In the article Russian Partisans of 1812: "People's War" we talked a little about the "People's War", which peasant detachments fought with the Great Army of Napoleon in 1812. This will tell about the "flying detachments" of regular troops formed by order of the Russian command, which at that time were considered (and were called) partisan.
This idea did not arise from scratch. In Russia, it was well known about the success of the Spanish guerrilla, because of which, as they said, since 1808 "". The fact is that since that time, a significant part of his forces have always remained in Spain. According to E. Tarle, in 1812, the number of French troops stationed in Spain was almost 2 times superior to the formations of the Great Army that took a direct part in the Battle of Borodino.
Many consider Denis Davydov to be the "pioneer" of the partisan war in the fall of 1812: the gallant hussar personally informed the readers of his memoirs and the article "On the Partisan War" about this. In fact, Davydov was neither the initiator of such actions, nor the most successful commander of a flying detachment, nor the most adventurous and dashing of them. But competent PR triumphed even in those days. Davydov, who wanted to tell everyone about his exploits, had some (not too great) literary abilities. And this turned out to be enough for him to remain in the memory of the descendants as the main partisan of that war (as well as the most famous hussar of the Russian Empire).
But we will talk about Davydov a little later, for now we will decide on the true authors of the idea of guerrilla warfare.
Patriotic Thoughts
The possibility and expediency of using regular army formations in the enemy's rear was expressed by Karl Ful - the one who built the absolutely useless Drissa camp for the Russian army. But the written substantiation of this idea was given by Lieutenant Colonel Pyotr Chuykevich, who in April 1812 drew up a document entitled “Patriotic Thoughts”. Chuikevich then served in the Special Chancellery of the War Ministry, which was not engaged in paperwork and not political investigation, but performed the functions of army intelligence. The initiator of its creation was the Minister of War M. B. Barclay de Tolly. Chuikevich addressed his note to him. He proposed, in the event of a new war with Napoleon, without engaging in major battles for the time being, to weaken the enemy army, constantly harassing it on the way. To this end, in his opinion, it was necessary to strike at its rear, cutting off supply sources, cut off and destroy individual enemy detachments. These actions were called by Chuykevich a partisan war, which was supposed to be waged by the "parties" - the light cavalry detachments of the regular troops with the Cossack and Jaeger units attached to them. Such detachments should have been commanded by intelligent career officers, who in previous campaigns had proved their courage, management and ability to act independently.
First partisan
The first partisan detachment of 1,300 people was created by order of Barclay de Tolly on August 2, 1812 (even before the start of the Smolensk battle). Ferdinand Fedorovich Vintsingerode became its commander. One of the officers of this detachment was the notorious A. H. Benckendorff. The task was set as follows:
"Protecting the interior of the region from detachments and foragers sent by the enemy … trying to act, whenever possible, on the message of the French troops."
This detachment attacked the French in Velizh, then captured Usvyat, which became its temporary base. Finally, he effectively blocked Vitebsk, destroying all foraging teams sent from it, and then raided Polotsk. More than 2 thousand people were captured alone.
But this "party" is not very well known in our country. Probably, the attitude towards her was influenced by the German surname of her commander, and the personality of Benckendorff, who later became the chief of the gendarmes and the head of the famous Third Directorate of the Imperial Chancellery. Benckendorff was also a Freemason - a master of the United Friends Lodge, which included, however, people with a more positive reputation: Vyazemsky, Chaadaev, Griboyedov, Pestel, Muravyov-Apostol. After the departure of the Napoleonic army from Moscow, Benckendorff became the first commandant of this city. And on November 7, 1824, thanks to his decisive actions, many people were saved during the catastrophic flood in St. Petersburg, which is described in the poem by Alexander Pushkin "The Bronze Horseman":
“On the balcony, Sad, confused, he came out
And he said: “With God's element
The kings cannot cope …
The king said - from end to end, On the streets near and far
On a dangerous path through stormy waters
His generals set off
Rescue and fear overwhelmed
And drowning people at home."
Tsar - Alexander I, generals - Benkendorf and Miloradovich.
All this did not prevent the "London inmate" A. Herzen from dismissively declaring about Benckendorff:
"He did not do good, he lacked energy, will and heart for this."
Vintzingerode was also not a parquet shaker who came to Russia "to pursue happiness and ranks," but an honest and experienced military officer.
He began his military career in the Austrian army, where he entered in 1790. In 1797 he entered the Russian service. He participated in the Swiss campaign of Suvorov, being in his army as an adjutant of the Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich. During the unhappy campaign of 1805, he deftly negotiated with Murat, gaining precious time for the retreat of the Russian army, which was in a difficult position after the surrender of Mack and the surrender of the bridges across the Danube by the Austrians (the same Murat). These events were described in the article Two "Gasconades" by Joachim Murat.
After that, he took part in the battle of Austerlitz.
In 1809, Wintzingerode again found himself in the Austrian army and was seriously wounded in the battle of Aspern. He returned to the Russian army in 1812.
After the Battle of Borodino, Vintsingerode settled between Mozhaisk and Volokolamsk. According to the instructions, he conducted reconnaissance, intercepted foragers, attacked small enemy detachments. Having learned about the beginning of the movement of the French from Moscow, on his own initiative he tried to enter into negotiations. Later, he argued that, having learned about Napoleon's order to blow up the Kremlin, he hoped to dissuade the French from carrying out such a criminal order. However, Winzingerode did not take into account that his hometown of Hesse at that time was part of the vassal France of the Kingdom of Westphalia. And therefore the French decided that, being a subject of Westphalia, during the war he had no right to be in the Russian service, and declared him a traitor. Wintzingerode was arrested and sent to trial in Westphalia. So he missed the opportunity to be the first to inform Kutuzov's headquarters about the movement of the Great Army.
Between Minsk and Vilna, he was freed by A. Chernyshev's "flying detachment", who would later be elevated to princely dignity, become Minister of War and Chairman of the State Council. Chernyshev will be famous for his personal arrest of Pestel in 1825, as well as for the order, contrary to tradition, to re-hang the Decembrists who fell off the crossbar (K. Ryleev, P. Kakhovsky and S. Muravyov-Apostol became "twice hanged"). It is not surprising that Chernyshev's partisan activities are little known in our country.
But let us return to the liberated F. Vintsingerode, who later, in the rank of corps commander, took part in the Russian army's campaign abroad. And he even removed Denis Davydov from the command, who violated the order not to enter into negotiations with the Dresden garrison (this will be discussed in the next article).
The man who changed history
Perhaps the most significant contribution to the victory of the Russian army in 1812 of all the commanders of the partisans of that war was made by Alexander Nikitich Seslavin. The first time he encountered the French during the battle of Heilsberg in East Prussia (May 29, 1807): he was wounded in the chest and awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th degree. In the years 1810-1811. took part in the war with Turkey. He was awarded the Order of St. Anne, 2nd degree, and received the rank of captain. After being wounded in the shoulder, he had to be treated for about 6 months.
He began the Patriotic War as adjutant to the commander of the 1st Russian Army M. Barclay de Tolly. For battles near Smolensk he was awarded a golden sword with the inscription "For Bravery". He fought at Borodino: he was wounded in the battle at Shevardino, but remained in the ranks, was awarded the Order of St. George, 4th degree.
On September 30, 1812, Captain Seslavin was appointed commander of a partisan (flying) detachment (250 Don Cossacks and a squadron of the Sumy hussar regiment). With him, he went "on the hunt."
It was not at all difficult to go to the rear of the Great Army in 1812, since there was no single front line. Avoiding clashes with enemy units, a small detachment could easily reach even Poland. But Seslavin did not need to go there, his detachment operated in the area between Moscow and Borovsk.
It is interesting that Seslavin had his own artillery: its role was played by a kind of carts - sledges with guns mounted on them. And several times the large formations of the enemy, pursuing these partisans, retreated, being hit by a volley of these "batteries".
As the commander of a partisan detachment, Seslavin performed the main feat in his life.
From the article The Russian army in the battles at Tarutino and near Maloyaroslavets, you should remember that the first units of Napoleon's army that left Moscow were seen by the partisans of Dorokhov (which will be discussed later). But it was Alexander Seslavin who realized that the entire Great Army was going forward, and was able to determine the direction of its movement. The information he delivered was of truly strategic importance. Thanks to them, Dokhturov's corps managed to approach Maloyaroslavets in time and engage in a battle, after which both armies retreated from this city. Napoleon did not dare to give a new general battle: his troops went west along the ravaged Old Smolensk road.
After the battle at Maloyaroslavets, Kutuzov lost contact with the enemy army and did not know where it was until October 22. And again it was Seslavin who found the French at Vyazma.
Then the "parties" of Seslavin, Figner and Davydov (the total number of partisans is 1300 people) and the raid cavalry detachment of the hero of the Tarutino battle Orlov-Denisov (2000 people) at Lyakhov surrounded and captured from one and a half to two thousand soldiers of the brigade of General Augereau. For this operation, Seslavin received the rank of colonel.
On November 16, Seslavin's detachment captured the city of Borisov, where 3,000 French surrendered to the partisans. After that, the headquarters of the main army established contact with the troops of Wittgenstein and Chichagov. This remarkable and important victory was attributed to Davydov for a long time, and then to Platov.
Finally, on November 23, Seslavin had a chance to capture Napoleon himself. He decided to burn down the warehouse of the Great Army in the small town of Oshmyany (now part of the Grodno region of Belarus). And he really burned it - despite the unusually strong (and already unusual) resistance of the French. Just during this battle, Napoleon, who had left his army, entered the city. His escort and Seslavin's cavalrymen were separated by only a few tens of meters, but only later did Seslavin learn how large prey eluded his partisans, taking advantage of the darkness of the night. And I understood the reason for such desperate resistance from the French.
Finally, on November 29, his detachment captured Vilno. Seslavin himself was wounded in the arm during this battle.
Having recovered, he took part in the Overseas campaign. In 1813, after the Battle of Leipzig, he was promoted to major general. In 1814, Seslavin's detachment carried out communication between the Russian army and Blucher's troops.
Seslavin's merits were not properly appreciated at court, and in 1820 he resigned, finally receiving the rank of lieutenant general.
Among other commanders of the flying detachments, Seslavin stood out for his humane attitude towards prisoners.
"", - admitted another great partisan of that war - Alexander Figner. It was Seslavin that he considered his only rival (and Denis Davydov was not recognized as a “big partisan” by either one). We'll talk about Figner now.
There was a man that adventurer
Captain Alexander Samoilovich Figner, who became the prototype of Dolokhov's brether in Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, was undoubtedly the most dashing and brightest partisan of 1812. It is even strange that until now he has not become the hero of an adventure novel or an action-packed historical film, in which, especially, nothing would have to be invented. Talking about him, one involuntarily recalls the lines of S. Yesenin from the poem "The Black Man":
“There was a man that adventurer, But the highest and purest brand."
At the same time, for some reason, his surname was altered in the Russian army. In the stories and reports sometimes appeared some "Captain Wagner" and "Captain Finken", who took away from our hero some of his exploits. But later we figured it out.
Alexander Figner's father was the head of the Imperial glass factories and the vice-governor of the Pskov province. He was stern and strict with his son, and he sent him to study in the 2nd Cadet Corps, which was considered less prestigious than the 1st. It was mainly the children of poor nobles who studied there. In 1805 Figner found himself in Italy, where the Russian corps was to act against the French in alliance with the British. Here, in between times, he perfectly learned the Italian language, which greatly helped him to partisan in 1812.
In 1810, Figner fought against the Ottomans and took part in the storming of the Ruschuk fortress, receiving the Order of St. George of the 4th degree for military services. He met World War II with the rank of staff captain of the 3rd light company of the 11th artillery brigade. He proved himself well in the battle for Smolensk. After the Battle of Borodino, he persuaded Kutuzov to send him for reconnaissance to Moscow occupied by the French. In this "party" there were only 8 people (together with the commander), but Figner added to it a certain number of volunteers found in Moscow and its environs. His mission turned out to be very successful: an officer who perfectly spoke French, Italian, German, Dutch and Polish, disguised in the uniform of different regiments, as well as a hairdresser, or even a simple peasant, obtained a lot of valuable information. But later Figner admitted that his main goal then was the assassination of Napoleon, and therefore he was dissatisfied with his visit to the Mother See.
After Napoleon's Grand Army left Moscow, Figner led one of the flying squads. Kutuzov appreciated the actions of Figner's partisans extremely highly. In his order for the army on September 26, 1812 it was said:
“A detachment sent for intrigues against the enemy, in the vicinity of Moscow, in a short time destroyed food in the villages between the Tula and Zvenigorod roads, beat up to 400 people, blew up a park on the Mozhaisk road, made six battery guns completely unusable, and 18 boxes were blown up, and a colonel, four officers and 58 privates were taken and a few beaten … I express my gratitude to Captain Figner for the proper execution of the task."
Kutuzov wrote to his wife about Figner:
“This is an extraordinary person. I have never seen such a high soul. He is fanatical in courage and in patriotism."
But Figner became famous not only for numerous daring and successful operations against the French (for which he received the rank of lieutenant colonel with a transfer to the guard), but also for "greed for murder" (cruelty towards prisoners).
Figner especially hated the French and Poles; the soldiers and officers of these nationalities who were captured by him had no chances to survive. He treated Italians, Dutch and Germans much better, often leaving them alive.
Figner's nephew recalled:
“When the masses of prisoners were surrendered into the hands of the victors, my uncle was at a loss for their numbers and a report to A. P. He asked Ermolov how to deal with them, for there was no means or opportunity to support them. Ermolov replied with a laconic note: "To those who entered the Russian land with arms, death."
To this, my uncle sent back a report with the same laconic content:
"From now on, Your Excellency will no longer bother the prisoners," and from that time began the brutal extermination of the prisoners, who were killed by the thousands."
Denis Davydov even said that Figner once asked him to hand over the French prisoners so that they could be killed by the Cossacks who came with the replenishment, who were not yet "set on". However, this testimony should be treated with caution, because Davydov, who was clearly jealous of Figner's fame, could have composed this story.
To match the commander were his fighters, who in the army, hinting at the motley composition of Figner's detachment, were called "", "" and even "". AP Ermolov said that with the arrival of Figner's detachment, his headquarters became like a "den of robbers." And the commander of another "party" - Peter Grabbe (the future Decembrist) called Figner "a robber chieftain." But the actions of this "gang" were so useful and effective that they had to endure.
In Figner's detachment, a certain cornet Fyodor Orlov became famous, who came to him after an unsuccessful suicide attempt (the barrel of a pistol exploded, injuring his hand). Cornet, apparently, decided that with such a dashing and desperate commander, he would not heal for a long time. However, despite all his efforts, he did not manage to die for Russia, he had to suffer in this world for another 23 years.
During the famous battle near the village of Lyakhovo, which was described above, Figner went to Augereau as a parliamentarian. “With a blue eye,” he informed him that both his brigade and Barague d'Illera's division were surrounded by a 15,000-strong Russian corps, and resistance was useless - unless, of course, Augereau did not want to heroically die for the glory of France in this dreary Russian village. Augereau, as you know, did not want to become a dead hero.
Polyglot Figner also used his acting skills during partisan operations. Sometimes he, posing as an officer of the Great Army, took command of a unit, or took on the functions of a guide. And he led this detachment to a pre-arranged ambush. For this he had a whole collection of uniforms from different regiments.
He tried the same trick in 1813 during the siege of Danzig. He entered there under the guise of an Italian robbed by the Cossacks in order to try to organize an uprising. But the vigilant French arrested the suspicious Italian. However, Figner played his role impeccably and was soon released for lack of evidence. After that, he charmed the acting commandant of General Rapp to such an extent that he sent him with a letter to … Napoleon Bonaparte. As you probably guessed, the French emperor did not wait for Rapp's report. Information about the state of the fortress and its garrison seemed so valuable to the Russian command that Figner received the rank of colonel. Then he, having gathered a "vengeful legion", consisting of 326 Russians (hussars and Cossacks) and 270 captured Spanish and Italian infantrymen, began to "play pranks" in the French rear. On October 1 (12), 1813, near Dessau, Figner was surrounded and betrayed by his foreign subordinates. According to one of the versions, he died in battle on the banks of the Elbe, according to the other, being wounded, he jumped into the river and drowned in it. At the time of his death, he was 26 years old.
