Participation of the inhabitants of Stavropol in the war of 1812
Translated by Nikiforova Svetlana Gennadievna +7(8482) 680-950
In spite of dissatisfaction with state politics, the various strata of society united in the face of external danger. The inhabitants of the region took an active part in defence their native land. The Kalmyk regiment was one of the first who took baptism of fire on the western frontier of Russia on the first day of war.
The inhabitants of Samara, Syzran and Stavropol willingly joined national emergency volunteer corps. By the end of 1812th, the corps of 10 thousand people came into the front. The local dwellers collected money, provisions, made kits for those who left for the front. The Stavropol Kalmyks donated 930 horses.
The regiment of the Stavropol Kalmyks covered itself with undying fame. It did its fighting route from the banks of the river Neman to Moscow. In the Borodin field it was in reserve. This small regiment contained 560 soldiers and officers who were armed with guns, pistols, pikes, homemade bows and arrows. P.I. Diomidyy who was a Greek by birth headed the regiment. He knew art of war very well, was a brave soldier and took part in assault of the fort Ismail. The regiment under his leadership participated in taking of the cities – Tilsit, Dresden and Berlin.
In 1813 in “battle of nations” near Leipzig a Kalmyk Mukeigen Monagov made a heroic deed – he alone took 3 officers and 30 soldiers of the enemy into captivity. He was awarded Order of Saint Ann of the third degree. Overall, in the campaign of 1812-14th the Kalmyks were conferred 477 orders, decorations and other rewards on. The human losses were 210 persons in all.
The Kalmyks took part in entry into Paris and review of the troops of the winners. Appearance of the Kalmyks soldiers on horseback and camels made a great sensation in Europe.
After the Kalmyks and serf peasants came back to their native land, they again found themselves in a position without rights. The nomad Kalmyks never became the settled. Then due to the order of Emperor Nickolay I in 1842 they were resettled from Stavropol to the Orenburg steppes.
In spite of the Kalmyks were resettled, the town went on developing. As far back as 1781 there was set up a local board. In addition, there were started the following working places: court of a district, treasury, noble trusteeship, local administrative court, town board, town magistracy and orphan’s court.
Museum of regional studies of Togliatti: Sergeeva Viktoria Mihaylovna phone: +7(8482) 481-070 e-mail:serjiov@rambler.ru