that the highest command, by virtue of which the senators are obliged to appear in presence by 9 o'clock, is carrying out the most beneficent activity; especially the cases on which the highest decrees were issued, took the course, in the words of the officials in the Senate, "flying on wings." This arouses the desire that the same speed of office work was introduced in other judicial places to stop complaints about the slowness of justice.

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 2.D. 349.L. 1

No. 2. FROM THE CASE "ON SENDING THE GUARANTOR OF NEDZYALKOVSKY FOR VICIOUS BEHAVIOR UNDER POLICE SUPERVISION IN M. ATAKI", 1827

The attitude of the general on duty of the General Staff A.N. Potapova A.Kh. Benckendorff, 15 April 1827

The retired lieutenant Nedzyalkovsky, who lives in the Bessarabian region in the town of Ataki, sent a letter to the emperor, in which he asked to call him for some important discoveries. As a result, Nedzyalkovsky was brought to S [ankt] -Petersburg and in the testimony taken from him announced various denunciations, not supported by any evidence.

From the information taken about him, Nedzyalkovsky, it turned out that he was of very bad behavior. He arrived in Russia in 1804 in writing, in which he is named an Austrian native and a cook. Three times he was under a criminal court - for participating in the theft of horses, for pawning stolen things and on suspicion of stealing a casket; on the first two he was sentenced to a month's arrest and to corporal punishment, and on the third he was declared unidentified. He was admitted in 1813 to the Polish Uhlan regiment as a lieutenant according to the testimony presented by him, in which he was named an emigrant and the Polish troops as a lieutenant, in 1815 he transferred to the Yekaterinoslav cuirassier regiment, and from this in 1816 to the Tomsk infantry regiment, from where a year later he was forced to leave to resign through officers who could not tolerate his reprehensible actions. In 1822, having been assigned to the same regiment, in the same year he was expelled from service for misconduct. Then, for unfounded denunciations, he was kept in the Kamenets-Podolsk prison castle for two months under guard and, moreover, was kept under arrest for another year until the end of the case against him.

Illustration by P.M. Boklevsky to the comedy of N.V. Gogol "The Inspector General"

As a result of this, by the order of the Imperial Emperor, Lieutenant Nedzyalkovsky was sent from here back to his place of residence in the Bessarabian region, to the town of Ataki, and, moreover, the highest will was communicated to the secret adviser of the governor of the Bessarabian region, Count Palen, so that Nedzyalkovsky, as a man of vicious and bad morality, was supervision.

I consider it necessary to notify Your Excellency.

General on duty Potapov

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 2.D. 105. L. 1–2

No. 3. FROM THE CASE "ON RECONCILIATION THROUGH THE MEDIA OF THE LITTLE-COLONEL OF THE SHUBINSKY YAROSLAVSKY CIVIL GOVERNOR WITH THE CUSTOMS GOVERNMENT LEADER", 1829

Memorandum fromIII Branches to NikolayI, February 23, 1829

From Yaroslavl, the head of the 2nd section, Mr. [Ospodin], Lieutenant Colonel Shubinsky informs.

About the reconciliation of the governor with the provincial leader.

On this February 19, Mr [Ospodin] Shubinsky managed to achieve that the Yaroslavl governor and the provincial leader of the nobility ceased their displeasure with each other and sincerely reconciled; how much benefit for the province, service and employees! This is proved almost daily by experience itself.

On the memorandum, the resolution in the hand of NikolaiI: "Thank you" .

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 4.D. 118.L. 1

№ 4. FROM THE CASE "ABOUT THE YARD GIRL OF THE LANDMAN OF WHITEKRYLTSOVA, DIED FROM HARNESS CAUSED BY HER DESIGNATED PROPERTY", 1833-1834 Official's certificateIIIBranches, no date

In the record of incidents in the Kostroma province, among other things, it was shown that in the Makaryevsky district, the courtyard girl of the landowner Belokryltsova Osipova died on June 18 from the beatings inflicted on her by the denounced landowner. Against this article, placed in the table from 5 to 12 August 1833, His Majesty deigned to write: "It is the strictest to investigate and convey."

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173.D. 102.L. 1

The attitude of the Kostroma civil governor A.G. A.Kh. Priklonsky Benckendorff, November 7, 1833

Dear sir, Count Alexander Khristoforovich!

[...] After my entry into the correction of the post of civil governor on November 4 this November, after realizing the information available on this subject in the governor's office, and when it was revealed that the criminal Belokryltsova was kept under guard, and the research carried out by the Makaryevsky Zemstvo court about the aforementioned incident was considered in to the local district court, why did he order this latter at the same time, that on the state of this case and the circumstances of it, a detailed information with the addition and the content of the decision should be presented to me with the first mail; otherwise, he charged the county court with it, so that it would pay special attention to the essence of this case and so that the crime would be revealed in all its clarity and the case would immediately receive a proper ending.

In reporting this most respectfully to your Excellency, I have the honor to add that, in terms of the importance of this matter as an early completion of it, as well as the correctness of the decision, I will not fail to draw my special attention.

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 102. L. 3–4

Document from archiveIIIDepartments

The attitude of the Kostroma civil governor A.G. A.Kh. Priklonsky Benckendorff, 18 August 1834

Dear sir, Count Alexander Khristoforovich!

In addition to my attitude of 28 hours [Islam] last July No. 6451, with whom I had the honor to inform your Excellency about the submission to the Government Senate of the case of the courtyard girl Mr. [opozh] and Belokryltsova Osipova who died of the wounds inflicted by the landowner, I now have the honor to respectfully convey to your Excellency the following:

The accused Belokryltsova was convicted of the fact that at 8 o'clock [isla] June last 1833, drunk, it is unknown why, apparently, she wanted to cut off her braid with her young serf Agafya Osipova with scissors, but, not finding them, she grabbed a knife and made mortal wounds on her head and neck, which is why she, Osipova, died at 6 pm on the same June. In this act, although Belokryltsova was justified by the insanity of her mind that had happened to her before, but during a general search all the people asked, including seven noble persons, did not confirm this, but explained that she, Belokryltsova, was often seen drunk form, but in the insanity of the mind never and that she did the designated act not in unconsciousness, but in a perfect mind, then only drunk. Moreover, it is clear from the circumstances of the case that she threatened to collect 25 rubles from him for the discovery of the crime for the discovery of the crime, which she herself confessed at full-time with him. For what reasons, the Kostroma Chamber of the Criminal Court sentenced her, Belokryltsova, for an inhuman act, depriving her of her noble dignity, to exile to Siberia for settlement. With this definition, in my opinion correct and agreeing with the laws, I presented the real case about her to the consideration of the Governing Senate.

Quarter and cab. Hood. P.A. Fedotov

It is with the deepest respect and utter devotion that I have the honor to be, my dear sir, your Excellency, the humble servant Alexander Priklonsky.

Resolution A.Kh. Benckendorff: "A note to the sovereign."

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 102. L. 7–8

№ 5. FROM THE CASE "ON THE DISOBEY OF THE PEASANTS OF THE REAL STATIAN COUNSELOR DENISIEVA", 1833Report of the head of the 6th district of the gendarmes corps, Major General Count Apraksin A.Kh. Benckendorff, 30 October 1833

In the Saratov province in the Balashov district, the peasants of Major-General Denisyeva, among 1000 souls since April of this year, have not only shied away from obeying her and her manager, to whom many insolences have already been done, but they also do not recognize her as their landowner, because she comes from household servants. maids of Count Razumovsky.

According to the importance of this incident, Major Bykov went to this estate in October seven months to inquire about the real reasons for the disobedience, and what they will be inquired about and committed - upon the submission of a report from him, I will not fail to convey this to your Excellency in due time.

Major General Count Apraksin

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 123. L. 1-1 ob.

Report of the head of the 6th district of the gendarmes corps, Major General Count Apraksin A.Kh. Benckendorff, November 6, 1833

On the 30th of last October, No. 54, I had the honor of presenting to your Excellency that Major Bykov went to the estate of the actual state councilor Denisieva to find out the reasons for the disobedience of her peasants. And now he informs me in a report dated October 24 that the reason for that disobedience is precisely the only one, as they have learned from the peasants themselves, that Mr. Denisyev comes from the courtyard people of Count Razumovsky, why does not she have the right to own them. For this disobedience, they are already on trial, and the criminal chamber sentenced up to 200 people to punishment with whips, and their attorney Petlenkov - with a whip, but the case about them in the Governing Senate is not yet over.

The peasants are so delusional in their opinion that they still do not go to the landlord's work, for all the fact that in their villages, to induce it, there are up to 100 officers of the lower ranks of the Saratov garrison battalion.

Peasant revolt. Hood. S.V. Gerasimov

Major Bykov, wanting to help convert them into due obedience, took all measures to convince them; but they resolutely responded that until then they would not agree to anything until the peasants Grigory Romanov and Mikhail Sobachnin, sent from them to Petersburg in the form of attorneys, returned. Consequently, by their delusion, the whole outcome of their disobedience depends on the suggestion to their attorneys that if Mr. Denis'eva came from household people, then by her marriage she acquired the legal right to own these peasants. […]

Major General Count Apraksin

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 123. L. 14-15 rev.

On the 7th of this month, Grigory Yegorov and Mikhail Vasiliev, attorneys from the peasants of the landowner Denisieva, with whom I went to the village of Malinovka on the same day, where I found that due to the subsequent highest confirmation In the case of the peasants who disobey this patrimony, execution has already been carried out on the 4th of this month: the peasant Petlenkov, the peasant who poured out indignation, was punished with a whip of 25 blows with the decree of stamp marks and exile in hard labor; and 12 peasants, found by the court more guilty than others, were driven away by five hundred men at once in order to give them up to military service, for which they prove fit, completely incapable of being punished to exile to Siberia for settlement; and the other peasants of the village of Malinovka and the village of Bezlesnaya, except for one who was on the run, and 8 men and one woman, who showed a riot against the military command, over whom the military court was presented for revision to the lord head of the province, recognized Mr. [smallpo] zhu Denisiev for their lawful landowner and in the given zemstvo court pledged to her and to whom from her they will be instructed to completely obey. But the private rumors that reached me on the way to Malinovka made it possible in some way to notice that such a subscription was not based on a sincere consciousness of their own delusion, but only out of fear of punishment and that their attorneys, sent to St. Petersburg to submit requests to the emperor.

On this occasion, guided by the above-explained instruction of your Excellency, I ordered to gather all the householders, to whom I initially confirmed the royal will of unconditional obedience to their landowner, then I counted in detail all the calamities to which they underwent due to their frivolity and unnecessary power of attorney to the troublemaker Petlenkov, and, finally, I announced to them that, by the will of the Emperor, their attorneys had been sent to me by courier and would personally confirm to them a common error in this case. But to all this they responded with a kind of dubious silence, showing that they expect the opposite from their attorneys. But when the attorneys approached them and fell to their knees, the same way the assembled peasants greeted them at the same moment, and when the eldest of them said: “The venerable old men and all the brethren, sending me to Petersburg, you were on your knees before me and asked get to the king; I fulfilled your request and through this I was convinced that we were all deceived and ruined by the villain Petlenkov; now I ask you to put everything out of your head and obey your landowner; but if there is one of you who thinks and speaks differently for this, I will be the first to announce to Ivan Ivanovich (pointing to the estate manager); our ruin must end. " After that, everyone unanimously confirmed their commitment to unconditional obedience to their landowner and her order, and many of them with tears said that they would order their children and grandchildren not to do such things; then they all fell at the manager's feet, asked him to forget the past and assure the mistress that by diligence and faithfulness they would deserve the grief that they had caused her by their blind obedience to Petlenkov, who had seduced them with freedom from the landlord's power; they immediately asked the manager to love them as before, saying: “We, father, have always been pleased with you, but Petlenkov and his accomplices brought us down”; to this the steward answered them that, seeing now their true repentance, he forgets all the insults caused to him and will continue to be their friend, whom they have always called him. After that, the peasants began to kiss the old man's attorney and, as it was noticeable, went home with feelings of self-satisfaction, and today almost everyone was at mass and brought sincere thanks to the Almighty for the establishment of perfect silence and tranquility between them. […]

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 123. L. 31–33

№ 6. FROM THE CASE "ABOUT THE ABANDONING CHUBUK FROM THE HANDS OF THE OFFICIAL SVITA OF THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR AT THE STATION OF THE CITY OF GORODNI", 1833

The report of the Lieutenant Colonel of the Gendarme Corps Vepreysky A.Kh. Benckendorff, November 16, 1833

The Turkish embassy was greeted on the 10th of this month in Chernigov with great curiosity, after which different opinions are heard in the public. Some of those who read a foreign newspaper ("Frankfurt Journal") believe that the reason for this is the conclusion with Russia of a treaty of offensive and defensive alliance against England and France; poorly understanding political affairs predict war from that; while others find in such an alliance beneficial types of government to provide the state with peace for a long time.

Through the line: punishment with gauntlets in the time of Nicholas I

After that, everyone showed the same indignation when they learned about the incident that had happened to the Turkish envoy in the local province in the district town of Gorodnya, where upon arrival, during a change of horses at the post station, an official of the Turkish retinue carried a pipe and a chubuk into the envoy's room. Suddenly, from the crowd that surrounded the carriages, according to rumors, some nobleman snatches the chubuk from the hands of the official, throws it over the fence and hides among the people !! Colonel Zolotarev, who was accompanying the retinue of Mr. [Ospodin], having learned about this, ordered the governor to find the shank and give it when passing the 2nd department, but was not found! Others say that the perpetrator of this is a very young man, an office clerk, who showed during interrogation to the governor that he had been taught by some nobleman to do such an act that is intolerable in a prosperous state, offending everyone who has a sense of national pride. However, the fourth day, as this incident here is a common subject of conversation, but reports from the governor to the civil governor have not yet been received.

Resolution A.Kh. Benckendorff: "It was imperatively commanded that Lieutenant Colonel Vepreisky should conduct research and certainly discover the culprit." .

GA RF. F. 109. Op. 173. D. 130. L. 1-1 ob.

The publication was prepared by the chief specialist of the Center for the Study and Publication of Documents of the State Civil Aviation of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Olga EDELMAN

NOTES

This is one of the measures at the beginning of the reign of Nicholas I, which was designed to speed up the resolution of court cases in the Senate. The Senate was the highest court, but the cases that got there were considered incredibly slowly, dragging on for years and decades.

Later, Nedzyalkovsky again tried to make false denunciations, in 1829 he was exiled to Vyatka "for his restless character and constant readiness to disobey", and in 1832 to Arkhangelsk province, where he died in 1835.

The emperor's gratitude was conveyed to Lieutenant Colonel Shubinsky by a special letter A.Kh. Benckendorff. (Ibid. L. 2.)

Incident reports were regularly drawn up for the emperor. Reading them, Nicholas I made various administrative notes in the fields. Then the officials of the III Section drew up certificates on the content of the corresponding paragraph ("article") of the report and the order of the emperor. Each of these certificates became the starting point of the investigation, formalized into the case. This document is an example of such a reference.

The difference in names in this and the previous document is explained by the fact that at that time the peasants did not have stable surnames, instead of them patronymics or various sorts of family nicknames were used.

That is, with branding.

Chubuk was soon found and sent to St. Petersburg. The culprit turned out to be two minor officials (a 17-year-old clerk, the son of a local landowner, and a 30-year-old official), the motives of their action from the case are unclear.

Current page: 14 (total of the book has 34 pages) [available passage for reading: 19 pages]

The position in which I stopped at the village of Borodino, 12 versts ahead of Mozhaisk, is one of the best that can be found only on flat places. The weak point of this position, which is on the left flank, I will try to correct with art. It is desirable that the enemy attack us in this position, then I have great hope for victory.

But if he, finding my position strong, begins to maneuver along other roads leading to Moscow, then I can’t guarantee that maybe he should go and stand behind Mozhaisk, where all these roads converge, and be that as it may, Moscow should be defended.

Regarding the enemy, it has been noticeable for several days that he has become extremely careful, and when he moves forward, then this, so to speak, groping. Yesterday, Colonel Prince Kudashev, sent from me, forced from 200 Cossacks all the cavalry of the Davustov corps and the king of Neapolitan to sit motionless on horseback for several hours. Yesterday the enemy did not make a single step forward. Today our Cossack outposts are 30 miles away from me, and the side roads are observed very carefully.

Food, although we have not been without bread for a single day, but not in such activities, as I would have liked, which worries me very much.

It is inevitable that from future battles and the autumn weather itself, a decline will follow. It is necessary to keep the army always in a contented set, and for this the Ministry of War should, without wasting time, recruit recruits from the second line depots as quickly as possible to Moscow. Meanwhile, I ordered some of the regiments formed by Prince Lobanov to approach me, and if I find them unreliable to act on their own, I will take out of them the privates to staff the old regiments and turn their foundation to a new formation.

Most Merciful Sovereign, Your Imperial Majesty Most Subject

P. S. Rearguard is now commanded by Lieutenant General Konovnitsyn. Important things have not yet happened in this corps, but the enemy is held in great reverence for us. Several officers and sixty privates were taken prisoner yesterday. By the names of 5 corps to which these prisoners belong, there is no doubt that the enemy is concentrated.

The fifth battalions of the French regiments come to him in succession. These troops are the last that were expected, and this is what the French call Arrière Ban 82
The militia.

From what I have prescribed to General Tormasov, I am enclosing some errata.

Prince G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Order of M.I.Kutuzov to General-Kriegs-Commissioner A.I. Tatishchev on the procurement of winter uniforms

Having received the notification from the Minister of War that Your Excellency has been instructed to prepare winter trousers for the regiments that have lost them during the current movements of the armies, I ask you immediately, my dear sir, to make at any speed, at least up to seventy thousand, tailor them for great height and sew , and which do not keep up, send to the army tailored with a lining along with needles and threads. Any slowdown will be your responsibility.

It is with true respect and devotion that I have the honor to be Your Excellency the humble servant

Prince G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

The order of M.I.Kutuzov to V.S.Lansky on the organization of food and medical care for the wounded

Chief Medical Inspector Willie introduced me to the facility made in case the sick and wounded happen to be sent to Moscow. It consists in the fact that two doctors and two paramedics with medicines and dressings are appointed at each post station. Their position is that they remain in those places as long as the circumstances require it, and the arriving transports with the sick and wounded provide the necessary assistance.

In the city of Mozhaisk there is the first station where the sick and wounded must gather and from where they will be sent by transport of at least 100 and no more than 300 people to the next station, which is called Shelkovmoya, 22 versts from the city; from this station will go 22 versts to the village of Kubinsky, from which 27 versts to the village of Perkhushkina, and finally 28 versts to Moscow. Appointed medical officials will also include those who, upon delivery of the transports, must be returned from the Moscow military governor.

In anticipation of a general battle in these places, Your Excellency will have to establish provisions for those transports of the wounded, which will be sent from here to Moscow.

As a result, at any designated station, detach the commissariat officials, supplying them with bread, meat, wine, vinegar and everything else following in the position for food for the sick, ordering them to do so in such a way that upon the arrival of each transport from the first to the next station, they would be satisfied on this from the commissariat officials with all that the patient in his position is necessary from the medical officials.

These latter, for their part, will also bandage and distribute medicines to the sick, after which the case of the transport officer will be taken to the next station for the patients, where they will be accepted on the same basis by the above-mentioned medical and commissariat officials. I ask Your Excellency to immediately deal with this and notify me of the measures that you will take on this subject.

With perfect respect, I have the honor to be.

M.I.Kutuzov's order for armies on the battle at Shevardin

The hot business that happened yesterday on the left flank ended to the glory of the Russian army. By the way, the cuirassiers mostly distinguished themselves, with prisoners taken and five cannons. I order this to be announced immediately to the troops.

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to F.V.Rostopchin about the Battle of Borodino

This day there was a very hot and bloody battle. With God's help, the Russian army did not yield a single step in it, although the enemy in very excellent forces acted against him. Tomorrow, I hope, placing my trust in God and in the Moscow shrine, with renewed vigor I will fight with him.

It depends on your Excellency to deliver to me from the troops, under your command, as much as possible.

With true and perfect reverence, I abide Your Excellency, my gracious sovereign, humble servant

Prince Kutuzov

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I on the battle at Borodino 83
For a detailed report to Alexander I, see p. 206.

Position at Borodin

After my report that on the 24th the enemy was carrying out an attack with important forces on the left flank of our army, on the 25th it was that he was not engaged in important enterprises, but yesterday, using the fog, at 4 o'clock at dawn he sent all their forces on the left flank of our army.

The battle was general and lasted until the night. The loss on both sides is great: the damage of the enemy, judging by his stubborn attacks on our fortified position, should greatly exceed ours. Your Imperial Majesty's troops fought with incredible courage. The batteries passed from hand to hand and ended with the enemy nowhere winning a single step of the earth with superior forces.

Your Imperial Majesty, please agree that after the bloody and 15 hours of the ongoing battle, our and the enemy armies could not help but become upset, and for the loss that has been made this day, the position previously occupied, naturally, became broader and out of place for the troops, and therefore, when things go not only about the glories of the battles won, but the whole goal is aimed at exterminating the French army, after spending the night at the battle site, I took the intention to retreat 6 versts beyond Mozhaisk, and, gathering the troops upset by the battle, refreshing my artillery and strengthening myself with the Moscow militia, in warm hope for the help of the Almighty and for the incredible courage shown by our troops, I will see what I can do against the enemy.

Unfortunately, Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration was wounded by a bullet in the leg, Lieutenants Tuchkov, Prince Gorchakov, Major Generals Bakhmetevs, Count Vorontsov, Kretov were wounded. The enemy took prisoners and guns and one brigadier general.

It's night now, and I still can't figure out if there is such a loss on our part.

General of Infantry, Prince G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Order of M.I.Kutuzov for armies on the submission of information on the numerical composition of corps and artillery units

It is proposed to the gentlemen of the corps commanders to take care that as soon as possible they inform the troops entrusted to them, and in the first case, at least approximately, deliver my brown sheets on duty.

The masters of artillery, Major Generals Levenshtern and Kostenetsky, should bring in the replenishment of the artillery entrusted to each of them, equip it with men, horses and charges, and this date provide me with data on the number with this statement.

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to F.V.Rostopchin about the Battle of Borodino and the decision to retreat beyond Mozhaisk

My dear sir, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich!

The battle, which began yesterday morning and lasted until nightfall, was bloody. Damage on both sides is great; the loss of the enemy, judging by his stubborn attacks on our fortified position, should greatly exceed ours. The troops fought with incredible courage. The batteries passed from hand to hand and ended with the enemy nowhere winning a single step of the earth with all the excellent forces.

Your Excellency, you must agree that after the bloody and 15 hours of continuing battle, our and the enemy armies could not help but get upset, and for the loss that has been done this day, the position previously occupied, naturally, became broader and out of place for the troops.

Therefore, when it is not about the glory of the battles won only, but the whole goal being aimed at the extermination of the French army, and having spent the night at the battle site, I took the intention of retreating six miles beyond Mozhaisk. Having gathered the troops, refreshed my artillery and strengthened myself with the Moscow militia, in the warm hope for the help of the Almighty and for the incredible courage shown by our army, I will see what I can do against the enemy.

We captured the brigadier general, headquarters and chief officers and lower ranks, as well as cannons; what else, in the night I can not make out. Unfortunately, we have several wounded generals, among others Prince Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration was shot in the thigh.

Sincere heart, with whom I am informing you of this, and my intentions must calm Moscow, and behind the challenge made by Your Excellency, I expect from your well-known love for the fatherland the efforts that the capital of Moscow can give to the army.

With perfect respect, I abide Your Excellency, my gracious Sovereign, humble servant

Prince Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

M.I.Kutuzov's order on the armies with a declaration of gratitude to the troops

It is with particular pleasure that I deliver to declare my perfect gratitude to all the troops in general who were in the last battle, where they showed new experience of their unlimited love for the Fatherland and the Emperor and the courage that is characteristic of Russians. The regiments of the Life Guards have proved that they justly deserve the happiness of protecting the sacred person of our Most Merciful Emperor. After the bloodiest battle, not one of these warriors was found who left their ranks.

Now, having inflicted a terrible defeat on our enemy, we will give him with the help of God the final blow. For this, our troops are marching towards fresh soldiers who are burning with the same zeal to fight the enemy. The generous awards of the All-Merciful Sovereign are ready for all the brave.

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I about the battle at Borodino

On August 24 in the afternoon at 4 o'clock our rearguard was attacked at the Kolotsky monastery by the French. The superior forces of the enemy forced the latter to retreat to a position located near Borodino, where the troops were already arranged in order of battle. On this day, our rearguard dealt with the enemy's cavalry and gained the surface. The Izyum hussar regiment with a number of Cossacks strongly attacked the French cavalry, where three squadrons of this were exterminated.

The enemy, having crossed the Kolocha River above Borodino, directed his main forces towards the redoubt that we had arranged in front of him, which was extremely worried about his offensive movement on our left flank. The battle against this redoubt became more stubborn from hour to hour, but all the assassination attempts of the enemy, repelled several times with great damage, were made in vain, and at last he was completely repulsed.

At this time, the cuirassier regiments of the 2nd division - Yekaterinoslavsky, Ordensky, Glukhovsky and Little Russia with a quick attack completed his defeat. At this we took 8 cannons, of which 3, after being knocked down, were left at the site of the battle.

On the 25th, the French army was in our sight, built several fortifications in front of its frunt; on its right wing, various movements were noticed, hidden from us by the forests, which is why it could be assumed that Napoleon's intention was to attack our left wing and then, continuing along the Old Smolensk road, completely cut us off from Mozhaisk.

In order to forestall this intention, I ordered the same day Lieutenant General Tuchkov with the 3rd corps to go to our left wing and cover the Smolensk road with my position. To reinforce this corps, 7,000 people from the Moscow militia were dispatched under the leadership of Lieutenant General Count Markov.

From the 3rd corps to the left wing of the 2nd army, which was commanded by the general of infantry, Prince Bagration, there was a gap that continued for a mile and was covered with bushes, in which the jaeger regiments of the 20th, 21st, 11th were located for better communication. th and 41st. The combined grenadier battalions of the 2nd Army under the command of Mr. [General] -m [Ayora] Gr [Afa] Vorontsov occupied all the fortifications arranged in front of the village of Semenovskaya; the left wing of our army adjoined this village, and from it a line of the regiments of the 7th corps under the command of Lieutenant-General Raevsky extended in the direction of the mound, which was in the middle of the army and had been fortified the day before. The 6th corps under the command of infantry general Dokhturov with its left wing adjoined the right side of the mound.

At this point, the line sloped to the right towards the village of Gorkam, and in that direction stood the 4th and 2nd Infantry Corps, which made up the right wing of the army under the command of Infantry General Miloradovich.

All of the above troops were part of our main force (cor-de-battal) and were located in two lines. Behind them were the cavalry corps as follows: the 1st cavalry corps a little to the right behind the 2nd corps, the 2nd behind the 4th, the 3rd behind the 6th, the 4th behind the 7th. Behind the cavalry is the 5th Infantry Corps, composed of guards regiments, and the 2nd Grenadier Division, and behind them both cuirassiers.

In this position, the army awaited the coming of the day and the enemy attack.

On the 26th, at 4 o'clock in the midnight, the first aspiration of the enemy was towards the village of Borodino, which he was looking for in order to establish himself in it, to secure the center of his army and actions on our left wing, which was attacked at the same time. Its main batteries were located at the village of Shevardino: the 1st of 60 guns near the redoubt left by us on the 24th had an indirect direction to our infantry line and the battery on the mound, and the 2nd of 40 guns a little to the left of the first turned her fire on strengthening our left wing.

The enemy attack on the village of Borodino was carried out with incredible speed, but the courage of the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment, enlivened by the example of the chiefs thereof, stopped the aspiration of 8000 Frenchmen. The bloodiest battle flared up, and these brave huntsmen, in view of the whole army, held back [the enemy] for more than an hour. Finally, the reserves that approached him multiplied their forces, forced this regiment, leaving the village of Borodino, to cross the Koloch River.

The French, encouraged by Borodin's occupation, rushed after the jaegers and almost with them crossed the river, but the guards jaegers, reinforced by the regiments that had come with Colonel Manakhtin and the jaeger brigade of the 24th division under the command of Colonel Vuich, suddenly turned to the enemy and united with those who had come to them to the rescue they hit with bayonets, and all the French who were on our shore were the victims of their audacious enterprise.

The bridge on the Kolocha River was completely destroyed, despite strong enemy fire, and the French did not dare to attempt to kill the crossing for a whole day and were content with a skirmish with our huntsmen.

Meanwhile, the fire on our left wing intensified hour by hour. To this point the enemy gathered his main forces, consisting of the corps of Prince Ponyatovsky, Marshals Ney and Davust, and was incomparably more numerous than we are. Prince Bagration, seeing the multiplication of the enemy, annexed the 3rd Infantry Division under the command of Lieutenant General Konovnitsyn and, moreover, was forced to use the 2nd Grenadier Division from the reserve under the command of Lieutenant General Borozdin, which he placed ledges against the left wing behind village, and to the left of this three regiments of the 1st cuirassier division and the entire 2nd cuirassier division.

I found it necessary to bring the regiments closer to this point: the Izmailovsky and Lithuanian Life Guards under the command of Colonel Khrapovitsky. The enemy, under the cover of his batteries, emerged from the forest and took a direction straight to our fortifications, where he was met with whole shots of our artillery, commanded by Colonel Boguslavsky, and suffered the greatest damage.

Despite this, the enemy, lining up in several dense columns, accompanied by numerous cavalry, rushed to our fortifications with fury. The artillerymen, with courageous composure, having waited the enemy for the next grape-shot, opened heavy fire on him, uniformly and the infantry [met] him with the most ardent rifle fire, [but the defeat] of their columns did not deter the French, who were striving for their goal and not before turned to flight, as already Count Vorontsov with the combined grenadier battalions hit them with bayonets; the strong onslaught of these battalions confused the enemy, and he, retreating in the greatest disorder, was exterminated everywhere by our brave soldiers.

With this attack, Count Vorontsov, having received a severe wound, was forced to leave his division. At the same time, another part of the enemy infantry followed the Old Smolensk road in order to completely bypass our left wing; but the 1st Grenadier Division, which was on this road, having waited out the enemy with firmness, stopped his movements and forced him to move back.

New forces reinforced the French, which prompted Lieutenant General Tuchkov to retreat along the Smolensk road, where he took an advantageous position at a height. The battery set up in this place of the 1st artillery brigade inflicted significant harm on the advancing enemy. The French, noticing the importance of this place, for this height commanded the entire circle, and, having mastered it, they could take our left wing to the flank and take away the way to stay on the Smolensk road, why, strengthening against this point, and in close columns from different sides led an attack on the 1st Grenadier Division.

The brave grenadiers, having waited for the enemy, opened the most severe fire on him and, without hesitation, rushed at him with bayonets. The enemy could not withstand such a rapid attack, left the battlefield with damage and disappeared into the nearby forests. Lieutenant General Tuchkov was wounded by a bullet in the chest and Lieutenant General Olsufiev took command on him.

At 11 o'clock in the morning the enemy, reinforced by artillery and infantry against the fortifications of our left wing, decided to attack them again. His repeated attacks were repulsed, where Major General Dorokhov contributed a lot with excellent courage. Finally, he managed to get hold of our three flushes, with which we did not have time to reduce the guns.

But he did not take advantage of this advantage for long; The Astrakhan, Siberian and Moscow regiments, lining up in close columns under the command of Major General Borozdin, rushed to the enemy, who was immediately shot down and driven to the forest with great damage. Such a blow from our side was not without loss. Major General Prince Karl of Mecklenburg was wounded, Revel Infantry Regiment Chief Major General Tuchkov 4th was killed, Moscow Grenadier Regiment Colonel Shatilov received a severe wound, Astrakhan Grenadier Regiment Colonel Buxgewden, despite the received three more serious wounds, went ahead dead on a battery with many other brave officers.

The loss of the French against us is incomparable. After which the enemy, multiplying his strength, desperately rushed again to our batteries and again took possession of them, but Lieutenant General Konovnitsyn, having arrived in time with the 3rd Infantry Division and seeing our batteries occupied, swiftly attacked the enemy and in the blink of an eye tore them off.

All the guns that were on them were again repulsed by us; the field between the batteries and the forest was covered with their corpses, and in this case they lost their best cavalry general Montbrun and the chief of staff, General Romeuf, who was with the corps of Marshal Davust.

After this failure, the French, taking several columns of both infantry and cavalry to the right, decided to bypass our batteries. [Barely] they emerged from the forest when Lieutenant General Prince Golitsyn, who commanded the cuirassier divisions to the left of the 3rd Infantry Division, ordered Major General Borozdin and Major General Duke to strike at the enemy. In an instant he was put to flight and forced to hide into the forest, from where, although several times later he showed himself, he was always [was] driven away with damage.

Despite the heavy loss suffered by the French, they never ceased to strive to master the above three flushes; their artillery, multiplied up to 100 guns, inflicted considerable harm on our troops with its concentrated fire.

Noticing that the enemy was transferring troops from the left wing in order to strengthen the center and his right wing, I immediately ordered our entire right wing to move, as a result of which the infantry general Miloradovich dispatched Lieutenant General Baggovut with the 2nd corps to the left wing, and with the 4th corps went to reinforce the center, over which he took over the leadership. The infantry general Dokhturov took command of the left flank after Prince Bagration, who, to the extreme regret of the entire army, received a serious wound and was forced to leave the battlefield.

This accident greatly upset the successful action of our left wing, which hitherto had a surface over the enemy, and, of course, would have had the most disastrous consequences if Lieutenant General Konovnitsyn had not taken command before the arrival of infantry general Dokhturov.

No less than that, at this very time, the enemy attacked our fortifications, and the troops, which defended them with courage for several hours in a row, had to yield to the enemy's large numbers, retreat to the village of Semyonovskaya and occupy the heights that were at the same time, which, no doubt, would soon be would have been lost if Major General Count Ivelich had not arrived in time with the command of the 17th Division and had not arranged strong ones on these batteries, through which he restored close communication between the left wing of the army and the 1st Grenadier Division.

Lieutenant General Baggovut with the 4th division joined the 1st Grenadier Division at the same time and accepted it into his command. After that, although the enemy made several assassination attempts on our left wing, each time he was repulsed with the greatest loss.

The Izmailovsky and Litovsky Life Guards regiments, which had come to the left flank of the 3rd Infantry Division, with unshakable courage withstood the hardest fire of enemy guns and, in spite of the loss suffered, were in the best order. The regiments of the Life Guards Izmailovsky and Lithuanian in this battle covered themselves with glory in view of the entire army, being attacked three times by enemy cuirassiers and horse grenadiers, stood firm and, repelling their aspirations, they destroyed many of them. Major General Kretov with the cuirassier regiments of Yekaterinoslav and the Order arrived in time to help them, overturned the enemy cavalry, destroyed most of it, and on this occasion he was wounded.

Napoleon, seeing the unsuccessful assassination attempts by the troops of the right wing of his army and that they were repulsed at all points, hid them in the woods and, occupying the edge with arrows, reached to the left towards our center. Infantry general Barclay de Tolly, who commanded the 1st Army, noticing the enemy's movement, turned his attention to this point and, in order to reinforce it, ordered the 4th corps to join the right wing of the Preobrazhensky regiment, which with Semenovsky and Finland remained in reserve.

For these troops he put the 2nd and 3rd cavalry corps, and behind them the regiments of the cavalry and horse guards. In this position, our center and all the aforementioned reserves were exposed to strong enemy fire; all its batteries turned their effect on the mound, built the day before and protected by 18 battery guns, backed up by the entire 26th division under the command of Lieutenant General Raevsky.

It was impossible to avoid this, for the enemy was strengthening every minute against this point, the most important in the entire position, and soon after that he went to our center in large forces under the cover of his artillery in thick columns, attacked the kurgan battery, managed to capture it and overthrow the 26th division, which could not withstand the superior forces of the enemy.

The chief of the General Staff, Major General Yermolov, seeing the enemy seizing the battery, the most important in the entire position, with his characteristic courage and determination, together with the excellent Major General Kutaisov, took only the Ufa Infantry Regiment and, arranging as soon as possible those who fled, supplying example, hit with hostility.

The enemy defended himself fiercely, but nothing resisted the Russian bayonet. The 3rd Battalion of the Ufa Infantry Regiment and the 16th Jaeger Regiment rushed directly to the battery, the 19th and 40th on the left side thereof, and in a quarter of an hour the battery was in our power with 18 guns on it. Major General Paskevich with his regiments attacked the enemy behind the battery with bayonets; Adjutant General Vasilchikov did the same on the right side, and the enemy was completely exterminated; the entire height and field thereof is covered with enemy bodies, and the brigadier commander, the French General Bonamy, taken from the battery, was one of the enemies who won mercy.

The cavalry that came to the rescue for this case under the command of Adjutant General Korf contributed much to the repulse of our battery; on this occasion, to the great regret of all, we lost a worthy general from the artillery Kutaisov, who was killed when the battery was taken. Major General Yermolov changed most of the artillery, the officers and service with the guns were killed and, finally, using the Ufa infantry regiment of people, he held off the enemy strong assassination attempts during an hour and a half, after which he was wounded in the neck and handed over the battery to Mr. Likhachev, sent by the infantry general Barclay de Tolly with the 24th division to replace the 26th, which, having opposed to itself at all times the excellent enemy forces, was very upset.

During this incident, the enemy cavalry, consisting of cuirassiers and lancers, attacked the 4th corps at many points, but this brave infantry, having waited the enemy for the next rifle shot, fired so fierce battle fire that the enemy was completely overturned and fled with great loss in disorder; on this occasion, the Pernovsky Infantry Regiment and the 34th Jaeger Regiment especially distinguished themselves.

Several regiments of the 2nd Cavalry Corps, pursuing the fleeing enemy, drove all the way to the infantry. The Pskov Dragoon Regiment under the command of Colonel Zass cut into the enemy infantry; His Highness's adjutant, Colonel Prince Kudashev, completed the extermination of another enemy column by galloping up with 4 guards horse artillery guns, of which, acting with the closest grape-shot, inflicted terrible harm on the enemy.

After this, the enemy in large forces reached out to our left flank. To delay his desire, I ordered Adjutant General Uvarov with the 1st Cavalry Corps, crossing the Kolocha River, to attack the enemy on his left flank. Although the position of the site was not very favorable, the attack was done quite successfully, the enemy was overturned; on this occasion, the Elisavetgrad hussar regiment recaptured two guns, but could not take them beyond the bad road; At this very time, the enemy infantry attempted to cross the Kolocha River in order to attack our infantry, which was on the right flank, which was, according to Adjutant General Uvarov, by attacks on it, warned her intention and prevented the execution thereof.

Napoleon, seeing the failure of all his enterprises and all his attempts on our left flank destroyed, turned all his attention to our center, against which, having gathered large forces in a multitude of columns of infantry and cavalry, he attacked the Kurgan battery; the battle was the most bloody, several enemy columns were the victim of such a daring undertaking, but in spite of this, having multiplied his strength, he took possession of the battery, with which, however, Lieutenant General Raevsky managed to reduce several guns.

In this case, Major General Likhachev was seriously wounded and taken prisoner. The enemy cavalry, having captured the mound, in large forces rushed desperately against the infantry of the 4th corps and the 7th division, but was met by the cavalry and horse guard regiments under the command of Major General Shevich; These regiments, having against them the disproportionate forces of the enemy cavalry, with extraordinary courage stopped its enterprise and, being reinforced by some regiments of the 2nd and 3rd cavalry corps, immediately attacked the enemy cavalry and, having completely overturned it, drove it all the way to the infantry.

The right and left flanks of our army retained their former position; the troops, in the center under the command of the infantry general Miloradovich, occupied a height lying near the mound, where, having placed strong batteries, they opened terrible fire on the enemy. The brutal cannonade from both sides continued until late at night. Our artillery, inflicting terrible harm on the enemy with its solid shots, forced the enemy batteries to silence, after which all the enemy infantry and cavalry retreated. Adjutant General Vasilchikov with the 12th Infantry Division was himself with the riflemen until nightfall and acted with special prudence and courage.

Thus, our troops, having retained almost all of their places, remained in them.

Current page: 13 (total of the book has 34 pages) [available passage for reading: 23 pages]

As for the union, it is not mentioned in the treatise, due to the lack of sufficient power in the Turkish plenipotentiaries to publish such an article. By insisting on this demand, we would not only damage the speedy success of the business we had begun, but we could even halt the course of this and the event itself.

Meanwhile, now, when a firm foundation for good agreement has been laid, we can, through the renewed friendly relations between us and the Ottoman Porto, extract from this world all the benefits that the Emperor will presume for himself, and persuade the Sultan to enter into an alliance with us.

Accept, sir, my sincere congratulations on this important undertaking, after so many donations, labors and harassment, with overcoming all obstacles to the desired end of the above, at a time when the circumstances of Europe make peace with Porto so useful for us.

With the most excellent esteem and the same devotion, I have the honor to be Your Excellency, Gracious Sovereign, most humble servant

P. S. There is no doubt that the peace now concluded with Porto will turn France's displeasure and hatred on her, and therefore, also indisputably, the Sultan will decide on all our proposals, considering then an alliance with us for his own security necessary.

I have the honor to be

gr [af] Mikhailo G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Patriotic War and Foreign Campaign (1812-1813)

Rescript of Alexander I to M.I.Kutuzov on the defense of St. Petersburg

Mikhailo Larionovich! The present circumstances make it necessary to form a corps for the defense of St. Petersburg. I entrust this to you. Your military dignity and your long-term experience give Me full hope that you will completely justify this new experience of My power of attorney to you.

This corps will include all the troops stationed in St. Petersburg and the surrounding area, uniformly and new weapons, which I expect from the Pererburg nobility, inspired, of course, by the same zeal as the Moscow one. I instruct you to figure out all the necessary measures on these subjects with field marshal Count Saltykov, general [eral] from inf [anteria] Vyazmitinov and gene [eral] -leit [enant] kn [yaz] Gorchakov.

I remain forever benevolent to you

Alexander

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I about his election as the head of the Petersburg militia

On the 17th of this month, the St. Petersburg noble society summoned me to its meeting, where it announced a general desire that I accept the leadership of the general militia of the St. Petersburg province, from the nobility constituted.

In order not to slow down the zealous actions of the nobility by refusal, I accepted this offer and took action on this part, but on such a condition that, being in your real Imperial Majesty's military service, if I am summoned to another commission or in some way this is mine exercise will not be pleasing to your Imperial Majesty, then I will have to leave this post to another by the election of the nobility.

Most Merciful Sovereign, Your Imperial Majesty Most Subject

Count Mikhailo G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I on the distribution of banners to units of the Petersburg militia

When arranging the militia armed in the St. Petersburg province, it is supposed to give two banners in each battalion or squad, under which the newly arriving soldiers would be sworn in. The banner, as it should be, is white with a red cross and an inscription: Conquer with this sign.

By the haste with which this militia is being formed, these banners are already being made, and the nobility will only have the happiness of waiting for the Highest permission of Your Imperial Majesty to consecrate and distribute them to the militia.

M.I.Kutuzov's report to Alexander I on the organization of the Petersburg militia

Upon receipt of the Supreme Manifesto, held on the 6th day of this month, p. - the St. Petersburg nobility and all other estates expressed their readiness and loyal zeal to build up internal forces to defend the Fatherland, and at this end it is necessary to collect one person from every 25 souls to compose them, that all together there will be up to 8000 people.

The composition of the alleged St. Petersburg military force

It is made up of 8 foot squads. Each squad will consist of as many people as possible of the people of one district and will have its own number or district of its own name.

Each squad [consists] of 4 hundred. Each hundred will have 200 warriors.

About clothes

Simple warriors retain their peasant dress, but no longer than an inch over the knee. Other clothing accessories according to their condition. The cap should be made so that everyone can tie it up over the ears under the beard during cold weather.

About armament

For armament, a gun is assumed. Those who have it with a bayonet will not have a peak, and without a bayonet they will have a spear longer than a half-arch rifle with a bayonet, which will be worn on a belt over the shoulders.

Each warrior will have a satchel over his shoulder with a belt, in which he could put his underwear, spare boots and bread crumbs for three days.

He will have a bag for cartridges, at least of a different model than the commissariat's.

To fill the ranks of officers, higher and lower, elections were made from the nobility and, moreover, from retired and civilians of various ranks, they are in a hurry to join this formed army.

For early training and a solid foundation in the squads, I intend to use the local battalion of internal guards, divide it across all hundreds, evenly divide the officers into squads. The rural St. Petersburg district and the city police will not tolerate this, for as soon as one squad is formed, then it will be possible to use it abundantly on this subject.

It is planned to form one horse and one foot artillery company.

To this will take from the available in the arsenal 3-pounder 24 guns and small unicorns.

To try to acquire horses for these as much as possible with a donation, the rest will be redeemed at the expense of the sum of this army.

For the founding of these companies, nothing more from artillery is required than only 30 old lower ranks.

Nothing on this subject had been done before the command concerning the cavalry was recently received from Your Imperial Majesty; now all the soldiers represented from the city, numbering up to 500 people, I intend, as people more agile, to use all of them in the Cossack service. For their education there will be people from the reserve squadrons, who remained in St. Petersburg.

About training

The training of warriors should be the simplest and only consist of the following.

The first approach to training is to instill in the warrior the knowledge of his place in the line and in the row, that is, so that everyone knows the person who stands in front of and behind the row, and those who are in the line on his right and left side.

It is necessary to instruct him that in no case should he be torn away from these people; if he even acted in a placer, then even then he should not lose sight of them. This is the main principle that binds any regular army and gives it an advantage over the uneducated crowds.

With a gun, teach only the charge and the ability to act with a bayonet.

March in front, in platoons and in squads; not to look for any beauty in this march, and so only limit ourselves in order to eventually achieve the fact that they step in one foot, so as not to have excitement in the front, which prepares detuning.

Battalions in large lines should be equal to each other by means of the middle ranks, according to the method adopted in the Russian service.

About committees

For the early preparation of the formation of a military force, two committees were elected: the Organizational and the Economic.

The upbeat will be engaged in all that is necessary for the composition of the militia.

He is engaged in the reception, distribution, formation, arming of soldiers and taking care of carts, in items requiring expenses, he communicates with the Economic Committee.

The Economic Committee is under the jurisdiction of two treasurers, the chief and private food masters, all kinds of input sums and expenses thereof.

He is responsible for supplying the troops with provisions, salaries and other things.

General of Infantry Count G [Olenishchev] -Kutuzov

Decree of Alexander I to the Governing Senate on the elevation of M.I.Kutuzov to princely dignity

Decree to Our Senate

In an expression of Our special favor for the diligent service and zealous labors of Our general from infantry, Count Golenishchev-Kutuzov, who contributed to the end of the war with the Ottoman Port and to the conclusion of a useful peace, the boundaries of Our empire spread, we build Him with His descendants into the princely empire assigning it the title of Lordship. We command the Senate to prepare a diploma for princely dignity and bring it to Our signature.

Alexander

Rescript of Alexander I to M.I.Kutuzov on entrusting him with command of all land and sea forces in St. Petersburg, Kronstadt and Finland

Upon your appointment as the commander of the corps being formed in St. Petersburg, I find it necessary to entrust your main command with all the troops located in St. Petersburg, Kronstadt and Finland, not excluding the naval ones, so that you, having these in your only command, could, if necessary to use and combine these, having at the same time supervision, so that your orders about the naval forces were made only in relation to the minister of the sea, so that your orders were not contrary to the orders he made for the fleet, as a result of the orders given by Me to the naval minister ...

On the original, in His Imperial Majesty's own hand it is written

Alexander

Decree of Alexander I on the appointment of M.I.Kutuzov as a member of the State Council

To the State Council

General of Infantry, Prince Golenishchev-Kutuzov, we all-mercifully command to be present in the State Council.

On the original, in His Imperial Majesty's own hand, the following is signed:

Alexander

From a letter from F. V. Rostopchin to Alexander I about the need to put M. I. Kutuzov at the head of the army

Sovereign! Your trust, my place and my loyalty give me the right to tell you the truth, which, perhaps, meets an obstacle to reach you. The army and Moscow are driven to despair by the weakness and inaction of the Minister of War, ruled by Wolzogen. In the main apartment they sleep until 10 o'clock in the morning: Bagration respectfully keeps himself aloof, seemingly obeys and, apparently, is waiting for some bad deed to present himself to the commanders of both armies.

Moscow wants Kutuzov to command and move your troops: otherwise, Sovereign, there will be no unity in action, while Napoleon concentrates everything in his head. He himself must be in great difficulty; but can Barclay and Bagration penetrate his intentions? […]

Rescript of Alexander I to M.I.Kutuzov on his appointment as commander-in-chief of the armies

Mikhailo Larionovich!

Although the present state of the military circumstances of Our active armies was preceded by initial successes, the consequences of these do not reveal to Me the swift action with which one should act to defeat the enemy.

Considering these consequences and extracting the true reasons for this, I find it necessary to appoint one general commander-in-chief over all active armies, whose election, in addition to military gifts, would be based on seniority itself.

Your well-known military merits, love for the Fatherland and repeated experiences of excellent feats acquire you the true right to this very power of attorney of mine.

Choosing you for this important cause, I ask the almighty God, bless your deeds to the glory of Russian weapons, and may the happy hopes that the Fatherland places on you be justified.

I am always supportive to you

Alexander

From a letter from Alexander I to his sister, Ekaterina Pavlovna

[…] I found that the mood here is worse than in Moscow and the provinces; strong anger against the minister of war, who, it must be confessed, contributes to this by his indecisive manner of action and the disorder with which he conducts his business.

His quarrel with Bagration intensified and grew so much that I was forced, after explaining all the circumstances to a small committee specially assembled by me for this purpose, to appoint a commander-in-chief of all the armies; having weighed everything thoroughly, they settled on Kutuzov as the oldest, and thus gave Bennigsen the opportunity to serve under his command. Kutuzov is generally in great favor with the local society and in Moscow. […]

Rescript of Alexander I to M.I.Kutuzov on permission to read all reports sent from the army to the name of the emperor

Prince Mikhailo Larionovich!

I allow you to stop the couriers that you meet, traveling from the army, and all reports sent to My name, print them, read them, and then send them to Me with your seal.

I am always supportive to you

Alexander

Letter from M.I.Kutuzov to M. B. Barclay de Tolly on the appointment to the post of commander-in-chief

The Highest rescripts enclosed with this: one addressed to Your Excellency, the other, to whom I ask to immediately deliver to the name of His Excellency Prince Bagration, will show you, my dear sir, the Highest appointment of me as the commander-in-chief of all armies. Hurrying to arrive there, this will be my humble request, to send me a courier to Torzhok, through whom I could receive information about where the armies are now, and who would show me the route from Torzhok to them.

I leave to my personal meeting with Your Excellency the opportunity to certify you, my dear sir, of the complete respect and devotion with which I have the honor to be, Your Excellency, the humble servant

The highest letter to Count Nesselrod and a letter to Mr. Stroganov, I humbly ask you to deliver them.

G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Report by M. B. Barclay-de-Tolly to M. I. Kutuzov on the intention to give a battle at Tsarevo-Zaymishche

August 1812

The day before yesterday I had the honor of informing Your Lordship about the position of the army entrusted to me. Now I most respectfully report that, finding the position at Vyazma very unprofitable, I decided to take this day a position at Tsarevo-Zaymishche in an open place, in which, although the flanks are not covered by anything, they can be provided with our light troops.

Having received the news that General Miloradovich with the troops entrusted to him was approaching Gzhatsk, I intended to stop here and take a battle, which I had avoided until now, for fear of exposing the state to great danger in case of failure, for, apart from these two armies, there were no more troops , with which it was possible to have and make a barrier to the enemy; therefore, I tried only by private battles to halt its rapid advance, which is why his forces daily weakened more and more and now have become, perhaps, a little more than ours.

The 1st Army's outposts were two miles beyond Vyazma last night. The enemy is following us with the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th corps of his own, with the corps of the king of Neapolitan, composed mostly of cavalry.

The troops led by General Miloradovich, although fresh, consist of only recruits, therefore, are inexperienced and unreliable, which is why I think it best to place them in the old regiments, and give General Miloradovich the command of the 2nd corps of the 1st Western Army.

However, with the arrival of your lordship in the army, I will await your detailed instructions.

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to M. B. Barclay de Tolly about the time of his arrival to the armies

My dear sir Mikhailo Bogdanovich!

The present rainy time prevents me from arriving tomorrow for dinner in the army; but as soon as it’s dawn, it’s possible to continue my journey, then I hope from the 17th to the 18th I will certainly be in the main apartment. This, however, my deceleration does not in any way prevent Your Excellency from carrying out the plan you have undertaken before my arrival. 78
Before taking command, MI Kutuzov did not want to interfere with the plans and orders of MB Barclay de Tolly. However, the position at Tsarevo-Zaymishche was unsuccessful. In addition, Barclay de Tolly did not have time to arrange it. Perhaps Barclay was driven by a desire to give battle at all costs before the arrival of Kutuzov, but he did not have time to do this.

It is with the utmost respect and devotion that I have the honor to be Your Excellency the most humble servant

Prince Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

From a letter from M.I.Kutuzov to F.V. Rostopchin on strengthening the army with the militia and on arming the militia with weapons of the Moscow arsenal

Your letter arrived with me in Gzhatsk at the same time, and having not seen the Minister of War, who commanded the armies until now, and not being sufficiently aware of all the means available in them, I can not yet say anything positive about future assumptions about the actions of the armies. The question has not yet been resolved what is more important - whether to lose the army or to lose Moscow. In my opinion, the loss of Russia is connected with the loss of Moscow.

Now I turn all my attention to the increase in the army, and the first reinforcement for this will be the troops of General Miloradovich, about fifteen thousand in number. Then Irakli Ivanovich Markov informs me that already eleven regiments of the military Moscow militia have gone to different points.

For this still reliable stronghold, it would be desirable to have rifles with accessories, and I, seeing from the statements, your Excellency, in relation to me attached to me, that in the Moscow arsenal there are 11,845 suitable rifles and too 2,000 muskets and carbines, but rifles and muskets that require some repair and there are too 18,000 fittings, I would humbly ask Your Excellency to order them to be repaired by whatever means you please, and I will learn about both these and the first from the Minister of War; If they are not assigned any other use, maybe I will use it for the militia and I will not hesitate to notify your Excellency.

The summons of eighty thousand over the militia of voluntarily arming sons of the fatherland is a trait that proves the spirit of the Russian and the trust of the inhabitants of Moscow to their leader, who revives them. Your Excellency, no doubt, support this so that the army, in the reliability of its successes, could use them on occasion, and then I will ask Your Excellency to send them to Mozhaisk. I conclude this with my heartfelt gratitude for the flattering reviews with which your letter is filled, staying forever with the perfect respect of Your Excellency, humble servant

Prince Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

M.I.Kutuzov's order for the armies on entering the command of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Western and Moldavian armies 79
This was the first order of MI Kutuzov as commander-in-chief.

By His Highest Imperial Majesty, I was entrusted with the leadership of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Western and former Moldavian armies. Having now arrived personally to the first two, henceforth, henceforth, all reports from them to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor will not otherwise ascend, as through me they will be thrown down.

The power of each of the years. the commanders-in-chief of the army remains with them on the basis of the "Establishment of large active armies."

Mr. General of the Cavalry Baron Bennigsen will be relative to me on the same basis as the chiefs of the main staff stand relative to each of the Messrs. the commanders-in-chief of the armies.

On the occasion of the manning of the 1st and 2nd armies intended for me with the troops brought by Mr. General of Infantry Miloradovich, they are assigned to the command of his 2nd and 4th corps of the 1st Western Army.

M. I. Kutuzov's letter to his wife, E. I. Kutuzova, about the mood in the army

Thank God I am healthy, my friend, and I have a lot of hope. The spirit in the army is extraordinary, there are a lot of good generals. Really, lack of time, my friend. God bless the children.

Loyal friend Mikhailo G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I about the arrival to the armies and the decision to fight

Most Merciful Emperor!

Arriving on the 18th of this month to the armies entrusted to me by Your Highest Imperial Majesty, and having taken the main command over them, I have the good fortune to convey to everyone the following.

Upon my arrival in the city of Gzhatsk, I found the troops retreating from Vyazma and many regiments from frequent battles quite exhausted in number of people, for only yesterday passed without military action. I made the intention to fill up the missing number of these things brought yesterday by the general of infantry Miloradovich and continue to arrive with troops, infantry 14587, cavalry 1002, so that they would be distributed among the regiments.

I also cannot hide from you, Most Merciful Sovereign, that the number of marauders has increased greatly, so yesterday the colonel and adjutant of His Imperial Highness Shulgin gathered up to 2,000 of them; but the strictest measures have already been taken against this evil.

For even more convenient staffing, I ordered from Gzhatsk to retreat one march and, depending on the circumstances, another, in order to join the army on the above-mentioned basis sent from Moscow in a contented number of warriors; besides, the location at Gzhatsk I found, according to my review, very unprofitable for the battle.

Having strengthened in this way both through the staffing of the injured troops and through the involvement of some of the regiments formed by Prince Lobanov-Rostovsky and part of the Moscow militia into the army, I will be able to surrender to the mercy of the battle to save Moscow, which, however, will be undertaken with all caution. which the importance of the circumstances may require.

I intend to use the Smolensk militia and part of the Moscow militia that is now available with the army, which has come to readiness in such a way that I will add them to the regular troops, not in order to equip them with them, but so that they can sometimes be used there to make up the third rank with peaks. or to use them for battalions with small reserves to withdraw the wounded or to preserve rifles after the killed, to do redoubts and other field work, especially to replace the necessary places with carts, so that there is no longer a single soldier to keep there.

At the same time, we must take that caution in order to convince them that their condition does not change in the least, that they remain temporary warriors and that everything from Your Imperial Majesty to them will be kept holy; I am ready to approve this by them and by oath.

Already yesterday I had the benefit of the militia, that with their help more than 2000 people were caught by marauders. This continues today.

I sent an engineering officer to the Moscow Land Survey Department to obtain from there those topographic maps that were deemed necessary.

We have no information about the enemy, except that light troops can be opened or known from prisoners who have not been there for a long time.

I am enclosing with this the original reports on the available army before the recruitment of it began, and I also present to Your Imperial Majesty a letter from the Prince of Neuchâtel to the Minister of War Barclay de Tolly.

Most Merciful Sovereign, Your Imperial Majesty Most Subject

Prince Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

From the journal of military operations of the 1st and 2nd Western armies for 1812 80
The magazine was compiled by the Acting Quartermaster General Colonel K. F. Tolem.

17 [August]. The camp of both armies at Tsarevo-Zaymishche. On this day, the general of infantry, Prince Golenishchev-Kutuzov, arrived and took the main command over the armies. Although it was suggested by General Barclay de Tolly to give battle to the enemy at Tsarevo-Zaimishche, Prince Golenishchev-Kutuzov considered it necessary to approach the reinforcements that the general led from infantry Miloradovich to the army in advance.

18th. Was ratified to all troops.

19th. The army, passing the city of Gzhatsk, camped at the village of Ivashkov. At this place, General Miloradovich joined with new troops arriving from Kaluga. […]

20th. Camp at the village of Durykin. […]

Letter from M.I.Kutuzov to P.I.Bagration with instructions on the further march of armies 81
Similar instructions were sent to the commander of the 1st Western Army MB Barclay de Tolly and the commander of the rearguard PP Konovnitsyn.

My dear sir, Peter Ivanovich!

Tomorrow, at dawn, a march to the armies. The order of the march and the place to which the troops must reach and position themselves will be communicated by Colonel Tolem. Artillery and cuirassier divisions are performing in the evening. There will be no convoys at all with the armies.

With perfect respect, I have the honor to be Your Excellency, my dear sir, humble servant

Prince G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to A.P. Tormasov about the alleged general engagement

My dear sir, Alexander Petrovich!

Arriving at the armies, I found their retreat at Gzhatsk. The real subject of movement of these is that forces, still in the resource behind, are to strengthen them to such an extent that it would be desirable that the enemy was slightly superior to us. Yesterday, our [forces] had multiplied to 15,000 people brought in by battalions from recruitment depots and will consistently be strengthened by the troops of the Moscow militia.

Thus, I will wait for the enemy in the general battle at Mozhaisk, placing all my hopes on the help of the Almighty and the courage of the Russian troops, impatiently awaiting the battle.

Your Excellency, please agree with me that at these critical moments for Russia, while the enemy is already in the heart of Russia, the subject of your actions can no longer include the protection and preservation of our remote Polish provinces, but the combined forces of the 3rd Army and the Danube should turn to distract enemy forces directed against the 1st and 2nd armies.

Therefore, you, my dear sir, having gathered all the forces of Lieutenant General Ertel at Mozyr and Lieutenant General Saken at Zhitomir, go with them together with your army to act on the right flank of the enemy. For this, Mr. Admiral Chichagov, who has already crossed the Dniester near Kamenets with the entire army of this month on the 17th, will take on all those duties that have hitherto been included in the subject of your operations, and, occupying the points that you have now left behind with your actions, maintain continuous communication with Your Excellency, with my operations I must contribute with all the forces of a common goal, which I am writing to him about.

With this messenger, I will await your notification, my dear sir, about the measures that you are willing to take, as well as about the points of your operations and information about the state of your forces.

With perfect respect, I have the honor to be Your Excellency, the Gracious Sovereign, my humble servant

Prince G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

My attitude to this attached to Admiral Chichagov, I ask you to immediately instruct the courier, the guardian of this will deliver it to His Excellency.

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to F.V.Rostopchin on accelerating the delivery of food supplies to the army

Dear sir, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich!

I am approaching Mozhaisk to strengthen myself and give battle there. Your thoughts on preserving Moscow are sound and must be presented. Help, for God's sake, in food, I found him in a cramped state.

Humble servant

Prince Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

In Moscow, my daughter Tolstaya and eight grandchildren, I dare to entrust them to your charity.

Mikhail G [deenishchev] -Kutuzov

M.I.Kutuzov's letter to F.V. Rostopchin on providing the army with food and choosing a position for battle

My dear sir, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich!

I have already had the honor to inform Your Excellency of the food shortages that our armies are suffering. Now, intending on choosing a place near Mozhaisk to give a general battle and decisive for the salvation of Moscow, I am urged to repeat to you my most convincing ones about this most important subject of insistence.

If the Almighty blesses the successes of our weapons, then it will be necessary to persecute the enemy: and in this case, it will also have to provide for itself from the side of food, so that our persecutions could not be stopped by shortcomings. At this end, I treat this very day to the gentlemen governors of Kaluga and Tula, so that they all, perpetrated by your Excellency by this order, carry out exactly and without the slightest delay. All this I present to your unparalleled activity.

Notifying that the inhabitants of Moscow are very alarmed by various rumors about our military incidents, I am enclosing here, to reassure them, a letter addressed to Your Excellency, which you can order to be printed, if you deem it necessary.

As soon as I get down to business, I will immediately notify you, my dear sir, of all my assumptions, so that in your movements you can contribute to the peace and salvation of the Fatherland.

I have the honor to be with perfect reverence and devotion, my dear sir, your excellency, humble servant

Prince Mikhail [Golenishchev] -Kutuzov

To this day, I step back to find an advantageous position. Today's number, although pretty good, is too large for our army and could weaken one flank. As soon as I choose the best one, then with the help of the troops delivered from Your Excellency, and in your personal presence I will use them, albeit still discontentedly trained, to the glory of our Fatherland.

M. I. Kutuzov's letter to his wife, E. I. Kutuzova, about the mood in the army

Thank God I am healthy, my friend, and with hope in God. Army in full spirit. Soldiers from Smolensk brought out the miraculous image of the Smolensk Mother of God, and this image accompanies us everywhere.

Bow to all of us. A blessing to children.

Loyal friend Mikhailo G [deenishchev] -K [utuzov]

Report of M.I.Kutuzov to Alexander I about the state of the army and about the chosen position for the battle

Most merciful sir!

Arriving at the army, I found it in complete retreat, and after the bloody deeds that were former in Smolensk, the regiments were very incomplete. In order to get closer to the benefits, I was forced to retreat further, so that the troops meeting me, whom I had previously given the direction to Mozhaisk, strengthened.

To this day, cavalry and infantry regiments up to 17,000 of the troops formed by the infantry general Miloradovich have already entered the regiments. It is true that they were already brought to me by regiments dressed and armed, but, in general, all of the recruits in a great shortage of headquarters, chief and non-commissioned officers, this army would be very unreliable.

And for this I preferred, sending back the headquarters, chief and non-commissioned officers, drummers and so on. back to Kaluga to a new formation, turn all privates to staffing the old regiments that have suffered in the battles. Tomorrow morning I'll get up to 15 thousand from Mozhaisk of the Moscow militia.

As soon as the shots were silenced over the heights of Novi and silence settled on the bivouacs, the field marshal appeared in a small house set aside for headquarters. Suvorov was covered from head to toe with dust.

Fuchs had already prepared on the table everything necessary for writing reports and orders. Seeing him, the commander exclaimed with delight:

The end - and glory to the battle! You be my trumpet.

It was about seven in the evening, but the heat was terrible. It was reported that an officer had arrived from under the besieged Tortona from Rosenberg. It was ordered to ask. The young lieutenant reported that Rosenberg was awaiting orders with the reserve corps.

Okay, my friend, - said Suvorov and ordered Fuchs to write an order to Rosenberg the next day to begin an energetic pursuit of the defeated French army.

The young officer looked with eager curiosity at the commander-in-chief, whose name resounded throughout Europe. The field marshal dictated a few more orders to the incoming officials of the headquarters for the allied forces to advance through the Apennines. At the same time, ahead of time, the corps of General Clenau, heading along the sea coast, was supposed to approach Genoa from the side of Tuscany and, according to all calculations, was already at Fort Santa Maria.

Suddenly Suvorov turned to the lieutenant:

Are mines laid at Tortona?

I don’t know, Your Excellency, ”the officer snapped.

As the field marshal jumped away from him, stung:

Unbeliever! A dangerous person! Grab it! - And ran around the room.

Gradually Suvorov calmed down, handed the sealed order to the confused lieutenant, saying:

You should know everything! Be careful in the future!

Surrounded by Austrian generals, Baron Melas appeared to the commander. Suvorov hugged him, praised the bravery of the Austrians and immediately remarked:

Don't linger! Do not fall into unterkunft! Go-go!

Yes, I forgot - you are General Forward, - joked old Melas.

True, Daddy Melas! But sometimes I look back! Not to run, but to attack! Now is the time for us to advance.

So, back, and we have no food, no mules to advance into the mountains.

Suvorov darkened.

I order Your Excellency to procure mules and provisions with the utmost haste, ”he said firmly. “Otherwise, General Klenau will join the French army alone.

His Excellency has already received the order from the gofkrigsrat to return to Tuscany and to do nothing until new instructions from Vienna, - replied Melas. - I would like to acquaint your Excellency with other orders of the Court Military Council. General Frohlich is tasked with bringing order to Tuscany and disarming the militia with nine thousand soldiers. His Excellency General Bellegarde recalls to Vienna, and Count of Hohenzollern goes to Florence on a diplomatic mission ...

Since the aforementioned highest command must be fulfilled without delay, I have already informed about it directly and made the appropriate orders.

A few hours ago, the Russian commander, who was alive, youthfully vigorous, inspired by the glorious victory, suddenly felt terrible fatigue and weakness. When the Austrians left, he sat Fuchs at the table and dictated a letter to him for the head of the military department and the favorite of the emperor Rostopchin:

“My dear sir, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich!

The Almighty gave us another new victory. The new commander, General Joubert, wishing to win the power of attorney of his troops, set out on the 4th of August from the mountains with an army of over 30,000. Leaving Gavi in ​​his back, the united army attacked him and won a bloody battle.

Everything is not nice to me. The orders sent every minute from Gofkrigsrat are weakening my health, and I cannot continue my service here. They want to edit operations for 1000 versts; do not know that every minute on the spot makes them change. They make me the executor of some Didrichstein and Turpin. Here is a new order from the Viennese cabinet ... from which you will see whether I can be here any longer. I ask your Excellency to report this to His Imperial Majesty, as well as that after the Genoa operation I will ask for a withdrawal formally and I will leave here. Weakness does not allow to write any more. "

Suvorov was now forced to send only Rosenberg's corps after the French. Early in the morning on August 5, Russian columns left Novi on the rise of the mountain, seeing many beaten French around them. According to the recollection of an eyewitness, there were more of them than sheaves of squeezed bread in the most fertile field. The grenadiers took off their caps from their heads, crossed themselves and performed their simple-minded prayer.

Towards evening, at ten o'clock, the corps stopped in the vineyards opposite a large and steep, fucking mountain, occupied by the enemy. General Rosenberg ordered to stand still, and the grenadiers to wrap their caps backwards so that the brass coats of arms would not reflect the brilliance when the full moon rose. At dawn, the Russians saw the mountain in all its immensity: it was all dotted with French, who left with haste. Rosenberg hesitated. Only at eight o'clock did the corps move. The soldiers and officers murmured:

How? To be so close to the enemy and let him go? Oh, yes, this is not in Russian, not in Suvorov's way!

In the army, Rosenberg was not liked, they attributed other people's mistakes to him, Suvorov himself shared this bias. Now an obvious oversight had been made. Moreau got a break. Before noon, the troops reached Serravalle: a small fortress clung to a steep mountain, and beside it, on the outskirts of a cliff, stood a horse Donetsk with a lance in his hands. This meant that the key to the Genoese mountains was again in the hands of the allies. At about four o'clock, the building passed the Gavia fortress, on the wall of which a white flag was displayed.

Only on August 6 did the Russians overtake Moro's outgoing rearguard. Several battalions fiercely and unanimously struck with bayonets, knocked down the French from a mountain position and pursued three or four versts. This was not a battle, but a slaughter. The four thousandth enemy detachment ceased to exist: one hundred and thirty people were captured, many died, and most of the soldiers fled. However, the pursuit, which had just begun, stopped.

Due to the orders of the Gofkrigsrat, Suvorov was forced to give the order to all the detachments to return to their former positions. This saved the remnants of Moro's defeated army. Meanwhile, General Klenau nevertheless decided to obey not the Gofkriegsrat, but the previous orders of the commander-in-chief, and reached almost Genoa by the coast. However, not supported by the main forces; he retreated, losing several hundred men.

Alarming information came from Switzerland and areas bordering France. General Massena pushed back the Rogan and Strauch brigades, occupied Simplon and Saint Gotthard, and thus opened a way for himself to strike in the rear of the Italian army. The French army of Champion was approaching the Koni fortress.

Suvorov chose Asti as the place of the camp for his troops, a point between Turin and Tortona, convenient in case of enemy actions from both Koni and Genoa. He ordered the resumption of the siege of the Tortonian citadel, the last seat of resistance in northern Italy.

On August 11, the parties signed a mutually beneficial convention. The garrison promised to surrender in twenty days, if during this time the French army did not help it. In return, soldiers and officers were given freedom with the right to return to their homeland.

The three weeks spent by Suvorov in the camp at Asti became a continuous triumph for the great commander. Foreigners flocked here to look at the victorious leader. Articles, brochures, portraits, cartoons, medals and tokens in honor of the Russian field marshal appeared in different countries. In Germany, they knocked out a medal with a profile of Suvorov and a Latin inscription on the front side: "Suvorov is the favorite of Italy", on the back: "Thunderstorm of the Gauls." The Russian resident in Braunschweig Grimm, to whom the field marshal presented his miniature portrait after the war in Poland, reported that he was forced to accept whole processions of those wishing to see it.

Poems were recited in London theaters in honor of Suvorov. Suvorov's pies and Suvorov's hairstyle have become fashionable ... “I am showered with awards,” wrote Nelson to the Russian commander, “but today I have received the highest award; I was told that I am like you. "

English artists endowed the French winner with the most fantastic features. In one of the cartoons, Suvorov was depicted “in the form of a fat, drunken condottier with a pipe in his teeth, leading the connected members of the French Directory with good humor in regard to Russia, whose tear-stained faces express deep grief, and folded hands pray for mercy ... Another caricature, also related to to the victories of Suvorov, depicts him devouring the French, who are presented scattering from him in all directions, while he, trampling them with his feet, grabs the fleeing with two huge forks and greedily swallows. "

King Karl Emmanuel, who expressed a desire to serve in the army under the command of the Russian commander, called Suvorov "immortal" and made him "the great marshal of the Piedmontese troops and the grandee of the kingdom" with the hereditary title of "prince and cousin of the king."

Suvorov jokingly greeted this stream of favors. When he was told that a tailor had come to take measurements for the uniform of the Grand Marshal of Piedmont, he immediately asked:

What nation is he? If I'm French, I'll talk to him like a needle artist. If a German - then as with a candidate, master or doctor of the Faculty of Uniforms. If the Italian - then as with a maestro or a virtuoso on scissors.

Upon learning that the tailor was Italian, Suvorov said:

All the better! I have not yet seen an Italian well-dressed. He will sew me a spacious uniform, and I will have freedom in it!

The uniform turned out to be unusually magnificent, in full accordance with the vanity of the rulers of small states: blue, embroidered at all the seams with gold.

Even Suvorov's valet Prokhor Dubasov was not forgotten. Karl Emmanuel also honored him with two medals with an inscription in Latin: "For the preservation of Suvorov's health." The rescript package, sealed with a large royal seal, read: "To Mr. Proshke, valet of His Excellency Prince Suvorov." Struck by royal grace, the old servant with a loud howl brought this package to his master. Suvorov did not put the favors of the Sardinian sovereign high and was delighted with the new opportunity to smell. He called Fuchs and shouted to him:

How! His Sardinian Majesty deigned to turn his most merciful attention to my Proshka! Sit down and write the medal ceremony tomorrow!

Fuchs sat down and wrote: "Point one: Proshke be sober tomorrow ..."

What does it mean? - Suvorov feigned amazement. - I have never seen him drunk!

It’s not my fault, ”answered Fuchs,“ if I didn’t see him sober.

In another paragraph, it was assumed that after the laying of medals, Proshka would kiss his master's hand. But Suvorov did not agree and demanded that the valet kiss the hand not of him, but of the authorized Sardinian king, the Marquis Gabet.

The next day, the ceremony took place in strict accordance with all the points worked out, with the exception of the first. Suvorov appeared in the gilded attire of the grand marshal of the Piedmontese troops, and Proshka, despite the terrible Italian heat, was dressed in a velvet caftan with a large wallet hanging. He did not serve and stood as a pillar at a distance from Suvorov's chair. At the table they drank some sour Cypriot wine and proclaimed the health of Prokhor Dubasov. Suvorov kept a solemn, solemn expression on his face. When medals, both on green ribbons, depicting Paul I and Karl Emmanuel, were placed on Proshka's chest, he tried to kiss Gabet's hand, but the marquis did not succeed. Suvorov and Proshka, screaming, began chasing him around the room, and all three nearly fell. So the field marshal interfered with business with idleness, and this he called his recreation - entertainment.

In Russia itself, the name of Suvorov has finally become legendary. Paul I wrote: "I no longer know what to give you: you put yourself above all awards." But the reward was found. It was commanded "to give the Prince of Italy, Count Suvorov-Rymnik, even in the presence of the sovereign, all military honors, like those bestowed on the person of his imperial majesty."

My dear sir, Count Fyodor Vasilyevich!

I have already had the honor to inform Your Excellency of the food shortages that our armies are suffering. Now, intending on choosing a place near Mozhaisk to give a decisive battle and decisive for the salvation of Moscow, I am urged to repeat to you my most convincing ones about this most important subject of insistence. If the Almighty blesses the successes of our weapons, then it will be necessary to pursue the enemy: and in this case, it will be necessary to provide for ourselves also from the side of food, so that our persecutions could not be stopped by shortcomings. At this end, I refer this very day to the years. to the governors of Kaluga and Tula so that they carry out everything done by Your Excellency by this order exactly and without the slightest delay. All this I present to your unparalleled activity.

Notifying that the inhabitants of Moscow are very alarmed by various rumors about our military incidents, I am enclosing here, for reassurance, their letter addressed to Your Excellency, which you can order to print, if you deem it necessary.

As soon as I get down to business, I will immediately notify you, my dear sir, of all my assumptions, so that in your movements you can contribute to the peace and salvation of the fatherland.

I have the honor to be with perfect reverence and devotion, my dear sir, Your Excellency the most humble servant

Prince Mikhail [Golenishchev] -Kutuzov

To this day, I step back to find an advantageous position. Today's number, although quite good, is too large for our army and could weaken one flank. As soon as I choose the best one, then with the help of the troops delivered from Your Excellency, and in your personal presence I will use them, albeit still discontentedly trained, to the glory of our fatherland.

It is published here according to the book: A.V. Shishov. Unknown Kutuzov. New reading of the biography. M., 2002

Read here:

Kutuzov Mikhail Illarionovich(biographical materials)

Patriotic War of 1812(as well as the events that preceded it and followed from it).