Chief of the cavalry F. P. Uvarov. "best time" cavalry general uvarov F p uvarov cavalry general

Uvarov Fedor Petrovich (April 16, 1769, the village of Khruslavka of Venevsky near the Tula province - November 20, 1824, St. Petersburg), cavalry general (1813), adjutant general (1798). From nobles; brigadier's son. On 12/17/1775 he was enrolled as a sergeant in the artillery, on 11/3/1780 he was transferred as a captain in the life guards. Preobrazhensky Regiment, 12/1/1787 rewritten in the Life Guards. The cavalry regiment was a sergeant-major (he was on leave for education). Due to lack of funds, he was transferred to the Sofia infantry. regiment with the assignment of 1/1/1788 the rank of captain. 8/9/1790 promoted to second major with transfer to the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment, 10/6/1794 promoted to prime major for distinction, 14/5/1795 to lieutenant colonel.

During the reign of the imp. Paul I made dizzying career: 19.3.1797 transferred to the Yekaterinoslav Cuirassier Regiment, 12.4.1798 promoted to colonel, 3.9.1798 transferred to the Life Guards. Cavalry Regiment, 10/19/1798 promoted to major general and granted to adjutant general, 08/09/1799 appointed chief of the Cavalier Guard regiment and 11/5/1800 granted to lieutenant general.

With the accession of the imp. Alexander I was again appointed adjutant general on March 19, 1801. With his regiment he distinguished himself in the campaign of 1805: near Austerlitz, several. once successfully attacked the French, captured the height, installed a battery on it, ensuring the retreat grew. troops (awarded with the orders of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. George 3rd class). In the campaigns of 1806 and 1807, he repeatedly led cavalry in attacks near Gutstadt (order of St. Vladimir 2nd class), Heilsberg, Friedland (golden saber "For Courage" with diamonds).

11/5/1807 appointed com. the entire cavalry of the 1st division, located in St. Petersburg. In 1810, he took part in the fighting on the Danube, commanding the vanguard of the Moldavian army (Order of St. George, 2nd class).

In 1812 he commanded the 1st reserve cavalry. body. In the case near the Kolotsky Monastery, Gen. P. P. Konovnitsyna. In the Battle of Borodino, together with Cossack corps M. I. Platova tried to make a raid around the left flank of the enemy, but did not complete the task set by M. I. Kutuzov, got involved in skirmishes on the flank and was soon repulsed (he was not presented for a reward for Borodino). During the pursuit of the enemy, he fought near Vyazma and Krasny. In the campaigns of 1813-14 he was with the imp. Alexander I, sometimes carrying out his orders in the most dangerous places. For distinction in the Battle of Leipzig on 10/8/1813, he was promoted to the gene. from the cavalry, for the campaign of 1814 he received a horde. St. Vladimir 1st Art.

From 11/1/1821 he commanded the Guards. body. From 30.8.1823 member of the State. advice. He was buried in the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg; in 1937 the remains were transferred to the Lazarevskaya tomb in the same place.

The award also grew. orders of St. Andrew the First-Called, St. Anna of the 1st class, St. John of Jerusalem; prus. orders of the Black Eagle and the Red Eagle of the 1st class; Austrian Military ord. Maria Theresa 3rd class; French ord. St. Louis.

From an ancient noble family. Born in the village of Khruslavka, Venevsky district, Tula province. According to the custom of that time, he was enrolled in the artillery service as a sergeant for six years, and then, without leaving his parental home, he "passed service" in all types of weapons: on November 3, 1780, he was transferred from the artillery captainarmus to the Preobrazhensky regiment, consisting of in which on April 1, 1781 he was promoted to sergeant, and on December 1, 1787 he was enlisted as a sergeant-major in the Horse Guards.

Fyodor Petrovich Uvarov His father's means were very limited, for some reason he was on trial and had to live in St. Petersburg, and his property was banned. Only in the reign of Paul I did he manage, with the assistance of his son, to achieve acquittal. Under such circumstances, Fedor Uvarov could not receive an appropriate education and did not even have the opportunity to decide on active service. Until the age of 18, he lived with his mother without a break in the village. Only in 1787 did he find a convenient opportunity to visit his father in St. Petersburg. With the help of the patron of his general Tutolmin, the father assigned his son to the service. January 1, 1788 he was released as a captain in Sofia infantry regiment and ended up in the Olonets province in the troops formed for the war with Sweden. On September 8, 1790, Fedor Uvarov was promoted to second major with a transfer to the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment.

In the summer of 1792, he took part in hostilities against the Poles and participated in the affairs of Stolbtsy and Mir. He was in Warsaw when, on the night of April 6, 1794, the Poles attacked the Russian troops. For 36 hours he had to fight off the rebels, but finally managed, together with Baron Igelstrom, to break through a large crowd of enemies and leave the city. For the distinction rendered in this case, Uvarov was promoted on June 10 to prime major. In June and July 1794, he took part in hostilities against the Poles in Lithuania and in the capture of Vilna on July 31. May 14, 1795 Uvarov was promoted to lieutenant colonel by Suvorov.

About the further service of Fyodor Petrovich for two years, we have several testimonies of contemporaries that are not confirmed by the form. In January 1797, Uvarov accidentally passed through the village of Radogoshch, Oryol province, where unrest among the peasants was taking place at that time. To pacify them there were regiments of Akhtyrsky hussars (Lindener) and Ryazhsky musketeers. Fyodor Petrovich took part in the pacification, taking command of the life squadron of the Akhtyrs and the disposal of guns, and Lindener, in his report to the sovereign, spoke with great praise of his actions. March 9, 1797 Uvarov was transferred to the Yekaterinoslav cuirassier regiment. On April 12, 1798, he was promoted to colonel.

1798 had importance in his life: not particularly different from his fellow army officers, he suddenly reached such a high position, which in the ordinary course of things he could not count on. While living in Moscow, Uvarov acquired the favor of the senator's wife Ekaterina Nikolaevna Lopukhina and even, according to his colleague A. M. Turgenev, used her funds. In May, Emperor Paul arrived in Moscow. This was followed by the Lopukhins' moving to St. Petersburg and the appointment of P.V. Lopukhin as Prosecutor General. Their rise also caused the rise of Uvarov. Ekaterina Nikolaevna did not agree to move to St. Petersburg without Fyodor Petrovich, and therefore had to fuss about his transfer. On August 21, he was transferred to the Cuirassier (Major General Zorn) Regiment, and on September 3 to the Horse Guards. On October 19, he was granted the rank of adjutant general with promotion to major general, and at the beginning of 1799 he received the Order of St. Anna 1st class.

On August 9, 1799, Fedor Petrovich was appointed chief of the Cavalier Guard Corps, which, with his appointment, was brought up to a three-squadron structure. On August 28, the 1st squadron was named after the chief of the corps. On October 7, the corps in its new composition presented itself to the sovereign, who was completely satisfied with him. On January 11, 1800, it was ordered to reorganize the Cavalier Guard Corps into the Cavalier Guard Regiment of three squadrons. Uvarov was appointed chief of the new regiment, and he also commanded the regiment. He remained in the rank of chief until the end of his life.

On April 23, the sovereign was present for the first time at the teaching of the new regiment in the Tsaritsyn meadow and was completely satisfied. The next day he declared his favor to Uvarov. And in the subsequent time, the sovereign was often pleased with the regiment, although, nevertheless, during the summer of 1800, he once declared his displeasure to the regiment, and Uvarov was reprimanded three times, by the way, "for ignorance of the service, and it is recommended to continue to know it better." But in general, Fyodor Petrovich invariably enjoyed the favor of the emperor: he was granted the commander's cross of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and on November 5, 1800, he was promoted to lieutenant general.

On the fateful day of March 11, Fedor Petrovich was the adjutant general on duty. At night, he settled down with several officers of his regiment near the rooms of the heir in order to protect him, and after the accession of Alexander I accompanied him when announcing the death of Paul I to the troops and when moving from Mikhailovsky Castle to the Winter Palace. And under the new emperor, Uvarov remained one of the people closest to him and almost always accompanied him during walks both on foot and on horseback. On March 19, he was ordered to continue to be adjutant general.

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In 1805 Uvarov took part in the war with Napoleon and distinguished himself at Austerlitz. Under his command were the regiments of the Elizavetgrad Hussar, Kharkov and Chernigov Dragoons, located on the left flank of the battle order of Prince Bagration (the left wing of the Allied army) and serving as a link between Bagration and the center of the army. In order to completely disunite the left wing with the already overturned center, Murat moved forward all his cavalry. Ahead was the Kellerman division (eight regiments). Uvarov went to meet him and successfully attacked him with two regiments from the front, and with the third captured Kellerman's right flank and overturned his five front regiments. But, attacked by Walther's division (from the general reserve), he was overturned by him with the loss of his artillery. Despite this final outcome of Uvarov's attacks, it must be admitted that he greatly contributed to the fact that the maneuver of Murat and Lann, which tended to cut off Bagration's retreat to Austerlitz, failed.

Chief officer of the Cavalier Guard Regiment in marching uniform

For Austerlitz Uvarov was awarded the order St. George 3rd class. In addition to this order, for the campaign of 1805 he received the Order of St.. Alexander Nevsky. Emperor Alexander highly appreciated Uvarov's merits in this war and once said about him: "If the army in its retreat avoided disasters that seemed inevitable, then we owe it to the zeal, orders and skillful maneuvers of this brave general."

February 8, 1807 Uvarov was sent by the sovereign to Bennigsen. Bennigsen gave Uvarov command of the cavalry on the right flank of the army. On May 26, Uvarov attacked the enemy in the village of Wolfsdorf and, not allowing the columns coming to his aid, drove him out. On the 29th, during the battle of Heilsberg, Bennigsen, seeing that the French cavalry was sent around our vanguard, sent towards Uvarov with 25 squadrons (the regiments of Elizavetgrad, Courland, Pskov and Livonia), who, having made several attacks one after another, swiftly, slowed down the enemy advance. The French recaptured our cannons several times, but each time they were returned by Uvarov. Later, he covered the right flank with his cavalry. On his orders, the 14th Infantry Division attacked the enemy and overturned him, and successful cavalry attacks completed the French frustration.

On June 2, at Friedland, Uvarov, noticing that the enemy was reinforced by cavalry, immediately went to reinforce our cavalry, led a strong attack, put the enemy to flight and pursued him at a great distance. By this action, according to Bennigsen, he contributed to our success. After the battle, Uvarov served as an army general on duty and contributed to the success of the army crossing the Neman.

During the Tilsit meeting, he was with the sovereign; in the autumn of 1807 he went to see Napoleon. On November 5, he was appointed commander of the cavalry of the 1st division (i.e., corps), commanded by Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich. On May 14, 1808, he was appointed "infantry commander" of the 1st division. In July of the same year, all adjutant generals and adjutant wing were ordered to be in Uvarov's team as senior adjutant general. Fyodor Petrovich was with the sovereign in Erfurt, and in 1809 twice (in March and November) he accompanied Alexander Pavlovich on his travels.

In April 1810, Uvarov was sent to the army operating against the Turks, commanding first the vanguard, and then the 1st corps. He took part in the capture of Silistria and the unsuccessful siege of Shumla, in the unsuccessful assault on Ruschuk on July 22, during which he commanded one of the five columns and was shell-shocked in the right shoulder, in the battle of Vatin, for which he received George 2nd class, and in capture of Nikopol.

During Patriotic War Uvarov, commanding the 1st Cavalry Corps, participated in the battles of Vilkomir, Ostrovna and Smolensk.

Under Borodin, his corps, which consisted of six regiments and the 5th horse artillery company, was part of the right wing. Platov, considering it possible to bypass the enemy from the left flank, asked permission to attack. Kutuzov allowed Uvarov's entire corps to be used for this attack. Meanwhile, Napoleon directed all his efforts to the center and left flank of our troops and decided to crush him with a final blow, but the attack he proposed was stopped by confusion on the left flank of his troops. This confusion was caused by the transition of Uvarov and Platov to the offensive. The French were forced to retreat, but Uvarov did not pursue them, as he received an order from Barclay de Tolly to return back. The search for Uvarov, although it did not have decisive consequences, was extremely useful in the sense that it made Napoleon lose two hours in inactivity, during which our left flank was strengthened.

Emperor Alexander I

During the retreat of the Russian army to Moscow, Uvarov's corps was in the rearguard and on August 29, near the village of Krymskoye, attacked the French cavalry, which then retreated in frustration. On September 1, Uvarov took part in the military council in Fili and spoke in favor of Bennigsen's opinion on the need to give battle near Moscow. On September 16, he was entrusted with the command of all the cavalry of the 1st and 2nd armies, except for the cuirassier divisions. On October 6, Uvarov took part in the Tarutino case, and on the 22nd in the battle of Vyazma. November 4, commanding the vanguard cavalry, defeated the enemy near Red.

In 1813, Uvarov, being in the rearguard, covered the retreat of the detachment of the Prince of Wirttemberg to Bautzen, and then, after the defeat of the army, the entire cavalry was subordinated to him, which delayed the enemy infantry at every step. Under Dresden, Kulm and Leipzig, Uvarov was with the sovereign. For Leipzig, he was promoted to general of the cavalry on 8 October.

After the end of the war with Napoleon, for seven years, the activities of F. P. Uvarov were limited exclusively to the duties of an adjutant general. He was almost incessantly with the sovereign and became one of the persons closest to him. According to Mikhailovsky-Danilevsky, only four people enjoyed the special right to enter the sovereign through the valet's room: Prince P. M. Volkonsky, Count Arakcheev, medical officer Willie and Uvarov. Fyodor Petrovich accompanied the sovereign during his travels to England and Hungary in 1814 and across Russia in 1816 and 1818.

November 1, 1821 he was ordered to be commander of the guards. Corps, located at that time in the North-Western Territory. The corps returned to St. Petersburg only at the end of July 1822. A year later, Uvarov, remaining in his previous positions, was appointed a member State Council. Guards the corps under his command repeatedly received the highest favors for "order, internal organization, observance of servility, front-line unit, for art and for the quick performance of all former exercises and maneuvers."

In the spring of 1824, Uvarov fell ill, but continued to serve. The sovereign often visited him (Uvarov occupied a room in winter palace). On November 16, he took communion and on the 18th he signed the will drawn up the day before. On the 19th, his strength weakened, but he nevertheless received the commander of the Cavalier Guard regiment, Count Apraksin, with whom he talked about the officers of his regiment, then said goodbye to his confessor, relatives and friends. Late in the evening the emperor arrived and talked for a long time with the dying man, after which he no longer spoke to anyone and lost consciousness several times. On the morning of the 20th, he no longer recognized the sovereign, and at 2 o'clock in the afternoon he died. The cavalry guard officers were on duty at his body for five days. On the 25th, the body was taken to the regimental church, and on the 27th, after the funeral service in the same church, the burial took place in the Spiritual Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in the presence of the sovereign and the grand dukes.

Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg

As a token of gratitude to his subordinates, Guards. he left 400 thousand rubles to the corps. for the construction in honor of their monument, giving the execution to Emperor Alexander Pavlovich. This money was used for the construction of the Narva Triumphal Gates, opened on August 18, 1834.

Konstantin Yakovlevich Bulgakov wrote about his death in one letter: "It is impossible not to sincerely regret a man who did no harm to anyone ... Everyone truly and worthily regrets about him."

Although Fyodor Petrovich's official list says that he "reads and writes in Russian, French and German, and knows history, geography and mathematics", but contemporaries claim that he did not differ in education. In particular, Fyodor Petrovich became famous for his French. “Uvarov,” says Prince Vyazemsky, “sometimes successfully struck the French on the battlefield, but even more successfully and deadly struck the French language in conversation. to Count Lanzheron with the question of what they are talking about. "Excuse me, sir," replied Lanzheron, "I don't understand them, they speak French."

As for the military talents of F. P. Uvarov, he was distinguished by the qualities of a good cavalry officer, but he did not have the talents of a commander. In numerous wars in which he took part, he never played a prominent, more or less independent role. His orders for Guards. the corps are interesting in the sense that they give the opportunity to get to know Uvarov as a boss, and on the basis of their personality, this personality emerges in a pretty appearance. They testify to his concern for the health of his subordinates and the maintenance of their honor and good name. However, it must be confessed, there are places in them that can cause a smile; Thus, Uvarov says that it is necessary to take care of the health of the soldiers, "so that even after their dismissal ... they could, enjoying a painless state in the depths of their families, remember with pleasure the service and glorify the guardianship of the authorities who brought them such well-being."

And the orders for the Cavalier Guard Regiment prove Uvarov's humane attitude towards his subordinates. He was moderate in his punishments and, apparently, tried to influence them not with fear, but with shame. During the time he commanded the regiment in the reign of Paul I, the punishments he imposed on the officers consisted mainly in the fact that he assigned extra duties and only twice subjected the perpetrators to house arrest, and then with the administration of the post, that is, with the preservation of weapons. Fyodor Petrovich loved the soldiers, and they, for their part, were devoted and trusted him.

On October 18, 1812, while in the army, he "submitted a note to the sovereign about the plight of Russia, describing in it that all states are generally dissatisfied, that trust has disappeared, that taxes are burdensome, that there is no justice, and that industry is falling from year to year" . Such lofty features are forgotten, but every mistake made against the rules of the French language is remembered for a long time.

Without special talents, but at the same time an honest, kind man, who tried not to harm anyone, Uvarov was both a good boss, a good cavalry officer, and, which is especially remarkable, not a routinist, and not a parade general. His order to the Cavalier Guard Regiment dated April 19, 1807 proves that he perfectly understood the combat cavalry business, and the last paragraph of the order denounces in him a person with great service tact, and if Uvarov was "mediocrity", then in any case useful,

He reached a high position and until the end of his life enjoyed the unchanging favor of Alexander Pavlovich, while almost all other participants in the events of March 11 were either removed from the court or did not enjoy the favor of the sovereign. Obviously, he knew that Uvarov was forced to take part in the conspiracy by motives of a completely different kind than the others, and one of these motives was, no doubt, Uvarov's devotion to Alexander Pavlovich. From the first days of the new reign, he is one of the closest people to the young monarch. The ability to live at court, the tact that both friends and enemies recognized for him, helped to save the once occupied position.

Uvarov Fedor Petrovich, hero Patriotic War of 1812, a cavalry general was born on April 16 (28), 1773, from an ancient, poor noble family. His father, Uvarov Petr Ilyich, rose to the rank of brigadier. Fedor Uvarov as a child was recorded as a sergeant in the artillery. As it was accepted: the child grew up - the rank also changed.

Fedor began military service at the age of 15 already captain in the Sofia Infantry Regiment. Two and a half years later, he was produced in second-majors, continued to serve in the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment. Participated in hostilities in Polish campaign in 1792-1794, he commanded a squadron. Participated in clashes with the rebels during Columns and World.

In Warsaw, on the night of April 6, when the Poles attacked Russian troops, resisting the Confederates, he managed to break out of the city with a squadron, and was promoted to prime minister for his bravery. Then he participated in hostilities against the Poles in Lithuania, distinguished himself in the capture of Vilna, and personally Suvorov A.V. was produced in lieutenant colonels.

In 1787, Uvarov was transferred to the Yekaterinoslav cuirassier regiment in St. Petersburg, and received the rank of colonel. Then he served in the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment. At the age of 25, Uvarov was granted adjutant general with production in major generals, was awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st class. Since 1800, Fedor Uvarov commanded the Cavalier Guard Regiment. November 17 of the same year was produced in lieutenant generals. There was a rapid career growth!

Napoleon attacked the center of the Russian position and the left flank. The attack of Uvarov and Platov caused confusion in parts of the left French flank, the enemy was forced retreat. But Uvarov received an order from Barclay de Tolly to return, so he did not continue the pursuit of the enemy.

Perhaps the inconsistency of the actions of the command had an effect, but, nevertheless, the attack of Uvarov and Platov made Napoleon lose two hours in inactivity, and during this time our left flank was strengthened. Kutuzov was not satisfied with the results of the attack, and Uvarov and Platov were not presented for awards for the Borodino battle.

During the retreat of the Russian army to Moscow, the corps of Uvarov F.P. was in the rear guard and on August 29 at the village Crimean decisively attacked the French cavalry, after which the French retreated. At the council in Fili spoke out against abandonment of Moscow by the Russian army and for holding a new decisive battle. He participated in the battles near Vyazma and Krasny, thanks to the brilliant attacks of his cavalry, the French were forced to retreat.

In the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813-1814. was with the emperor, carried out his responsible assignments. Distinguished himself in the "Battle of the Nations" at. Was presented to the rank general of the cavalry. After the end of hostilities, for a long time he only performed the duties of an adjutant general to the sovereign, enjoyed his special disposition and trust, became one of the most persons close to the emperor.

Uvarov accompanied Alexander I during his travels to England and Hungary, as well as on a number of trips around Russia. At the end of 1821 he was appointed commander of the guards corps, in 1823 he was appointed a member of the State Council. Fyodor Petrovich died on November 20 (December 2), 1824, was buried in the Spiritual Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in the presence of Alexander I and great princes.

Contemporaries noted that the general Uvarov F.P. did not have the special talents of a commander, but at the same time he was an honest, kind man, who tried not to harm anyone, he was also a good boss, an excellent cavalry officer. He treated his subordinates humanely, took care of the health of the soldiers, and the soldiers were devoted to him, treated with confidence.

Fedor Petrovich Uvarov

Cavalry General, Fedor Petrovich Uvarov.
Engraving by F. Vendramini. 1816

Uvarov Fedor Petrovich (April 16, 1773, the village of Khruslavka, Venevsky district, Tula province - November 20, 1824, St. Petersburg), cavalry general (October 1813), adjutant general (10/19/1798). From a noble family, known since the 15th century; the brigadier's son He was married to Princess Maria Fedorovna Lubomirskaya (in the first marriage to Count I. Pototsky, in the 2nd to Count V.A. Zubov). In 1776 he was enrolled as a sergeant in the artillery, in November 1780 he was transferred to the captain of the Preobrazhensky Regiment of the Life Guards, and in December. 1786 sergeant major in the Life Guards Horse Regiment. He began his service on January 1, 1788 as the captain of the Sofia Infantry Regiment. From sept. 1790 seconds Major of the Smolensk Dragoon Regiment Participated in hostilities in Poland in 1792 and 1794. In March 1797 he was transferred to the Yekaterinoslav Cuirassier Regiment and in April. 1798 promoted to colonel. He made a rapid career under Paul I (according to a number of sources, this was facilitated by the fact that he became a close friend of Ekaterina Nikolaevna Lopukhina, the mother of the emperor's favorite). In March 1798 he was transferred to St. Petersburg to the Cuirassier Regiment, in Sept. - in the Life Guards Horse Regiment, 10/19/1798 promoted to major general, in January. In 1800 he was appointed chief of the Cavalier Guard Regiment, and in November 1800 he was promoted to lieutenant general. He took part in a conspiracy against Paul I, but did not play an active role in it. On the night of the murder - March 11, 1801 - he was the adjutant general on duty. He became one of the persons closest to Alexander I, constantly accompanied him on walks and trips. He distinguished himself at the head of the cavalry guards in the campaign of 1805. Under Austerlitz, he led cavalry guards several times to attack the enemy, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George, 3rd degree. He became famous for cavalry attacks at Guttstadt, Heilsberg, Friedland. Accompanied Alexander I to Tilsit. From Nov. 1807 cavalry commander of the 1st division (corps), commanded by Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich. Since May 1808, infantry commander of the 1st division. In July 1808 he was named "Senior Adjutant General". In Apr. 1810 commanded the vanguard of the Moldavian army, participated in the battles at Silistria, Shhumla, Ruschuk. For distinction under Batin, he was awarded the Order of St. George 2nd degree on 11/21/1810. In 1812 he was appointed commander of the 1st Cavalry Corps, with whom he entered the Patriotic War of 1812. At the Kolotsk Monastery, he supported the vanguard of the gene. P.P. Konovnitsyn. At the critical moment of the Battle of Borodino, together with M.I. Platov sent to bypass the left flank of Napoleon. Near the village of Bezzubovo, the cavalry was stopped by the troops of Gen. F. Ornano and returned back. Although these actions briefly diverted the attention of the enemy, according to M.I. Kutuzov, the task was not fully completed. Only U. and Platov turned out to be generals who were not presented by Kutuzov for Borodino for awards. At the council in Fili 1 (13) Sept. spoke out against the abandonment of Moscow and for a new battle. Participated in battles near Vyazma and Krasnoe. In the campaign of 1813-14 he was under Emperor Alexander I, carrying out his responsible assignments. He distinguished himself in the "Battle of the Nations" at Leipzig. After the end of hostilities, for a long time he performed only the duties of an adjutant general, enjoyed the special disposition and trust of the emperor. From Nov. 1821 commander of the guards corps, since 1823 member of the State Council. After his death, he bequeathed 400 thousand rubles for the creation of a monument to the Russian guards (the Narva triumphal gates, opened in 1834, were built with this money).

Materials of the book were used: Zalessky K.A. Napoleonic Wars 1799-1815. Biographical Encyclopedic Dictionary, Moscow, 2003

Arakcheev about Uvarov

Uvarov Fedor Petrovich (1769-1824), adjutant general and major general (1799), cavalry general (1814), since 1821 commander of the guards corps; throughout the reign of Alexander I was a member of the immediate circle of the emperor. Arakcheev means the book: Bekhteev A.A. Obituary F.P. Uvarov. SPb., 1825. On the attitude of Arakcheev to F.P. The following anecdote also testifies to Uvarov: “At Uvarov’s funeral, the late sovereign followed the coffin. Arakcheev said loudly (I think to A. Orlov): “One tsar is seeing him off here, what else will meet him there?” (Uvarov is one of the regicides on March 11, 1801)" (Pushkin. T. 8. P. 30-31; diary entry dated March 8, 1834)

Materials of the book are used: Arakcheev: testimonies of contemporaries. Moscow: New Literary Review, 2000.

Read further:

Patriotic War of 1812(chronological table and reference system).

Foreign:

Fedor Petrovich Uvarov(-) - senior adjutant general in the retinue of Alexander I, participant in many battles of the Napoleonic Wars, cavalry general, first chief of the Cavalier Guard Regiment.

early years

Fedor Petrovich Uvarov was born on April 16 (27), 1769 in the Tula province. A representative of a poor, albeit an old family of Uvarovs, to another branch of which Count S. S. Uvarov belonged. Recorded from the age of 6 for the service, until the age of 18 he lived with his mother in the village of Venevsky district. His father, foreman Pyotr Ilyich Uvarov, was on trial in St. Petersburg, and his property was seized. Only in 1787, Fedor managed to come to his father in the capital and, with the help of General Tutolmin, decide on the Sofia Infantry Regiment (quartered in Smolensk) with the rank of captain.

Napoleonic Wars

He was the first to receive the rank of adjutant general during the reign of Alexander I. From July 19 (31) of the year - Senior Adjutant General, heading the team of all Adjutant Generals and Adjutant Wings, the only member of His Imperial Majesty's Retinue in its entire history, awarded such a status by the highest decree.

In 1805, commanding the Cavalier Guard regiment, on November 19 he arrived at Austerlitz and on the eve of the battle he was sent with 4 regiments to reinforce the right wing; on the day of the battle he attacked the enemy several times, and in the evening he was in the rearguard of Bagration. For the campaign of 1805, he was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and (28.01.1806) the Order of St. George, 3rd class. No. 129

Alexander I issued a decree on July 19, 1808, according to which all adjutant generals and adjutant wing were to be in the command of the senior adjutant general, Lieutenant General Uvarov, and receive all circular instructions and orders emanating from the Military Collegium exclusively through him.

Accompanied the emperor during the Tilsit and Erfurt meetings with Napoleon. In 1810, after the death of his Polish wife (nee Princess Lubomirskaya), he inherited extensive estates in the Volyn province. In the same year, he was sent to the Moldavian army by Kamensky, who entrusted him with a separate corps to cover the siege of Silistria. After taking this fortress, the army moved to Shumla. Under Batin, he was shell-shocked, after which on November 21, 1810 he was awarded the Order of St. George 2nd class No. 40

A man far from politics, Uvarov used his position to frankly express to the emperor his thoughts about what the good of Russia, as he understood it, required. On the advice of Archimandrite Photius, he convinced Alexander of the danger that threatens the Russian church from the minister A. N. Golitsyn and mystics like him.

From February 1824, Uvarov was ill, the doctors found he had throat consumption. He died in the Winter Palace. In his last days he was courted by his distant relative Count S. S. Uvarov. He was buried in the Spiritual Church of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. K. Ya. Bulgakov wrote to his brother on November 21, 1824:

The funeral of Uvarov was distinguished by splendor, Emperor Alexander and the Grand Dukes were present at all events from the first to the last. Subsequently, on March 8, 1834, Pushkin wrote in his diary: “At the funeral of Uvarov, the late sovereign followed the coffin. Arakcheev said loudly (it seems to A. Orlov): “One tsar is seeing him off here, what else will meet him there?” (Uvarov is one of the regicides on March 11).

As a sign of gratitude to his subordinates in the guards corps, Uvarov left 400 thousand rubles for the construction of a monument in their honor. With this money, Narva triumphal gates were later built, opened 10 years after the death of the general.

Married (since 1805) to the widow of General Valerian Zubov, Maria Fedorovna (1773-1810), had no children.

Achievement list

In service:

November 17 (28) of the year - entered the service as a sergeant, in artillery;
November 3 (14) of the year - promoted to captain in the life guards. Preobrazhensky regiment;
1 (12) April of the year - sergeant;
1 (12) December of the year - Wahmister, in the Life Guards. cavalry regiment;
January 1 (12) of the year - released into the army as a captain, into the corps, sent to the Mediterranean Sea, then was during the formation of troops in the Olonets viceroy;
September 8 (19) of the year - promoted to second major;
10 (21) June of the year - Prime Major;
May 14 (25) of the year - lieutenant colonel;
March 19 (30) of the year - transferred to the Cuirassier Count Saltykov of the 2nd regiment;
April 12 (23), year - promoted to colonel;
August 21 (September 1) - transferred to the Cuirassier Major General Zorn Regiment;
3 (14) September of the year - in the life guards. Equestrian;
19 (30) October of the year - granted adjutant general, with promotion to major general;
9 (20) August of the year - the chief of the Cavalier Guard Corps (since 1800 - the regiment);
5 (17) November of the year - promoted to lieutenant general;
4 (16) October of the year - for the difference against the enemy he was promoted to general from the cavalry.

Personal qualities

Unlike all other participants in the March 11 conspiracy, Fedor Uvarov enjoyed the favor of Alexander Pavlovich until the end of his life. It was believed that only personal devotion to the heir to the throne, and not concern for his own benefit, forced Uvarov to join the regicide plot.

Uvarov did not have the talents of a commander, but on the other hand he treated his subordinates humanely and did not recognize the merits of shagistics, because of which he was in conflict with the parade ground general Arakcheev, who called Uvarov "a spy and an earpiece" under the emperor.

Contemporaries mocked the fact that one of the people closest to the emperor was a man who grew up in the countryside, and therefore did not know French well and was generally poorly educated. “With not very strict moral rules and not brilliant mental faculties, - delicately writes in. book. Nikolai Mikhailovich, - Uvarov was in the full sense of the word a minion of happiness. A sociable and cheerful person, he liked to arrange receptions at his place.

Uvarov sometimes successfully hit the French on the battlefield, but even more successfully and deadly hit the French in conversation. The hunt was mortal, but the fate was bitter. His answer to Napoleon is known when he asked him who commanded the Russian cavalry in a brilliant attack in some battle: - je, sire.

This answer gave Uvarov the nickname General Je and was distributed in society in various versions. Once Uvarov and Miloradovich, also known for his poor knowledge of French, were talking heatedly about something. Alexander I asked Langeron (a Frenchman by birth) what they were talking about. “Excuse me, sir,” Lanzheron replied, “I don’t understand them, they speak French.”

Awards

Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (12/12/1823)
Order of St. George 2nd degree (11/21/1810)
Order of St. George 3rd degree (28.01.1806)
Order of St. Vladimir, 1st degree (02/25/1813)
Order of St. Vladimir 2nd class (1807)
Order of St. Alexander Nevsky (28.01.1806)
Order of St. Anne, 1st class (10/08/1799)
Diamond badges for the Order of St. Anne (09/15/1801)
Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Commander (1800)
Silver medal "In memory of the Patriotic War of 1812"
Military Order of Maria Theresa, Knight (Austria, 1814)
Military Order of Maximilian Joseph, Grand Cross (Bavaria, 1814)
Order of Military Merit, Commander (Württemberg, 1814)
Order of the Black Eagle (Prussia, 1814)
Order of the Red Eagle, 1st class (Prussia, 1814)
Order of Saint Louis, grand cross (France, 1814)

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Notes

See Boris Sadovsky's story "Under Paul's Shield" (1910) about this.
Pushkin: the unknown about the known: selected materials, 1994-1998. Autograph, 1999. Pp. 61.
Miloradovich G. A.// List of persons of the retinue of their majesties from the reign of Emperor Peter I to 1886. By seniority of the day of appointment. Adjutant generals, retinues of major generals, adjutant wing, consisting of persons, and major brigades. - Kyiv: Printing house S.V. Kulzhenko, 1886. - S. 14.
Miloradovich G. A.// List of persons of the retinue of their majesties from the reign of Emperor Peter I to 1886. By seniority of the day of appointment. Adjutant generals, retinues of major generals, adjutant wing, consisting of persons, and major brigades. - Kyiv: Printing house S.V. Kulzhenko, 1886. - S. 17.
Every day, “Uvarov rode out with the emperor in the morning on horseback or walked on foot with his majesty in the Summer Garden,” recalled E. Komarovsky.
Alexander I.// Complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire, since 1649. - St. Petersburg. : Printing House of the II Department of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery, 1830. - T. XXX, 1808-1809, No. 23167. - pp. 447-448.
Letters to a brother // Russian archive. 1903. Book. 2. - S. 78.
Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich. "Russian Portraits of the 18th and 19th Centuries". Issue 4, No. 98.

Sources

Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich. "Russian Portraits of the 18th and 19th Centuries". Issue 4, No. 3.
// Russian archive: Sat. - M., Studio "TRITE" N. Mikhalkov, 1996. - T. VII. - S. 586-587.



commander in chief

1st Western Army

2nd Western Army

3rd Western Army

Danubian army

An excerpt characterizing Uvarov, Fedor Petrovich

– Quelle force! Quelstyle! [What power! What a syllable!] - praises were heard to the reader and the writer. Inspired by this speech, Anna Pavlovna's guests talked for a long time about the state of the fatherland and made various assumptions about the outcome of the battle, which was to be fought the other day.
- Vous verrez, [You will see.] - said Anna Pavlovna, - that tomorrow, on the sovereign's birthday, we will receive news. I have a good feeling.

Anna Pavlovna's presentiment was indeed justified. The next day, during a prayer service in the palace on the occasion of the sovereign's birthday, Prince Volkonsky was summoned from the church and received an envelope from Prince Kutuzov. It was Kutuzov's report, written on the day of the battle from Tatarinova. Kutuzov wrote that the Russians had not retreated a single step, that the French had lost much more than ours, that he was reporting in a hurry from the battlefield, without having had time to collect the latest information. So it was a victory. And immediately, without leaving the temple, gratitude was rendered to the creator for his help and for the victory.
Anna Pavlovna's premonition was justified, and a joyfully festive mood reigned in the city all morning. Everyone recognized the victory as complete, and some have already spoken of the capture of Napoleon himself, of his deposition and the election of a new head for France.
Away from business and amid the conditions of court life, it is very difficult for events to be reflected in all their fullness and strength. Involuntarily, general events are grouped around one particular case. So now the main joy of the courtiers was as much in the fact that we had won, as in the fact that the news of this victory fell on the sovereign’s birthday. It was like a successful surprise. Kutuzov's message also spoke of Russian losses, and Tuchkov, Bagration, Kutaisov were named among them. Also, the sad side of the event involuntarily in the local, St. Petersburg world was grouped around one event - the death of Kutaisov. Everyone knew him, the sovereign loved him, he was young and interesting. On this day, everyone met with the words:
How amazing it happened. In the very prayer. And what a loss for the Kutays! Ah, what a pity!
- What did I tell you about Kutuzov? Prince Vasily was now speaking with the pride of a prophet. “I have always said that he alone is capable of defeating Napoleon.
But the next day there was no news from the army, and the general voice became anxious. The courtiers suffered for the suffering of the uncertainty in which the sovereign was.
- What is the position of the sovereign! - the courtiers said and no longer extolled, as on the third day, and now they condemned Kutuzov, who was the cause of the sovereign's anxiety. Prince Vasily on this day no longer boasted of his protege Kutuzov, but remained silent when it came to the commander in chief. In addition, by the evening of that day, everything seemed to have come together in order to plunge the residents of St. Petersburg into alarm and anxiety: another terrible news had joined. Countess Elena Bezukhova died suddenly from this terrible disease, which was so pleasant to pronounce. Officially, in large societies, everyone said that Countess Bezukhova died from a terrible attack of angine pectorale [chest sore throat], but in intimate circles they told details about how le medecin intime de la Reine d "Espagne [medical physician of the Queen of Spain] prescribed Helene small doses some medicine to perform a certain action; but how Helen, tormented by the fact that the old count suspected her, and by the fact that the husband to whom she wrote (that unfortunate depraved Pierre) did not answer her, suddenly took a huge dose of the medicine prescribed for her and died in torment before they could help.It was said that Prince Vasily and the old count took up the Italian, but the Italian showed such notes from the unfortunate deceased that he was immediately released.
The general conversation focused on three sad events: the unknown of the sovereign, the death of Kutaisov and the death of Helen.
On the third day after Kutuzov's report, a landowner from Moscow arrived in St. Petersburg, and the news spread throughout the city that Moscow had been surrendered to the French. It was terrible! What was the position of the sovereign! Kutuzov was a traitor, and Prince Vasily, during the visites de condoleance [condolence visits] on the occasion of the death of his daughter, which they made to him, spoke of Kutuzov, whom he had previously praised (it was forgivable for him to forget in sadness what he had said before), he said, that nothing else could be expected from a blind and depraved old man.
- I am only surprised how it was possible to entrust the fate of Russia to such a person.
While this news was still unofficial, one could still doubt it, but the next day the following report came from Count Rostopchin:
“The adjutant of Prince Kutuzov brought me a letter in which he demands police officers from me to escort the army to the Ryazan road. He says that he leaves Moscow with regret. Sovereign! Kutuzov's act decides the fate of the capital and your empire. Russia will shudder when it learns of the surrender of the city, where the greatness of Russia is concentrated, where are the ashes of your ancestors. I will follow the army. I took everything out, it remains for me to cry about the fate of my fatherland.
Having received this report, the sovereign sent the following rescript to Kutuzov with Prince Volkonsky:
“Prince Mikhail Ilarionovich! Since August 29, I have not had any reports from you. In the meantime, on September 1, through Yaroslavl, from the Moscow commander-in-chief, I received the sad news that you had decided to leave Moscow with the army. You yourself can imagine the effect this news had on me, and your silence deepens my surprise. I am sending with this Adjutant General Prince Volkonsky in order to learn from you about the state of the army and about the reasons that prompted you to such a sad determination.

Nine days after leaving Moscow, a messenger from Kutuzov arrived in Petersburg with official news of the abandonment of Moscow. This one was sent by the Frenchman Michaud, who did not know Russian, but quoique etranger, Busse de c?ur et d "ame, [however, although a foreigner, but Russian at heart,] as he himself said to himself.
The emperor immediately received the messenger in his office, in the palace of Kamenny Island. Michaud, who had never seen Moscow before the campaign and who did not know Russian, was still moved when he appeared before notre tres gracieux souverain [our most merciful lord] (as he wrote) with the news of the Moscow fire, dont les flammes eclairaient sa route [whose flame lit his way].
Although the source of Mr. Michaud's chagrin [grief] must have been different from the one from which the grief of the Russian people flowed, Michaud had such a sad face when he was brought into the sovereign's office that the sovereign immediately asked him:
- M "apportez vous de tristes nouvelles, colonel? [What news did you bring me? Bad, colonel?]
- Bien tristes, sire, - answered Michaud, lowering his eyes with a sigh, - l "abandon de Moscou. [Very bad, Your Majesty, leaving Moscow.]
– Aurait on livre mon ancienne capitale sans se battre? [Did they betray my ancient capital without a battle?] - suddenly flaring up, the sovereign quickly spoke.
Michaud respectfully conveyed what he was ordered to convey from Kutuzov - namely, that it was not possible to fight near Moscow and that, since there was only one choice left - to lose the army and Moscow or Moscow alone, the field marshal had to choose the latter.
The sovereign listened in silence, without looking at Michaud.
- L "ennemi est il en ville? [Did the enemy enter the city?] - he asked.
- Oui, sire, et elle est en cendres a l "heure qu" il est. Je l "ai laissee toute en flammes, [Yes, your majesty, and he is currently on fire. I left him in flames.] Michaud said decisively; but, looking at the sovereign, Michaud was horrified at what he had done. The sovereign began to breathe heavily and often, his lower lip trembled, and his beautiful blue eyes instantly moistened with tears.
But it only lasted one minute. The emperor suddenly frowned, as if condemning himself for his weakness. And, raising his head, he turned to Michaud in a firm voice.
“Je vois, colonel, par tout ce qui nous arrive,” he said, “que la providence exige de grands sacrifices de nous… Je suis pret a me soumettre a toutes ses volontes; mais dites moi, Michaud, comment avez vous laisse l "armee, en voyant ainsi, sans coup ferir abandonner mon ancienne capitale? N" avez vous pas apercu du decouragement? .. [I see, colonel, in everything that happens, what providence demands of us big sacrifices… I am ready to submit to his will; but tell me, Michaud, how did you leave an army that left my ancient capital without a fight? Did you notice her low spirits?]
Seeing the calmness of his tres gracieux souverain, Michaud also calmed down, but to the sovereign’s direct, essential question, which required a direct answer, he had not yet had time to prepare an answer.
– Sire, me permettrez vous de vous parler franchement en loyal militaire? [Sovereign, will you allow me to speak frankly, as befits a real warrior?] – he said to gain time.
- Colonel, je l "exige toujours," said the sovereign. "Ne me cachez rien, je veux savoir absolument ce qu" il en est. [Colonel, I always demand this... Don't hide anything, I certainly want to know the whole truth.]
– Sir! Michaud said with a thin, barely perceptible smile on his lips, having managed to prepare his answer in the form of a light and respectful jeu de mots [pun]. – Sir! j "ai laisse toute l" armee depuis les chefs jusqu "au dernier soldat, sans exception, dans une crainte epouvantable, effrayante ... [Sir! I left the entire army, from the commanders to the last soldier, without exception, in the great, desperate fear…]
– Comment ca? - strictly frowning, interrupted the sovereign. - Mes Russes se laisseront ils abattre par le malheur ... Jamais! .. [How so? Can my Russians lose heart before failure… Never!..]
This was just what Michaud was waiting for to insert his play on words.
“Sire,” he said with respectful playfulness, “ils craignent seulement que Votre Majeste par bonte de c?ur ne se laisse persuader de faire la paix.” Ils brulent de combattre, - said the representative of the Russian people, - et de prouver a Votre Majeste par le sacrifice de leur vie, combien ils lui sont devoues... . They are eager to fight again and prove to Your Majesty by the sacrifice of their lives how devoted they are to you…]
- Ah! the sovereign said calmly and with a gentle gleam in his eyes, slapping Michaud on the shoulder. - Vous me tranquillisez, colonel. [BUT! You calm me down, Colonel.]
The sovereign, bowing his head, was silent for some time.
- Eh bien, retournez al "armee, [Well, then go back to the army.] - he said, straightening to his full height and addressing Michaud with an affectionate and majestic gesture, - et dites a nos braves, dites a tous mes bons sujets partout ou vous passerez, que quand je n" aurais plus aucun soldat, je me mettrai moi meme, a la tete de ma chere noblesse, de mes bons paysans et j "userai ainsi jusqu" a la derniere ressource de mon empire. Il m "en offre encore plus que mes ennemis ne pensent," the sovereign said, more and more inspired. "Mais si jamais il fut ecrit dans les decrets de la divine providence," he said, raising his beautiful, meek and brilliant feelings eyes to the sky, - que ma dinastie dut cesser de rogner sur le trone de mes ancetres, alors, apres avoir epuise tous les moyens qui sont en mon pouvoir, je me laisserai croitre la barbe jusqu "ici (the sovereign showed half of his chest with his hand) , et j "irai manger des pommes de terre avec le dernier de mes paysans plutot, que de signer la honte de ma patrie et de ma chere nation, dont je sais apprecier les sacrifices!.. [Tell our brave men, tell all my subjects wherever you pass, that when I have no more soldiers, I myself will be at the head of my kind nobles and good peasants, and thus exhaust the last funds of my state. They are more than my enemies think ... But if destined by divine providence m, so that our dynasty ceases to reign on the throne of my ancestors, then, having exhausted all the means that are in my hands, I will grow my beard until now and rather go to eat one potato with the last of my peasants, rather than decide to sign the shame of my homeland and my dear people, whose sacrifices I know how to appreciate!..] Having said these words in an excited voice, the sovereign suddenly turned around, as if wishing to hide from Michaud the tears that had come into his eyes, and went into the depths of his office. After standing there for a few moments, he returned to Michaud with large steps and with a strong gesture squeezed his hand below the elbow. The beautiful, meek face of the sovereign flushed, and his eyes burned with a gleam of determination and anger.
- Colonel Michaud, n "oubliez pas ce que je vous dis ici; peut etre qu" un jour nous nous le rappellerons avec plaisir ... Napoleon ou moi, - said the sovereign, touching his chest. – Nous ne pouvons plus regner ensemble. J "ai appris a le connaitre, il ne me trompera plus ... [Colonel Michaud, do not forget what I told you here; maybe we will someday remember this with pleasure ... Napoleon or I ... We can no longer reign together. I recognized him now, and he will not deceive me anymore ...] - And the sovereign, frowning, fell silent. Hearing these words, seeing the expression of firm determination in the eyes of the sovereign, Michaud - quoique etranger, mais Russe de c?ur et d "ame - felt himself at this solemn moment - entousiasme par tout ce qu "il venait d" entendre [although a foreigner, but Russian at heart ... admiring everything that he heard] (as he later said), and he portrayed in the following expressions as his feelings, and the feelings of the Russian people, whom he considered himself empowered.
– Sir! - he said. - Votre Majeste signe dans ce moment la gloire de la nation et le salut de l "Europe! [Sire! Your Majesty is signing at this moment the glory of the people and the salvation of Europe!]
The emperor, with a bow of his head, released Michaud.

While Russia was half conquered, and the inhabitants of Moscow fled to distant provinces, and militia after militia rose to defend the fatherland, it involuntarily seems to us, who did not live at that time, that all Russian people, young and old, were busy only with to sacrifice oneself, save the fatherland or cry over its death. The stories, descriptions of that time, without exception, speak only of self-sacrifice, love for the fatherland, despair, grief and heroism of Russians. In reality, it was not so. It seems to us so only because we see from the past one common historical interest of that time and do not see all those personal, human interests that people of that time had. And meanwhile, in reality, those personal interests of the present are so much more significant than the general interests that because of them one never feels (even not at all noticeable) a general interest. Most of the people of that time did not pay any attention to the general course of affairs, but were guided only by the personal interests of the present. And these people were the most useful figures of that time.
Those who tried to understand the general course of affairs and with self-sacrifice and heroism wanted to participate in it, were the most useless members of society; they saw everything upside down, and everything they did for good turned out to be useless nonsense, like the regiments of Pierre, Mamonov, plundering Russian villages, like lint, plucked by ladies and never reaching the wounded, etc. Even those who, loving to be smart and express their feelings, they talked about the real situation in Russia, involuntarily bore in their speeches the imprint of either pretense and lies, or useless condemnation and anger at people accused of what no one could be guilty of. In historical events, the prohibition against eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge is most obvious. Only one unconscious activity bears fruit, and the person who plays a part in historical event never understands its meaning. If he tries to understand it, he is amazed at the barrenness.
The significance of the event taking place in Russia at that time was the more imperceptible, the closer was the participation of a person in it. In St. Petersburg and provincial cities far from Moscow, ladies and men in militia uniforms mourned Russia and the capital and talked about self-sacrifice, etc.; but in the army that was retreating beyond Moscow, they hardly spoke or thought about Moscow, and, looking at its conflagration, no one swore to take revenge on the French, but thought about the next third of the salary, about the next stop, about Matryoshka, the shopper, and the like ...
Nikolai Rostov, without any goal of self-sacrifice, but by chance, since the war found him in the service, took a close and prolonged part in the defense of the fatherland and therefore, without despair and gloomy conclusions, looked at what was happening then in Russia. If he were asked what he thinks about the current situation in Russia, he would say that he has nothing to think about, that there are Kutuzov and others, but that he heard that regiments are being completed, and that they must be fighting for a long time , and that under the present circumstances it is not surprising for him to receive a regiment in two years.
By the fact that he looked at the matter in such a way, he not only accepted the news of his appointment on a business trip for repairs for the division in Voronezh without regret that he was deprived of participation in the last battle, but also with the greatest pleasure, which he did not hide and which his comrades understood very well.
A few days before the battle of Borodino, Nikolai received money, papers, and, having sent hussars forward, went to Voronezh by post.
Only those who experienced this, that is, spent several months without ceasing in the atmosphere of military, combat life, can understand the pleasure that Nicholas experienced when he got out of the area that the troops reached with their forages, food supplies, hospitals; when, without soldiers, wagons, dirty traces of the presence of the camp, he saw villages with peasants and women, landowners' houses, fields with grazing cattle, station houses with sleepy caretakers. He felt such joy, as if seeing it all for the first time. In particular, what surprised and delighted him for a long time were women, young, healthy, each of whom did not have a dozen courting officers, and women who were glad and flattered that a passing officer was joking with them.
In the most cheerful frame of mind, Nikolai arrived at a hotel in Voronezh at night, ordered for himself everything that he had been deprived of in the army for a long time, and the next day, having shaved clean and put on a dress uniform that had not been put on for a long time, he went to appear to the authorities.
The head of the militia was a state general, an old man, who, apparently, amused himself with his military rank and rank. He angrily (thinking that this was a military property) received Nikolai and significantly, as if having the right to do so and as if discussing the general course of the matter, approving and disapproving, questioned him. Nikolai was so cheerful that it was only amusing to him.
From the head of the militia, he went to the governor. The governor was a small lively little man, very affectionate and simple. He pointed out to Nicholas those factories where he could get horses, recommended him a horse-dealer in the city and a landowner twenty miles from the city, who had the best horses, and promised him all kinds of assistance.
- Are you the son of Count Ilya Andreevich? My wife was very friendly with your mother. On Thursdays I have a gathering; Today is Thursday, you are welcome to me easily, - said the governor, releasing him.
Directly from the governor, Nikolai took the relay and, having seated the sergeant-major with him, galloped twenty miles to the factory to the landowner. Everything during this first time of his stay in Voronezh was fun and easy for Nikolai, and everything, as happens when a person himself is well disposed, everything went well and went smoothly.
The landowner Nikolai came to was an old bachelor cavalryman, a horse connoisseur, a hunter, the owner of a carpet, a hundred-year-old casserole, an old Hungarian and wonderful horses.
In a nutshell, Nikolay bought for six thousand seventeen stallions to select (as he said) for the casual end of his repair. After dinner and drinking a little extra Hungarian, Rostov, kissing the landowner, with whom he had already agreed on "you", along a disgusting road, in the most cheerful mood, galloped back, constantly chasing the driver in order to be in time for the evening to the governor.
Having changed clothes, perfumed himself and doused his head with cold water, Nikolai, although somewhat late, but with a ready-made phrase: vaut mieux tard que jamais, [better late than never,] appeared to the governor.
It was not a ball, and it was not said that they would dance; but everyone knew that Katerina Petrovna would play waltzes and ecossaises on the clavichord and that they would dance, and everyone, counting on this, gathered for the ballroom.
Provincial life in 1812 was exactly the same as always, with the only difference that the city was livelier on the occasion of the arrival of many wealthy families from Moscow and that, as in everything that was happening at that time in Russia, there was a noticeable some kind of special sweeping - the sea is knee-deep, the grass is in life, and even in the fact that that vulgar conversation that is necessary between people and which was previously conducted about the weather and mutual acquaintances, was now conducted about Moscow, about the army and Napoleon.
The society gathered at the governor's was the best society in Voronezh.
There were a lot of ladies, there were several Moscow acquaintances of Nikolai; but there were no men who could compete with St. George Knight, a hussar repairman and at the same time the good-natured and well-bred Count Rostov. Among the men was one Italian prisoner - an officer French army, and Nikolai felt that the presence of this prisoner even more exalted the importance of him - the Russian hero. It was like a trophy. Nikolai felt this, and it seemed to him that everyone looked at the Italian in the same way, and Nikolai treated this officer with dignity and restraint.