From Russian Sources. Article 01

The author: Denis Vasilievich Davidov, was well-known Russian poet-hussar, a writer and a hero of the War of 1812. In the beginning of the war he was a lieutenant-colonel of the Akhtirsky Hussar regiment. He participated in battles at Romanovo, Saltanovka and Smolensk. But he became famous by his actions as the commander of the first partisan detachments formed of hussars and cossacks.
After these Davidov took part in the foreign campaign of the Russian army in 1813 - 1814, distinguished at La-Rothiere, in addition, Denis Davidov was also a talented writer and poet. He wrote many wonderful verses and his historical books such as "Tilzit in the year 1807", "Memories About Kulnev in Finland", "The Journal Of Partisan Actions In 1812" and others became one of the most important Russian sources of this era. Now we would like to call your attention to this small extract taken from this book.

All the dates are in the old Russian style (Julian calendar), that was in use in Russia till 1917. The difference between the old style and new style (Gregorian calendar that is used all over the world) for XIX century is 12 days.

OLD GUARD

The position of the partisans between November,1st and November, 4th (1812) was the following:
On the 2nd of November Count (Graf) Orlov-Denisov after joining my troops reached Raevsky's Corps at Tolstiaki village; we continued our movement to Khiltichi and arrived there late in the evening. We rested for three hours and went to Merlin village.

On November,3rd Count (Graf) Ozharovsky's detachment came to Kutkovo and Seslavin's detachment, reinforced by Figner's troops came to Zverovichi. That day, at daybreak our mounted patrols let us know the enemy infantry columns were moving slowly between the villages Nikulino and Stesni. We hurried to the high road and covered all the space from Anosovo village to Merlin by our horde. The enemy stopped to wait for the tail of the column that hurried as fast as they could to close the column ranks. Seeing this Count Orlov-Denisov ordered to attack them. We could crush almost without resistance this disordered part of the enemy columns. We captured Generals Almeras and Burt, about 200 soldiers, four guns and many transports.

At last the Old Guard approached, Napoleon himself was in the middle of it. It was late in the afternoon. We mounted our horses again and rushed to the high road. The French saw our noisy crowds, cocked their guns and continued their way proudly, not hurrying their steps.

Many times we tried to tear off at least a single private from these close ordered columns, but they were like granite and remained safe in spite of all our efforts… I will never forget the firm step and stern carriage of these warriors, tried and tested by all manners of death! In their blue uniforms with white belts, high bear fur caps, red plumes and epaulettes they looked like poppy flowers in the middle of the snow covered fields. If we had some companies of horse artillery with us and all our regular cavalry that toiled along with the army without any use, the first and other enemy columns would not be able to retreat with such little losses they had this day.

But we had only cossacks, and our cossacks could only buzz around the enemy columns, sometimes capturing some dropped transports or guns, or tearing off some platoons scattered along the road, but the columns themselves remained safe.

We saw that all our Asian charges were useless against the close European formation; in the evening I decided to send forward the regiment of Chechensky to break the bridges on the way to Krasnoe and to try to put obsltacles in the enemy path by all means. We continued our attacks, turning the enemy from the right, from the left, crossing its way from the front and constantly exchanged fire with the enemy skirmishers. We formed a kind of vanguard for the French army vanguard.

It seems I can still see Count Orlov-Denisov prancing just near the French column on his chestnut horse, among my Akhtirsky hussars and orderlies of the Leib-Guarde Cossack regiment. Colonels, officers, uriadniks (Cossack sergeants) and many cossacks charged the enemy again and again - but all our efforts were unsuccessful! The columns moved one after another driving us away by musket fire and jeering at our useless riding around them. During this day we captured one more general (Marticevich), many transports and about 700 soldiers, but the Old Guard with Napoleon passed by our cossacks like a 100-gun battleship moving grandly between fishing-boats.

During the twilight hours, Khrapovitsky was nearly captured by the enemy cavalry moving near the road. He took them for ours and rode to the enemy front so closely that (being very short-sighted) he could notice the copper single-headed eagles on the shakos of soldiers and officers and heard their talking.

He rushed away to make his escape as fast as he could, but, some enemy officers rushed after him firing pistols. Though they had wounded his horse slightly, he was able to make his escape and rejoin us unharmed. During this action near the village of Beketovo, one horse was killed by an enemy cannon-ball and some of our cossacks were also wounded.

Source:
("Collection Of Works By Denis Davidov", Moscow, 1999, pages 372 - 376 )