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the lion of the russian army - Florida State University

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provisions and <strong>the</strong>y are safely stored…. Uhlan and dragoon as well as o<strong>the</strong>r regiments are<br />

well trained….” 15 In March 1812, as a part <strong>of</strong> general reorganization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Russian<br />

<strong>army</strong> system, Bagration’s Army <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Podolsk was transformed into <strong>the</strong> 2 nd Western<br />

Army and transferred to Volkovysk. 16<br />

Bagration was not pleased with this new deployment. The terrain was barren; a<br />

contemporary described Volkovysk as “a miserable tiny town [gorodishko], where dirty<br />

and seemingly poor Jews populated <strong>the</strong> [damp] wooden houses…. [my] house had no bed<br />

or o<strong>the</strong>r furniture, except for old wooden chairs and tables covered with soot” 17<br />

Bagration established his headquarters at “<strong>the</strong> so-called palace <strong>of</strong> a Polish pan (noble)<br />

that was <strong>the</strong> only suitable place.” 18 Bagration surrounded himself with diverse<br />

individuals. Appolinarius Butenev, a respected Russian diplomat attached to <strong>the</strong> 2nd<br />

Western Army, described Prince Peter’s senior <strong>of</strong>ficers as “energetic and passionate,<br />

always joyous, accustomed to any hardships; [<strong>the</strong>y] knew no fatigue and were ready to<br />

threw <strong>the</strong>mselves into action immediately at any circumstances.” 19<br />

In <strong>the</strong> ensuing years, <strong>the</strong> situation changed dramatically in Europe. Relations<br />

between France and Russia became increasingly tense and <strong>the</strong> possibility <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r war<br />

loomed over <strong>the</strong> continent. The 1812 Campaign would prove to be crucial not only for its<br />

main characters, Napoleon and Alexander, but to Prince Bagration as well.<br />

15 Bagration to Alexander (on taking <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Podolsk Army), 21 September<br />

1811, Correspondence <strong>of</strong> Bagration, 119.<br />

16 Ibid., 130.<br />

17 Diplomat Pri Armii Kniazya Bagrationa: Vospominania A.P. Buteneva o 1812 godu<br />

[Diplomat At <strong>the</strong> Army <strong>of</strong> Prince Bagration: Recollections <strong>of</strong> A.P. Butenev on 1812 Campaign]<br />

(Moscow, 1911), 11-12. The complete text <strong>of</strong> recollection was published in Russkii arkhiv 19<br />

(1881): 51-210.<br />

18 Ibid., 12<br />

19 Ibid., 12-13. Famous Russian historian Dmitry Buturlin served as Bagration’s adjutant.<br />

Despite <strong>the</strong> difficulties with <strong>the</strong> French language, Bagration was particularly close to <strong>the</strong> French<br />

604

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