Formation of the zemstvo militia.

Belinsky The Emperor ordered that the great Victory Day in the Patriotic War of 1812 be celebrated annually on the day of the Nativity of Christ.Russian Orthodox Church

adopted Christmas Day (January 7) to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.

MANIFESTO “On bringing thanksgiving to the Lord God for the liberation of Russia from the enemy invasion” (translated into modern Russian according to To the full meeting Laws Russian Empire

(St. Petersburg, 1830).

“We are announcing it publicly. God and the whole world are witnesses to this with what desires and strength the enemy entered our beloved Fatherland. Nothing could avert his evil and stubborn intentions. Firmly relying on his own and the terrible forces he had collected against Us from almost all European powers and driven by the greed of conquest and the thirst for blood, he hastened to burst into the very breast of Our Great Empire in order to pour out on it all the horrors and disasters not generated by chance, but destined for a long time. them an all-devastating war.

Knowing from experience the boundless lust for power and the impudence of his enterprises, the bitter cup of evils he was preparing for Us, and seeing him already entering Our borders with indomitable rage, We were forced with a painful and contrite heart, calling on God for help, to draw our sword and promise To Our Kingdom, that We will not let it go into the interior places, until even one of the enemies remains armed in our land. We placed this promise firmly in Our hearts, hoping for the strong valor of the people entrusted to Us by God, in which we were not deceived.

From this universal consent and zeal, consequences soon arose that were hardly incredible, hardly unheard of. Let them imagine a gathering of twenty kingdoms and peoples, united under a single banner, with which the power-hungry, arrogant, and fierce enemy entered Our land. Half a million foot and horse soldiers and about one and a half thousand cannons followed him. With just this huge militia, he penetrates into the very middle of Russia, spreads and begins to spread fire and devastation everywhere.

But six months have barely passed since he entered Our borders, and where is he? Here it is appropriate to say the words of the sacred hymnist: “I saw the wicked exalted and high as the cedars of Lebanon; and I passed by, and behold he was no longer there, and I looked for his place, but did not find it.” Truly this lofty saying was fulfilled in all the power of its meaning over Our proud and wicked enemy. Where are his troops, like a cloud of black clouds driven by the winds?

Scattered like rain. A great part of them, having watered the earth with blood, lies covering the expanse of Moscow, Kaluga, Smolensk, Belarusian and Lithuanian fields.

Another great part in different and frequent battles was taken prisoner with many military leaders and commanders, and in such a way that after repeated and severe defeats Finally, their entire regiments, resorting to the generosity of the victors, bowed their weapons before them. The rest, an equally great part, in their swift flight driven by Our victorious troops and met by frost and hunger, paved the way from Moscow itself to the borders of Russia with corpses, cannons, carts, shells, so that the smallest, insignificant part of the exhausted ones remaining from all their numerous forces and unarmed warriors can hardly come half-dead to their country, in order to inform them, to the eternal horror and trembling of their fellow citizens, what a terrible execution befalls those who dare with abusive intentions to enter the bowels of powerful Russia.

Now, with heartfelt joy and bitterness towards God, We declare gratitude to Our dear loyal subjects, that the event has surpassed even Our very hope and that what We announced at the opening of this war has been fulfilled beyond measure: there is no longer a single enemy on the face of Our land; or better yet, they all stayed here, but how? Dead, wounded and prisoners. The proud ruler and leader himself could barely ride away with his chief officials, having lost his entire army and all the cannons he brought with him, which, more than a thousand, not counting those buried and sunk by him, were recaptured from him and are in Our hands.

The spectacle of the death of his troops is incredible! You can hardly believe your own eyes. Who could do this? Without taking away worthy glory from the famous commander-in-chief of our troops, who brought immortal services to the Fatherland; nor among other skillful and courageous leaders and military leaders who distinguished themselves with zeal and zeal; nor in general among this brave Our army, we can say that what they did is beyond human strength.

So, let us recognize the providence of God in this great matter. Let us prostrate ourselves before His Holy Throne, and seeing clearly His hand, which punishes pride and wickedness, instead of vanity and arrogance about our victories, let us learn from this great and terrible example to be meek and humble executors of the laws and will, not like these desecrators of temples who have fallen away from the faith. God, our enemies, whose bodies in countless numbers are strewn as food for dogs and crows!

Great is the Lord our God in His mercy and in His wrath!

Let us go by the goodness of our deeds and the purity of our feelings and thoughts, the only path leading to Him, to the temple of His holiness and there, crowned by His hand with glory, let us give thanks for the generosity poured out on us and let us fall to Him with warm prayers, that He may extend His mercy over us and will stop the wars and battles, will send us victories, the desired peace and silence.”

From July 6 (18), 1812 and his appeal to the residents of the “Most Throne Capital of our Moscow” with an appeal to become the founders of this “people's armament”.

The widespread convocation of zemstvo militias that began was limited by the Manifesto of July 18 (30) “On the Formation of a Temporary Internal Militia” to 16 central provinces adjacent to the established theater of military operations, which were divided into three districts. The first (I) district (Moscow, Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, Smolensk provinces) was intended to protect Moscow. The second (II) district (St. Petersburg and Novgorod provinces) provided “security” for the capital. The Volga provinces of the third (III) district (Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Kostroma, Simbirsk and Vyatka) were supposed to serve as a reserve for the first two militia districts. The remaining provinces were ordered to remain “inactive” until “there is a need to use them for sacrifices and services equal to the Fatherland.”

M.I. Kutuzov is the head of the St. Petersburg militia. Artist S. Gerasimov

Formation of militias

Legislative acts entrusted the collection of militias to the apparatus of state power, the nobility and the church.

The general management of the formation of the militias was carried out by a Special Committee under the Emperor, which included an artillery general, a lieutenant-general minister of police and a vice-admiral secretary of state. The heads of the three militia districts were appointed by decrees of the emperor, and the entire leadership of the provincial militias, from the commander to the commanders of the regiments (detachments), was elected by the local nobility and presented for the highest approval.

Chiefs of militias of the Patriotic War of 1812

Militia of districts and provinces of Russia	Chiefs
1st (Moscow) militia district	Moscow military governor general, infantry general (Rastopchin)
Moscow	Lieutenant General (Markov)
Tverskaya	Lieutenant General
Yaroslavskaya	Major General
Vladimirskaya	Lieutenant General
Ryazan	Major General
Tula	Civil Governor, Privy Councilor from 16.11. 1812 - Major General
Kaluzhskaya	Lieutenant General
Smolenskaya	Lieutenant General N.P. Lebedev
II (St. Petersburg) militia district	General of Infantry (Golenishchev-Kutuzov), from 27.8. to September 22, 1812, Lieutenant General, then - senator
St. Petersburg	General of Infantry M.I. Kutuzov (Golenishchev-Kutuzov), from August 8, 1812, Lieutenant General P.I. Meller-Zakomelsky
Novgorodskaya	Gene. from infantry, from Sep. 1812 Lieutenant General P.I. performed part-time duties. Meller-Zakomelsky,
III (Volga region) militia district	Lieutenant General
Kazanskaya	Major General
Nizhny Novgorod	Valid chamberlain, prince
Penza	Major General
Kostromskaya	Lieutenant General
Simbirskaya	Valid State Councillor
Vyatskaya	-

The military department provided assistance in training warriors and provided them with firearms and ammunition from its arsenals and warehouses. The Ministry of Finance controlled the storage and proper expenditure of funds collected for the militia. On July 25 (August 6), 1812, Alexander I approved the report of the Holy Governing Synod, according to which the Russian Orthodox Church allocated 1.5 million rubles for the organization of the St. Petersburg and Moscow militias, all “laity” and clergy were called upon to donate to the collection of the militia; and “clergymen, children of clergy and clergy and seminarians” were allowed to be released into warriors.

Drawing of the banner of St. Petersburg, highly approved on July 23, 1812 people's militia

The procedure for collecting the zemstvo army was established in the “Report on the composition of the Moscow military force”, the highest approved on July 14 (26), - the rules for organizing the Moscow militia. The local nobility was entrusted with its formation, leadership and obligatory personal service in it in general and officer positions. Retired officers entered the zemstvo army with the same rank, and civil officials lost one of their class ranks according to the Table of Ranks. Nobles from retired non-commissioned officers and those who passed public service assigned to the positions of non-commissioned officers (non-commissioned officers). The militias were subject to disbandment “upon the expulsion of the enemy from our land,” and the officers and warriors who were in them were to be returned “to their primitive state and to their former duties.”

The creation of the zemstvo army began with the convening by the governor and provincial leader of the nobility of a congress of representatives of the “noble class” of all districts. It adopted the Regulations on the Militia, and also established its number, the procedure for selecting and equipping warriors, and the timing of their collection; elections were carried out for the chief of the provincial army and the commanders of the regiments (teams). At the same time, the governor, together with noble assembly formed the Organizing Committee, which was directly involved in the formation of the militia. It included the governor (usually he presided), the provincial leader of the nobility, the city mayor and officials elected by the nobility or appointed by higher authorities. In their activities, militia committees had the right to contact any “places and persons and demand assistance and assistance from anyone.” After the meeting, the nobility dispersed to their estates, and its resolution served as a guide for the activities of the established provincial militia committees, local administration, provincial and district leaders of the nobility.

Each landowner was obliged to submit a certain number of equipped and armed warriors from his serfs to the militia within a set time frame. The unauthorized entry of serfs into the militia was a crime. The selection of warriors was carried out by the landowner or peasant communities by lot. Noble estates, who fielded warriors in the militia, were exempt from recruitment until its dissolution. Other categories of peasants - state, economic, appanage, as well as townspeople and artisans were subject to recruitment in the usual manner.

Blessing of the militia of 1812. Artist I. Luchaninov. 1812 For this painting in 1812 I.V. Luchaninov received gold medal first dignity and the title of artist with a first degree certificate

The reception of warriors and horses was carried out in gathering places in the counties by special commissions consisting of an official (officer) from the militia, the leader of the county nobility, the mayor and the doctor. The physical and age requirements for the militia, as a temporary army, were reduced compared to recruiting sets. People rejected by the selection committees were to be replaced by their submitters.

The warriors of the provincial militias united into regiments of mounted and foot Cossacks (in the provincial militias formed according to the Manifesto of July 18 (30), 1812, the Cossacks meant not representatives of the Cossack military class, but lightly armed horse or foot warriors), as well as foot rangers (in I 1st district the regiments were called squads). Foot regiments were divided into battalions, battalions into hundreds and tens. Horse regiments - hundreds, hundreds - dozens. The “Smolensk police” consisted of district militias, headed by a chief of a thousand, which in turn were divided into “five hundred”, hundreds and fifty. The militia of each province was under the command of its own commander.

Chief officer, sergeant and Cossack of the foot regiments of the Tula militia. Colored lithograph of Klevezat based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

Provincial militias were equipped, armed and maintained before joining the active army from a special fund, which included mandatory cash and in-kind contributions, as well as donations. The bulk of donations came not from individuals, but from social groups and were made without fail. The nobility, merchants, townspeople, artisans, and peasant societies at their meetings established the total amount of the collection and distributed it among the members of their class, depending on their property status. Fundraising for the militia and defense was carried out throughout Russia and amounted to about 100 million rubles in monetary terms. For 1812-1814. government spending on the army amounted to 157.453 million rubles. With the inclusion of provincial troops in the active army, militia committees transferred the remaining money to the Ministry of Finance.

Agenda of the city elders of the St. Petersburg merchants to the merchant M.M. Balakhnov dated 08/14/1812 with a notice of the need to contribute a sum of money to organize the militia

By decree of Alexander I, the collection of supplies for the maintenance of zemstvo troops in the provinces was limited to 3 months; in the future, they had to be content at state expense. In fact, this transition occurred only in March 1813, when most of the militias, together with the army, set out from Russia. Chiefs of regiments (detachments) and battalion commanders were not entitled to pay “according to the importance of the rank in which they serve and by special power of attorney of the Emperor, out of zeal for the Fatherland.” Poor nobles were paid an allowance for equipment from the militia fund. The norm for providing a warrior at the expense of the donor was the three-month rations established by the government for recruits sent to assembly points. His uniform consisted of a cloth caftan, trousers, shirt, boots and a cap with a brass cross and the inscription “For the Faith and the Tsar” on it.

Huntsman, foot and horse Cossacks of the Tver militia.
Colored lithograph by P. Ferlund 2nd based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

The militias lacked firearms, ammunition and military equipment, as they were primarily allocated to form reserve units of the regular army. Provincial troops received guns only when they were included in the active army. Therefore, after the end of the gathering, all the militias, except for the St. Petersburg militia, were armed mainly with edged weapons - pikes, spears and axes. By the beginning of December 1812, about 49.5 thousand guns were released to the militia from arsenals and arms factories.

Foot and mounted Cossacks of the Ryazan militia.
Colored lithograph by Beck based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

The military training of warriors took place according to an abbreviated recruit training program; the instructors in the training were officers and lower ranks from the army and Cossack units located in the places where the provincial army was formed.

Extraordinary circumstances associated with the retreat of the Russian armies to Moscow forced the government of Alexander I to give the “people's armament” a wider scope than originally envisaged by the Manifesto of July 18. In addition to the zemstvo (peasant) militias, the formation of Cossack militias began (from representatives of a special military class), the structure of which was determined by the “Regulations Cossack troops", approved by Alexander I in early XIX V.

In the Ukrainian provinces, a Cossack (22 regiments) and two zemstvo militias (Poltava and Chernigov) with a total number of 70-75 thousand people were assembled. The Bug Cossack army (Kherson province) equipped at its own expense a squad of 500 Cossacks, which did not participate in hostilities, but served at the cordons established in connection with the plague epidemic in the fall of 1812.

The Don Army formed 22 militia regiments numbering 12.7 thousand people, which were joined by 4 regiments of “service Cossacks” left in Novocherkassk to carry out construction work and performing internal service.

On the territory subordinate to the Orenburg military governor, Prince, from the Bashkir-Meshcheryak irregular army, the Orenburg and Ural Cossack troops, 23 (2 Meshcheryak, 18 Bashkir, 2nd Teptyarsky, Orenburg No. 3 and Ural No. 5) five hundred and one thousand troops were collected ( Orenburg Ataman) Cossack regiments with a total number of 13 thousand Cossacks.

In the Livonia province, a 2,000-strong “mounted police” was organized, then reorganized into a Cossack regiment with a staff strength of 800 people.

In addition, temporary armed formations (regiments, squadrons and detachments) to strengthen the active army were formed on the private initiative of the nobility. More than 1 thousand warriors were collected from the state peasants of the Vologda and Olonets provinces into the St. Petersburg militia; The Tverskoy-Yamskaya Cossack regiment, numbering about 800 people, was formed from the coachmen of the St. Petersburg-Moscow tract. The governor of the Pskov province is allowed to recruit Russian refugees from the Western regions captured by the enemy “on the basis of the rules of a temporary militia.” Armed detachments were created from the riflemen of the forest guards of the Western provinces, subordinate to the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Finance. The “Corps of Courland Riflemen” numbering several hundred warriors was formed from the rangers of the Courland and Bushwechter villages. About 200 riflemen were gathered in the forest estates of Dorpat and Pernov districts.

Matveev is a warrior of the 1st squad of the St. Petersburg militia. Lithograph by V. Timm. 1850s

At their own expense, with the highest permission, the 1st Chasseur of the Privy Councilor and the 1st Foot of the Actual Chamberlain of Prince P.P. gathered in the Moscow militia. Gagarin regiments, in Tver from appanage peasants of 12 provinces - Battalion Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna, in the Kherson province - a squadron of a landowner. In the Smolensk province, the family of a retired major general formed from their courtyard and serf peasants the “horse hundred brothers of Leslie of the Smolensk militia,” which, with the permission of the military command, became part of the active army. Commander-in-Chief M.I. Kutuzov, at the request of the local nobility, allowed the militia collected in the Dmitrov district of the Oryol province to be sent to the active army in the Mogilev province, etc.

In Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Baltic states, “volunteer” regiments and detachments were formed, staffed by recruiting volunteers “from persons of free status” - nobles, officials, townspeople, merchants and students. With the highest permission, on the initiative of the nobility, the following gathered: Moscow Cossack counts and P.I. Saltykov regiments; in St. Petersburg - the 1st St. Petersburg volunteer Cossack regiment “Deadly” under the leadership of retired lieutenant Count F.M. de Olivera (Oliveira), and then colonel, and the 2nd St. Petersburg volunteer Cossack regiment “Alexandrian” of retired staff captain Baron K.K. von Bode. Since it was difficult to staff them with the recruitment of “free” people, Moscow Count M.A. Dmitry-Mamonov’s regiment was not formed until the end of 1812, and personnel Hussar Count P.I. Saltykov's regiment went to replenish the Irkutsk Hussar Regiment. Half the strength of the 1st and 2nd volunteer Cossack regiments of Colonel A.A. Yakhontov and Baron K.K. von Bode consisted of militia warriors received from the St. Petersburg Organizing Committee. In the Baltics, detachments of several hundred people were assembled under the command of retired lieutenants K.K. Shmita (“Courland Corps of Free Horse and Foot Rangers”) and K. Nirota (“Volunteer Cossack Hundred”) from volunteers living in the Baltic provinces.

Sergeant of the foot squads of the St. Petersburg militia.
Colored lithograph of Ferlund II based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

In addition to the provincial zemstvo army in the districts, cities, villages adjacent to the theater of military operations of Smolensk, Moscow, Kaluga, Tula, Tver, Pskov, Chernigov, Tambov, Oryol province, “cordons” or “guardian militias” were formed. They were gathered by the local administration and the nobility for self-defense and maintenance internal order, and in them the armament of the “ordinary people” took place without interruption from economic activity and performing public duties.

Badge of the 1st battalion of the 2nd regiment of the Simbirsk reserve militia

Temporary armed formations were also created on the initiative of urban and peasant societies. The magistrate of Kyiv, for internal guard duty, formed a cavalry regiment of about 1 thousand people from the townspeople, and eight “Birger companies” of Riga. The townspeople and merchants of Roslavl, Smolensk province, for their own protection, assembled an armed detachment, led by the mayor I.S. Polozov and merchant I.F. Golikov. In front-line villages and villages abandoned by landowners and local authorities, peasant societies themselves armed themselves to defend against looters and deserters.

The convocation of the militia, in comparison with the recruitment, allowed the government of Alexander I to mobilize large human and material resources for the war in a short time. In 16 militia provinces, 208-233.8 thousand warriors were deployed, of which: in the 1st district - 121.5-136.8 thousand, in the 2nd - 23.0-25.9 thousand and in the 3rd -m - 63.5-71.1 thousand people. From this number of militias, 74 infantry regiments, 2 battalions, 9 brigades (28 squads), 13 cavalry regiments and 3 hundreds were formed. In the remaining provinces and regions that were not called up for militia by the Manifesto (including in Ukraine and the Don), about 104 thousand more people were collected, making up 16 infantry regiments and one battalion, 88 cavalry regiments and 3 squadrons. In total, up to 320 thousand warriors served in the militias of the Patriotic War of 1812 (including 50 thousand cavalry), according to other sources - up to 420 thousand. During the same period, the 81st and 82nd recruit sets were collected into the Russian army 107 thousand people and according to the 83rd - 181.6 thousand recruits.

After completion of formation, the militias were under the unified command of Field Marshal M.I. Kutuzov and the supreme leadership of Emperor Alexander I.

The militia "formed a second fence in reinforcement of the first and the protection of the houses, wives and children of each and everyone"

During the retreat of the Russian armies to Moscow, separate detachments of the Smolensk police, together with regular units, fought near Krasnoye, and then defended Smolensk. About 28 thousand warriors of the Moscow and Smolensk militias took part in the Battle of Borodino.

During the period of Great Army in Moscow, the Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Tula, Ryazan and Kaluga militias defended the borders of their provinces from enemy foragers and marauders and, together with army partisans, blocked the enemy in Moscow. Part of the forces of the Tver and Yaroslavl provincial troops was part of the detachment of the adjutant general baron, which covered the road to St. Petersburg. Part of the Kaluga militia was sent to cover Bryansk with its foundry and artillery park.

At the beginning of October, reinforcement of the general's corps with 15 squads of the St. Petersburg militia allowed his troops to liberate Polotsk from the enemy. Together with the Main Army, the retreating Napoleonic troops were pursued by militias of the Moscow, Smolensk, Tver, Yaroslavl, Tula, Kaluga, St. Petersburg and Novgorod zemstvo provincial troops, Don, Little Russian and Bashkir Cossack regiments, as well as individual battalions, squadrons and detachments. At the end of 1812, the Volga reserve militia, reinforced by Cossack regiments and the Ryazan provincial army, was sent first to the Little Russian provinces, and then to Volyn, and did not participate in hostilities on Russian territory.

During critical periods of the war of 1812, provincial militias served as a reserve for units of the active army. The militia regiments of the Cossack troops significantly strengthened the light cavalry of the armies of General Marshal M.I. Kutuzov and ensured the successful conduct of the “small war” and the pursuit of the retreating enemy. But the main task of the zemstvo troops was to relieve field units from serving in rear garrisons, from guarding communications and escorting convoys and prisoners of war, from caring for the wounded and sick in hospitals and other non-combatant duties.

Weak military training and weapons did not allow the use of militias as an independent fighting force. Therefore, they were assigned to army corps (Lieutenant General P.H. Wittgenstein,), separate units(Adjutant General F.F. Wintzingerode), where they retained their organizational independence (St. Petersburg, Novgorod militias, etc.), or, like the Moscow one, went to replenish them. Provincial troops, reinforced by army and Cossack units, acted as independent corps (detachments) under the command of a lieutenant general (united Chernigov-Poltava militia) and a lieutenant general (militia corps of the III (Volga) district).

Zemstvo militias and cordons (self-defense units) from local residents of front-line provinces (Kaluga, Smolensk, Moscow, Vladimir, Ryazan, Tula, Pskov and Chernigov) fought enemy foragers, looters, deserters, and also performed police functions to maintain internal order. . They destroyed and captured 10-12 thousand enemy soldiers and officers. Temporary armed formations of Tambov, Oryol and other provinces, which did not have to fight fighting, maintaining order on their territory, ensured local authorities a favorable environment for conducting recruitment and organizing army supplies.

After the end of hostilities on Russian territory, all provincial militias, except Vladimir, Tver and Smolensk, participated in foreign trips Russian army 1813-1814 In the spring of 1813, the Moscow and Smolensk troops were disbanded, and by the end of 1814, all other zemstvo troops were disbanded. In December 1816, the Special Committee for the Affairs of Internal Militia under the Emperor, as well as the last provincial committees, ceased their work.

I.A. Ivanov. Return of the St. Petersburg militia. 1814

"Moscow military force" in Patriotic War 1812

Soon after the start of the Patriotic War, Emperor Alexander I, in the Manifesto on the collection of the zemstvo militia within the state, dated July 6 (18), 1812, called for “to gather new forces within the state, which, inflicting new horror on the enemy, would constitute a second fence in reinforcement of the first and in defense houses, wives and children of each and everyone." At the same time, the emperor sent an appeal “to the ancient capital of our ancestors, Moscow,” calling on Muscovites to set an example to “the entire vast Russia” in creating a militia.

Moscow militias in battles on the Old Smolensk Road. Artist V. Kelerman. 1957

Already on July 11 (23), the resolution on the collection of the militia was adopted by the provincial noble assembly of the Mother See. Arriving in Moscow, the emperor on July 14 (26) approved the order of formation and composition of the “Moscow Military Force”. The next day, he met with the Moscow nobility, who volunteered to send one warrior from every 10 serfs (a total of 30 thousand warriors) to the militia, form one horse regiment, 3 rangers and 8 foot regiments, equip them and supply them with a three-month supply of food.

A number of nobles pledged to form regiments at their own expense: Chief Prosecutor of the 6th Department of the Senate M.A. Dmitriev-Mamonov - cavalry regiment, Privy Councilor N.N. Demidov is the 1st Jaeger, and the actual chamberlain P.P. Gagarin - 1st foot.

On July 16 (28), the Moscow nobility elected M.I. as the head of the militia. Kutuzov, but in connection with his approval by the head of the St. Petersburg militia “Moscow military force» was headed by Lieutenant General I.I. Morkov (Markov). Governor General of Moscow Infantry General Count F.V. Rostopchin became commander of the militia of the 1st district, which included the Moscow province. Before Morkov arrived in Moscow, the militia was commanded by Lieutenant General V.I. Chicherin. Since July 20, two committees have been involved in the formation of the militia: the first - for receiving militias, weapons and food; the second is for collecting and distributing donations. In the manifesto of Alexander I of July 18, it was emphasized that “each of the soldiers, after expelling the enemy from our land, will return with honor and glory to his primitive state and to his former duties.” Generals and officers of the militia were selected from retirees and officials who received military ranks in accordance with the Table of Ranks.
, 6th - Adjutant General, 7th - Major General, 8th - Major General V.D. Laptev.

On July 29 (August 10), the deployment of warriors began in the Golovinsky, Khamovnichesky and Sretensky barracks; The militia's weapons were located in the Nikolsky barracks, provisions were located near the Serpukhov outpost. By August 1, 546 people had joined the militia, food was collected for 117 people. The delay in collecting the militia was caused by the beginning of the grain harvest, the shortage of cloth, high cost equipment. Combat training of warriors was carried out for 7-10 days with the help of soldiers of the Moscow garrison. On August 14, almost 6 thousand militia, after a solemn review in front of the Spassky barracks, a prayer service, the presentation of two banners and a blessing by Archbishop Augustine, marched to the army.

Banner of the Moscow Militia 1812. Colored lithograph by A. Petrovsky based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

At the same time, militia units formed in Mozhaisk (4 regiments of the 3rd division), Ruza (4 regiments of the 1st division) and Vereya (3 regiments of the 2nd division) also set out. By August 18, the Moscow militia numbered 24,835 people, but only half had guns, the rest had pikes. Militia units approached the Mozhaisk and Borodin area on August 21-26 and were distributed to help infantry corps, sappers, orderlies, military police: 2 thousand soldiers went to the commandant of Mozhaisk, 1.5 thousand - to the army convoys, about 17 thousand - to the 1st and 2nd armies, over 3 thousand were left in reserve.

Warrior and chief officer of the merchant bourgeois hundreds of the Moscow militia. Colored lithograph by P. Ferlund based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

During the Battle of Borodino, a detachment of the Moscow militia (16-18 battalions, up to 10 thousand people in total) under the command of Morkov was on the left flank of the Borodino position in the area of the village of Utitsa. During the battle, 4 battalions of militias who came with the 2nd and 3rd infantry corps joined him. In total, 19-20 thousand Moscow warriors were in battle formations at Borodino. Morkov's corps, which was in the 2nd line, did not enter the battle; separate battalions were sent for a counterattack to the village of Utitsa, and were also used to carry out the wounded. During the battle, 3.5-5 thousand warriors performed police functions in the near rear. On the evening of August 26 and in the following days, 6 thousand soldiers of the Moscow militia ensured the passage of convoys and transports with the wounded to Mozhaisk and further to Moscow, suppressed riots and cases of looting.

Mounted Cossack of the Moscow militia. Colored lithograph by P. Ferlund based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

On August 29, the troops remaining under the command of Morkov (1st - 3rd Jaeger Regiments, 1st - 3rd and 5th - 7th Foot Regiments, about 14 thousand people in total) were distributed among the regiments of the 1st and the 2nd armies to make up for losses. The 4th and 8th Foot Regiments and teams were assigned to the 3rd and 7th Infantry Corps and the 27th Infantry Division. Subsequently, these warriors took part in the battles of Chirikov, Chernishna, Maloyaroslavets, Vyazma, Krasnoye. At the end of the 1812 campaign they formed the garrisons of Orsha and Borisov.

Walking Cossack and huntsman. Colored lithograph by P. Ferlund based on a drawing by P. Gubarev. Mid-19th century

In total, 27,672 warriors of the Moscow militia took part in the Patriotic War of 1812. By imperial decree of March 30 (April 11), 1813, the militia was disbanded “to their homes” with “an expression of royal favor and gratitude.” The militia suffered the main losses due to illness; some of the militia ended up with the troops abroad. August 15 (27), 1813 in the Kremlin in a solemn ceremony I.I. Morkov returned the banners of the militia to Eminence Augustine, “like a sacred monument of praiseworthy deeds,” which were subsequently kept in the sacristy of the Assumption Cathedral.

Material prepared by the Research Institute (military history)
Military Academy of the General Staff
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

At the end of June 1812, an unprecedentedly huge army invaded Russia - over 600 thousand troops gathered by Napoleon from all over Europe. The aggressor's strength has more than tripled...

At the end of June 1812, an unprecedentedly huge army invaded Russia - over 600 thousand troops gathered by Napoleon from all over Europe. The aggressor forces were more than three times larger than the Russian armies on the western borders. Therefore, less than a month after the start of the war, on July 18 (July 6, old style), 1812, while in the active army in a camp near Polotsk, Tsar Alexander I decided to convene a people’s militia to help the regular army.

A royal manifesto was signed, that is, an appeal from the monarch to the people, in which Alexander I was able to find the right words without hiding the complexity of the situation. “The enemy has entered our borders and continues to carry his weapons into Russia...” wrote the Russian Tsar. - We cannot and must not hide from our faithful subjects that the forces of different powers he has assembled are great... With all the firm hope in our brave army, we believe that it is necessary and necessary to gather new forces within the state, which, inflicting new horror on the enemy, would constitute a second a fence to reinforce the first and to protect the houses, wives and children of each and everyone.”

The call for the creation of a militia ended with an emotional appeal to the historical experience of our ancestors: “Now we appeal to all our loyal subjects, to all classes and conditions, spiritual and temporal, inviting them, together with us, to assist in a unanimous and common uprising against all enemy plans and attempts. May the enemy find the faithful sons of Russia at every step, striking him with all means and strength! May he meet Pozharsky in every nobleman, in every spiritual Palitsyn, in every citizen Minin... The Russian people! Brave offspring of brave Slavs! You have repeatedly crushed the teeth of lions and tigers rushing at you. Unite everyone: with a cross in your heart and a weapon in your hands, no human forces will defeat you.”

After the tsar's conscription, the formation of the people's militia began in 16 provinces of Russia, divided into three districts. The militia of the first two districts were preparing to take part in the defense of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the third - they became a general reserve.

The militia of the first district was formed by the Governor of Moscow, Prince Fyodor Vasilyevich Rostopchin. His district included Moscow, Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga and Smolensk provinces. The second district included the militias of the St. Petersburg and Novgorod provinces, the third - the militias of the Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Kostroma, Simbirsk and Vyatka provinces.

Militia commanders were elected at congresses of nobles in the respective provinces, and funds for uniforms and food for the militia were collected by the entire society. The norm for recruiting militias was also determined by congresses of nobles - from 4 to 10 people from 100 “revision souls,” that is, from hundreds of peasants and townspeople.

The largest militia was assembled in the Moscow province - 31,959 “warriors,” as ordinary militiamen were called then. The Moscow militia was organized into regiments, the warriors dressed in ordinary peasant clothes and received bronze crosses on their caps with the inscription: “For the Faith and the Tsar.”

The St. Petersburg and Novgorod militia were divided not into regiments, but into squads, each of which included militiamen from one district. Such a squad consisted of 4 hundreds, and a hundred - of 200 warriors. In total, 192,976 militias were collected in all three districts of 16 provinces. To equip and provide them, they collected public donations worth almost 100 million rubles.

From July 6 (18), 1812 and his appeal to the residents of the “Most Throne Capital of our Moscow” with an appeal to become the founders of this “people's armament”.

Militias of the Moscow and St. Petersburg districts already in August-September 1812 took part in the defense of both capital cities of the Russian Empire. 10 thousand militia warriors from Moscow and Smolensk as part of the Russian army fought in the Battle of Borodino. History has preserved for us some of the names of ordinary militiamen who distinguished themselves in that historical battle: Anisim Antonov, Kondrat Ivanov, Savely Kirillov and many others.

One of Napoleonic officers recalled the battle with the militia: “And suddenly the high forest came to life and howled like a storm. Seven thousand Russian beards poured out of the ambush. With a terrible cry, with homemade lances, with homemade axes, they rush at the enemy, as if into the thicket of a forest, and chop people down like firewood ... "

Militia forces were used especially widely in the fight against the enemy after the French occupied Moscow and during the winter counter-offensive of the Russian army. During the period of enemy occupation of the “old capital”, the militia, together with regular units, firmly closed the roads diverging from Moscow to Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga, and also, together with the partisans, inflicted sensitive blows on individual enemy detachments, depleting and demoralizing his living strength.

During Napoleon's winter retreat, the militia took part in all major battles - near Maloyaroslavets, Polotsk, Mogilev and on the Berezina River. General Pyotr Christianovich Wittgenstein, who commanded the corps that covered St. Petersburg and then advanced on Polotsk, more than once noted in his reports to Kutuzov that the militia in battles with the enemy were often in no way inferior to the soldiers of regular units. This is how he described the actions of the militia warriors in the battles for Polotsk: “Having thrown off their army coats, the warriors ran out of the chain, rushed into hand-to-hand combat, fought with rifle butts and axes, fearlessly threw themselves under a hail of bullets and grapeshots, fighting like enraged lions, and in case of strong They stood like motionless rocks in the face of the enemy's onslaught. It happened that whole columns of them met the cavalry with their butts and instantly knocked them over.”

The formation of militia squads and regiments did not stop even after the liberation of Russia from the occupiers. Until the end of the Napoleonic wars, almost 400 thousand Russian people served in such volunteer units. Among the militia were many of the best representatives of the Russian intelligentsia - S.N. Glinka, A.S. Griboyedov, V.A. Zhukovsky, M.N. Zagoskin, I.I. Lazhechnikov and many others.

A significant number of militias, for example, squads from Kostroma, Penza, Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan provinces took part in battles already during the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-14. Russian militias distinguished themselves during the siege of Danzig and Hamburg, in the battles of Leipzig and Magdeburg, and in the capture of Koenigsberg. Separate militia formations even took part in the capture of Paris in the spring of 1814.

Thus, the decision to create a people's militia, made on July 18 (July 6, old style) 1812, became important step to Russia's historic victory over one of its most dangerous enemies.

18-07-2016, 11:21

A significant number of militias, for example, squads from the Kostroma, Penza, Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan provinces, took part in battles already during the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-14. Russian militias distinguished themselves during the siege of Danzig and Hamburg, in the battles of Leipzig and Magdeburg, and in the capture of Koenigsberg. Separate militia formations even took part in the capture of Paris in the spring of 1814.

Thus, the decision to create a people's militia, made on July 18 (July 6, old style) 1812, was an important step towards Russia's historic victory over one of its most dangerous enemies.

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After signing the manifesto “On the collection of zemstvo militia within the State,” Alexander I began to actively engage in issues related to the defense of the state. On July 30 (18), 1812, the emperor signed a new manifesto on the formation of a temporary internal militia. It said that the emperor found “in all classes and conditions, such jealousy and zeal that the voluntary offerings far exceed the number of people required for the militia.”

"Organized Patriotism"
The manifesto of July 30 (18) proposed dividing Russia into three districts.

The first district included Moscow, Tver, Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Ryazan, Tula, Kaluga and Smolensk Provinces; a militia was soon to be created in them to guard and defend Moscow and the borders of this district. The second district covered St. Petersburg and Novgorod province; his militia was supposed to guard these territories. The third district included Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Penza, Kostroma, Simbirsk and Vyatka province. It was necessary to “calculate and appoint people, but before the command does not collect them and does not separate them from rural work.”

In all other provinces, no preparations had to be made until “there is a need to use them for equal sacrifices and services to the fatherland.” Thus, it was decided to limit the area where militias were formed 16 provinces. This decision was made for three main reasons: firstly, the government feared that this would lead to a reduction in recruitment in regular army, secondly, because of possible unrest among the peasants. And thirdly, it remained unclear how long the war would drag on; there was a possible outcome in which the number of militias would have to be replenished precisely at the expense of peasants from the remaining provinces.

Still, fearing to some extent the patriotic upsurge of the entire population of Russia, the emperor decided to direct it in an organized direction. Peasant warriors united into regiments, which were led by noble landowners. Military discipline was introduced in the militia troops, punishments were provided for disobedience, etc.

On August 12 (July 31), 1812, a special committee for militia affairs was created, which included Count A.A. Arakcheev, Minister of Police A.D. Balashev and State Secretary A.S. Shishkov.

As a result, despite all the difficulties, the formation of the militias was successfully completed: 133,401 people were deployed in the 1st district, 26,370 in the 2nd district, and 43,659 people in the 3rd district. From this number, 74 infantry regiments, 2 battalions, 9 brigades (28 squads), 13 cavalry regiments and 3 hundreds were formed. In addition, the militia provinces began to create their own volunteer regiments, staffed by city residents (St. Petersburg, Moscow, etc.).

Luchaninov I.V. Blessing for the militia of 1812

The formation of militias of the I and II districts was carried out during August-October 1812. The creation of the militias of the Third District dragged on until the beginning of 1813.

Ukrainian provinces also formed their own militias. The Kiev and Podolsk provinces formed a Cossack division and sent a large number of “shovelmen” to strengthen Kyiv; The Chernigov and Poltava provinces fielded several dozen horse and foot regiments. In total, Ukraine provided 13,358 mounted Cossacks, 47,493 foot and several tens of thousands of drovers and “shovelmen”.

Maintenance and armament of militias
Donations for the maintenance of the militias took on a massive scale: some gave money, others - food, others drove horses and cattle into the army. In Nizhny Novgorod, for example, artisans and small traders collected 53 thousand rubles to fight the enemy. Teachers and ministers of Moscow University decided to contribute their six-month salary (6.5 thousand rubles) to the militia fund. Some large landowners and manufacturers maintained entire militia regiments at their own expense (Count Dmitriev-Mamonov, Ural factory owner Demidov, Prince Gagarin, etc.).

The Holy Synod issued its own decrees, which ordered the clergy to “promote common cause“and take part in the militias: send students of theological seminaries “to serve in the military.” The Synod also donated 1.5 million rubles to the Moscow and St. Petersburg militias.

The question of arming the militias remained. It was difficult to get the guns. “I appointed collection points,” recalls Rostopchin, “and in 24 days this militia was collected, divided into squads and dressed; but since there were not enough guns, they were armed with pikes, useless and harmless.” However, the St. Petersburg and Novgorod militias received about 13 thousand guns from the arsenal, which allowed them to almost immediately begin combat training of squads. About 15 thousand English guns and more than 20 thousand guns from the Moscow arsenal were used to arm the militias of the 2nd district.

The role of militias in the War of 1812 was significant. The inclusion of militia formations in military operations made it possible to free field troops from guarding communications, escort service and other similar duties that required large number of people. All these responsibilities were assumed by the militia units.

The Smolensk militia took an active part in the defense of Smolensk already in August 1812, the Moscow militia showed its strength in the Battle of Borodino. The St. Petersburg and Novgorod militias showed their fighting qualities in the battles of Polotsk, Chashnikov and Studenka. The militia received numerous awards for bravery and courage shown in battle. But it must be said that in total the number of those who returned from the battlefield did not exceed one third of those who joined the militia.

Chronicle of the day: The French are forced to retreat beyond Yakubovo

Wittgenstein's first separate corpus
Kulneva's detachment continued attempts to capture the village of Yakubovo. During the successful attack, Russian rangers of the 14th Infantry Division managed to oust the French from the forest between the villages of Olkhovo and Yakubovo. General Legrand's infantry division counterattacked the Jaegers, but was driven back by grapeshot fire from the horse artillery of the 26th Jaeger Regiment. Kulnev was able to hold the forest until the main forces of Wittgenstein's corps arrived. The French were forced to retreat beyond the village of Yakubovo, but individual attacks by General Verdier's infantry division continued until late in the evening. The artillery cannonade continued until 11 pm and stopped only after dark.

First Western Army
Count Palen's rearguard took part in a skirmish with the French cavalry near the village of Orlovka.

Third Observational Army
The main forces of the Saxon corps of General Rainier, located 20 versts from Kobrin, began to retreat to the mountains. Slonim to join the Austrian corps of General Schwarzenberg. To prevent Tormasov's advance, General Rainier sent Saxon lancers to the city of Pruzhany to destroy food warehouses. Two squadrons of the Alexandria Hussar Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Madatov destroyed the Saxon cavalry, preserving food warehouses.

Person: Matvey Aleksandrovich Dmitriev-Mamonov

Matvey Alexandrovich Dmitriev-Mamonov (1790-1863) came from an old and wealthy noble family, which reached the peak of its fame and wealth under Catherine II. The young count received an excellent education and was unusually passionate about various patriotic ideas in the spirit of the Enlightenment. In 1808 he received the rank of chamber cadet, in 1810 he was appointed chief prosecutor of the 6th department of the Senate.

During the war of 1812, he was an active participant in the Moscow militia, donated huge sums to its organization, and participated in the Borodino, Tarutino and Maloyaroslavets battles. Using his own funds, he began to form a cavalry regiment, of which he was later appointed chief. The regiment of young Dmitry Alexandrovich arrived to the army only in 1814, but in the same year it was disbanded for an incident with the burning of a German town.

In 1815, Count Dmitriev-Mamonov was placed under house arrest for his participation in the pre-December Order of Russian Knights; in 1826, he refused to swear allegiance to Emperor Nicholas I, for which he was declared insane and imprisoned in his own palace. At the end of the 1830s. really went crazy, after which his property was taken into custody.

One of them died richest people Russia in obscurity, from burns caused by his own shirt catching fire.

July 17 (29), 1812
Kulnev's vanguard did not knock the French out of Yakubovo
Person: Etienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty (1768-1815)
The role of the clergy in the War of 1812

July 16 (28), 1812
Wittgenstein decides to attack, the Russians retreat
Person: Philippe-Paul Comte de Segur
Long stop in Vitebsk

July 15 (27), 1812
Battle of the river Luchos
Person: Petr Petrovich von der Palen
Vitebsk: again there is no decisive battle

July 14 (26), 1812
Battle of Kakuvyachin
Person: Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov
Moscow militia

July 13 (25), 1812
Battle of Ostrovno: 1st day
Person: Pierre Joseph Bruyère (aka: Bruyère)
Battles near Ostrovno: the sun of Austerlitz did not rise