The famous military and statesman of the first quarter of the 19th century, major general, hero-partisan of the Patriotic War of 1812, talented military writer and poet, founder of hussar lyrics Denis Vasilyevich Davydov was born 225 years ago - on July 27, 1784. A passionate, seething nature, an ardent patriot. He participated in all the wars that Russia waged during his lifetime.
Denis Vasilievich was born in Moscow into a military family. His service began in 1801. He entered the standard-junker (a rank in the cavalry, assigned to nobles who were awaiting production as an officer) in the cavalry regiment, a year later he was promoted to cornet, and in November 1803 he was promoted to lieutenant. During this period, his literary talent begins to unfold. Distinguished by wit and free-thinking poetry, he quickly gained popularity. Since 1806, Davydov has served in the St. Petersburg Life Guards Hussar Regiment. Six months later, he was the headquarters captain. Davydov's service during this period of his life was not burdensome. “In the whole regiment there was more friendship than service …” But for Russia this time was quite alarming, and Davydov considered it his duty to get into the active army. After troubles, he was enlisted as an adjutant to Prince P. I. Bagration.
The Russian army, pressed by Napoleon, was stationed near the village of Wolfsdorf. The rearguard of the Russian army under the command of Bagration covered the further retreat. The Battle of Wolfsdorf in January 1807 is Davydov's baptism of fire, in which he showed remarkable courage. Bagration presented him to the Order of Vladimir IV degree. For the subsequent battles of Landsberg and Preussisch-Eylau, Davydov was awarded a gold cross on the St. George ribbon. Intense battles followed one after another. On June 14, 1807, in a bloody battle near Friedland, Napoleon won a victory. The Russians fought with great stubbornness, but were forced to retreat under the hurricane fire of artillery. For participation in the Friedland battle, Davydov was awarded a golden saber with the inscription: "For bravery."
On July 7, 1807, Russia and France concluded the Peace of Tilsit. And in February 1808, the war between Russia and Sweden began. Under the terms of the Peace of Tilsit, Napoleon granted Alexander I the right to rule in Eastern Europe and promised not to provide military assistance to Turkey. The Russian government decided to use the favorable situation and strengthen its military-political positions on the Baltic Sea coast in order to secure Petersburg. Denis Davydov was appointed to the vanguard, commanded by Colonel Ya. P. Kulnev. Under the leadership of Kulnev, he went through a good school of outpost service - rapid maneuvers, raids, cavalry skirmishes and skirmishes. The war with Sweden ended with the Peace of Friedrichsgam, signed in September 1809. Under its terms, Finland ceded to Russia as the Grand Duchy of Finland.
The Russo-Turkish War of 1806-1812 also became a good school for the young officer. He participated in the capture of the Turkish fortress of Silistria and in the bloody battle of Shumla in June 1810. For military exploits in these battles he was awarded the diamond insignia of the Order of Anna II degree and promoted to captain.
Combat experience, broad military knowledge acquired by Davydov in the first decade of his military service, came in handy in the Patriotic War of 1812, in which he played a prominent role.
From May 1812, Davydov was the commander of the first battalion of the Akhtyrka hussar regiment with the rank of lieutenant colonel. By the time Napoleon's campaign began, the 2nd Western Army of Bagration was located in the vicinity of Volkovysk, and Davydov's regiment was in Zabludov, near Bialystok. Here the war of 1812 found him.
The blow of Napoleon in 1812 led to the emergence of the national liberation character of the war. Davydov was among the few officers who appreciated this phenomenon and raised the banner of partisan struggle. He turned to Bagration with a request to allocate a special cavalry unit for partisan actions in the rear of the Napoleonic army. The idea aroused the interest of Bagration, who turned directly to Kutuzov. Despite his approval, only 50 hussars and 150 Cossacks were allocated to Davydov! The command was skeptical about the effectiveness of the partisans' actions.
Supporting Davydov's initiative, Bagration ordered to allocate the best hussars and Cossacks to him. On September 6, Davydov's partisan detachment of 50 hussars and 80 Cossacks (instead of the promised 150), as well as three officers of the Akhtyrka regiment and two cornetses of the Don Cossack regiment secretly left the village of Borodino and moved deep into the rear of the French.
The first stronghold of the partisans was the village of Skugarevo, Smolensk province. Davydov began military operations on September 13, the day Napoleon entered Moscow: Davydov's detachment attacked a large detachment of French marauders. 90 people were taken prisoner and property stolen from the peasants was taken away. On September 14, another raid on enemy vehicles in Tsarevo-Zaymishche. The result is more than 120 prisoners, 10 food trucks and one truck with cartridges.
Davydov's partisan detachment stayed in Skugarevo for 10 days. During this time, more than 300 people were taken prisoner, more than 200 Russian soldiers were released from captivity, 32 artillery carts and a large number of wagons with military equipment and food were captured. The first experience taught that the best tactic for guerrillas is continuous movement, preventing the enemy from knowing where they are.
By the end of September, another 180 Cossacks had joined Davydov's detachment. Now under his command there are already 300 cavalrymen, not counting the infantry. It became possible to deploy large-scale actions. The detachment was divided into small battle groups. The connection between them was maintained by volunteers from the peasants. The squad's successes have increased.
Partisan pickets, set up by Davydov, kept significant areas under control, forcing the enemy to escort transports with reinforced guards - sometimes up to 1,500 people. The city of Vyazma itself was under the blow of the partisans, turned by the French into an important stronghold with a strong garrison. Davydov personally drew up a plan for an attack on the city. On September 25, after a swift attack, the city was taken. The enemy lost more than 100 people killed and about 300 prisoners. Trophies - 20 trucks with provisions and 12 with weapons.
The bold actions of Davydov's partisans alarmed the French governor of Smolensk, General Baraguet d'Hillier. By his order, a cavalry detachment of 2,000 sabers was formed from the teams traveling through Vyazma with the task of clearing the entire space between Gzhatsk and Vyazma from Russian partisans. A large price was promised for the head of Davydov himself. However, the enemy's attempts were in vain. So, on October 1, between the villages of Yurenevo and Gorodishche, the partisans fought three battalions of Polish infantry accompanying a large transport. They lost only 35 people, but captured a huge loot: 36 artillery decks (gun platform), 40 supply wagons, 144 oxen, about 200 horses, took 15 officers and more than 900 privates prisoner. A third partisan base was established near the village of Gorodishche. About 500 militias were assigned to guard it.
Davydov's "partisan army" grew rapidly. Small detachments of infantry were created from the recaptured Russian prisoners of war. Kutuzov appreciated Davydov's successes, promoted the partisan to colonel. For reinforcement, Popov's Don Cossack regiment, consisting of five hundred, arrived at Davydov. The successful actions of Davydov's detachment convinced Kutuzov to develop the partisan movement in every possible way. On the instructions of the field marshal, several more partisan detachments were created, led by officers of the regular troops. The number of Davydov's troops also increased: he had two light-horse Cossack regiments at his disposal. Incessant pursuit of the enemy and new successes. By the end of October, Davydov's detachment had captured more than 3,500 privates and 43 officers.
In early November, the French brigade of General Augereau was concentrated on the road between Yelnya and Smolensk. Davydov's detachment of 1200 sabers with 80 huntsmen and 4 guns defeated the enemy during a swift attack. 2,000 privates and 60 officers were taken prisoner, led by General Augereau. Pursuing the enemy, Davydov arrived in a village near the city of Krasny. At a personal meeting with the partisan, Kutuzov said: "Your successful experiments have proved to me the benefits of the partisan war, which has done so much harm, does and will inflict on the enemy." During November, Davydov's detachments carried out a number of successful operations. For courage Davydov was presented to the Order of George IV degree.
The expulsion of Napoleonic troops from Russia was drawing to a close. In early January 1813, Colonel Davydov joined the main vanguard of the army of General F. F. With his flying cavalry detachment, Davydov performed the duties of the vanguard of the main vanguard of the army. The old partisan detachment remained at his disposal: two regiments of the Don Cossacks, a team of hussars and combined Cossacks with a total of 550 people.
In early January 1813, the famous Foreign campaign began. Walking in the vanguard of the advancing Russian army, Davydov's detachment was the first to enter Saxony. On February 13, he took part in the defeat of the Saxon corps of General Rainier at Kalisz, on March 22 he occupied the capital of Saxony - Dresden. In the fall of 1813, Davydov received two Don Cossack regiments at his disposal. At the head of these Cossack regiments, the poet-partisan during the autumn campaign of 1813 participated in many vanguard battles and in the grandiose "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig on October 16-19. Then Davydov participates in many battles of the 1814 campaign. After the battle of Brienne on January 29, 1814 and February 1 at La Rottier, Davydov received the rank of major general as a reward. Napoleon could no longer prevent the defeat of his empire. As part of the Russian army, which entered Paris on March 30, 1814, Davydov was also at the head of a brigade of hussars.
Davydov sharply condemned the post-war order in the Russian Empire. The Guard turned, as Davydov said, into a "funny army." Considering it impossible to serve in the capital under such orders, he continued to serve in the provinces in secondary staff positions. In November 1823, Alexander I signed a decree on his dismissal "due to illness."
With the beginning of the reign of Nicholas I, Davydov decided to return to duty. At the beginning of April 1826, he was again assigned to serve in the "cavalry". In August, he was assigned to Georgia - the Russian-Persian war began. Upon the arrival of Davydov in the Caucasus, the commander-in-chief of the Caucasian army, General A. P. Ermolov, appointed him the commander of a three-thousandth detachment for offensive operations against the Persians. Davydov was tasked with stopping the movement to the north of the Erivan Sardar (the title of the Persian governor of Erivan) and his brother Hassan Khan and knocking them out of the borders conquered by the Russians. Already at the beginning of October 1826, Davydov utterly defeated the four thousandth detachment of Hassan Khan, penetrated the Persian border at the Sudagend tract and by December had erected a fortress here.
Denis Davydov was an active participant in eight military campaigns, one of the most talented, educated and brave officers of the Russian army. Denis Vasilyevich died on May 4, 1839 and was buried in Moscow.
