Fight of life with death

210 years ago, on August 26 (September 7), the main battle of the Patriotic War of 1812 took place near the village of Borodino, 124 km from Moscow. (Memoirs of the participants of the Battle of Borodino – in the materials of the Presidential Library)

The battle between the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte and Mikhail Kutuzov began at about six in the morning and ended at six in the evening. It was the bloodiest of the one-day battles of that time.

Discussions are still ongoing among scientists about the details of this event. “There were many pompous and strategic descriptions of the battle of Borodino; but the details of private actors are hidden,” wrote Nikolai Lyubenkov in his “An artilleryman’s story about the Borodino affair” (1837). A special section will help to open them. “Defensive period. Battle of Borodino. Turning point in the war collections “Patriotic War of 1812” about on the portal of the Presidential Library. Here are presented not only the studies of historians, but also the memories and impressions of the direct participants in the Battle of Borodino.

Thus, artilleryman Nikolai Lyubenkov, like many other eyewitnesses, observed how, on the eve of the battle, the troops wore the image of the Smolensk Mother of God and “our mustaches, terrible to the enemy, bowed to the ground and reverently asked for grace from the Creator. <…> Prayer for the Russian is already half the victory.”

A participant in the battle, lieutenant Nikolai Shishkov, recalled, “with what selflessness and love for Mother Russia everyone longed for battle … The battle was fierce, otherwise it could not have been. The Russians fought for the fatherland.”

The 19-year-old adjutant of Lieutenant-General Alexander Osterman, Count Dmitry Osten-Saken, said: “When Osterman was wounded and I escorted him to the dressing station, then, having asked his permission, I returned to the battle to General Miloradovich … <...> This day was truly the day of the epic poem.” These and other details of the battle were included in the brochure of the writer and public figure Stepan Maslov “Memories in 1865 of the Battle of Borodino and the Borodino monument in Moscow” (1865).

Nikolai Lyubenkov painted the whole horror of the battle: “The bloody battle of life with death, the deaf roar of countless guns, frantic cavalry invasions and hot dumps on bayonets everywhere …” , the wounded moaned, the earth trembled – this was the picture after the battle.

But, despite all the cruelties of the war, the Russian people retained their humanity. The author tells about such a case: many French prisoners were wounded, one leg was torn off. Tormented by pain and hunger, he asked our soldiers for bread, which they did not have – the convoy was far away. One soldier took out his last piece of bread and gave it to the enemy, saying: “On you, comrade, I’m still with my legs, and I’ll get it somewhere, but you have nowhere to take it.” Subsequently, this soldier was awarded the George Cross.

The battle of Borodino is not in vain called the “battle of the generals” – the losses among the generals on both sides were so great. Ordinary soldiers could not fail to note the courage of their commanders: “The authorities near Borodino were such that we will not wait again soon,” wrote non-commissioned officer Tikhonov, whose story was included in the publication “Battle of Borodino” (1872) Imperial Society of Russian History and Antiquities at Moscow University. About General Dmitry Dokhturov, who during the battle commanded the center of the Russian army, and after Bagration was wounded, the entire left wing, he recalled: you’ll pick it up. He was a steadfast man, such a cheerful and kind person. About Lieutenant General Pyotr Konovnitsyn, Tikhonov said: “The general was dexterous and efficient, calm. And you see that the boss is calm, well, you don’t doubt anything yourself. ”

The author also spoke about a young cadet who, contrary to orders, joined the ranks intended to protect the banner in battle. “I won’t go, your honor, to the tail,” he says, “I don’t want to be a scoundrel: I want to die for the Faith and the Fatherland.” I had to force him into place. “If it weren’t for such bosses, we wouldn’t have fought like that,” the non-commissioned officer concluded.

In that publication the impressions of Napoleonic General Jean-Jacques Pele about Kutuzov were also published: “… In the course of the day, he discovered the character that is one of the most precious qualities of the commander in chief. His fortitude balanced and partly upset the high considerations of the emperor.

The French general admitted: “The selflessness of the generals and the unshakable courage of the soldiers saved Russia. Other troops would have been defeated and possibly destroyed before noon. This army deserves the greatest praise.”

According to the Presidential Library.