Pushkin writes patriotic poems, which, as a rule, are not presented to the Soviet and Russian readers in poetry collections:
It happened – and on the day of Borodin
Again our invaded banners
In the breaks of the fallen Warsaw again;
And Poland, like a running regiment,
In the dust throws a banner bloody —
And the mutilated mutiny was silent.
Presenting a discord between the Poles’ striving for freedom and admiration for the executioner of the French Republic, Emperor Napoleon:
And you hate us…
For what? answer: for whether,
What is on the ruins of flaming Moscow?
We did not recognize impudent will
The one under whom you trembled?
On February 26, 1832, the Organic Statute appeared. According to it, the Polish Kingdom is declared an organic part of Russia, the Polish army, the Sejm, the national monetary system are abolished. Many Poles with families settle in different countries of Europe, spreading there seeds of enmity towards Russia. Polish women introduce, in their environment, a new custom – they wear black ribbons in their hair – «a sign of mourning for the lost Motherland».
Inside Russia, meanwhile, the world. Terrorism, as such, is not yet in sight. There is a strict regulation of everything, but the rules do not change on the move, and, having understood them, it is easy to conduct their business. The education system, industry, trade and banking system are strengthened. Corruption exists, mainly, only in the lowest levels of officialdom. The number of state, practically free peasants is increasing; they freely move around the country, buy, sell, conclude legally registered contracts. The state extends its protectorate to serfs, treating them primarily as citizens, sometimes arresting the estates of the landowners for inhuman treatment of their subordinates.
However, the firmness of this system gives rise to problems that arise in a military conflict. The very beginning of the Crimean War is an example of intransigence, inability to «unravel» the technical misunderstanding, which becomes casus belli first, the cause for war, and then a heavy defeat. So, in 1853, in order to exert pressure on Turkey in the matter of control over the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Russia introduces troops to Wallachia and Moldavia. Nikolay the First absolutely does not wish to hear opinions of England and Austria in this occasion. Meanwhile, Britain, and without large-scale wars in the East, by means of cleverly drafted free trade agreements, etc., makes Turkey a dependent country, an important market for the sale of its industrial goods. The emperor is also not interested in the fact that Napoleon the Third, and the French people in general, is tired of the world, maybe wanting to take revenge for past defeats and to play with muscles. Moreover, Nicholas provokes the French monarch, pointing out in his congratulatory telegram: «Monsieur mon ami» («dear friend») instead of the permissible «Monsieur mon frère» («dear brother») protocol. In fact, the dynasty of Bonaparte is excluded from the succession by the Congress of Vienna, everything is correct, but, in this case, one could accept the state of things as it is. All these accumulated little things lead to the fact that on October 16, 1853 Turkey, and after a while two more world empires – France and England, also joined them Sardinia, the largest Italian kingdom, declare war on Russia. Knowing the outcome of the conflict in advance, one could suggest to the emperor: human rights in Wallachia, Moldova and Montenegro (where recently, in the suppression of the national uprising, Ottoman troops display unacceptable brutality) – that’s what you need to declare casus belli, and in colors to advocate the need for armed intervention throughout Europe. Then, give orders to enter the Russian expeditionary corps in the Danube princedoms, etc. But, there is no such adviser in the environment of the Russian emperor: only court flatterers have remained. Nikolai forgets that somewhere there are people who have their own opinion, and they also have loud guns.
From the war can not escape, but, at least, it needs an important reason not to lose face. In this military conflict, neither side looks like a fighter for the truth, neither for freedom, nor for faith.
November 30, 1853, the Sinop naval battle takes place. Near the town of Sinop (roughly the middle of the Black Sea coast of Turkey), the Port prepares forces for landing in Sukhumi and Poti. The detachment of ships P. Nakhimov blocks the bay, waits for the arrival of the main forces and makes an attack, trying to enter between coastal batteries and the Turkish fleet. The rest can be called «carnage» – without special military tricks, mixing ships and swapping volleys. Both sides have a novelty of military thought, bomb weapons – a cross between a large-caliber mortar and a mortar. Russian gunners for the first time in history, and quite successfully use a particularly large caliber, allowing the canopy to shoot 25 kg of explosive (with a high content of gunpowder) projectiles. The Turkish fleet and coastal batteries lose 3,000 people killed and wounded, and 200 sailors, including commander of the fleet Osman Pasha, are taken prisoner. Lit up, 7 frigates are thrown ashore, 3 corvettes, a steamer and a lot of small boats, down to fishing boats, 3 transport damage, 2 coastal batteries are destroyed. The Russian fleet loses about 150 people dead, 3 linear ships receive damage. In the battle, Russian steam-and-fregas (using propellers, speed at this point 15 km h) also participate, but they come to the end of the battle; Sinope battle becomes the swan song of sailing ships of the line.
In Europe, however, this victory is perceived very gloomily, indicating that, according to the rules of warfare, one can not attack ships at anchor in the port, especially the lower class and smaller displacement. But, most importantly, England and France pledged to observe armed neutrality only so long as the Russian Empire defends itself. When it moves to active military operations, on foreign territory, these two colossal colonial powers declare war on Russia. That’s it, March 27, 1854 is happening.
So, on April 22, 1854, the Anglo-French squadron evacuates consuls and foreign citizens from Odessa. One of the allied frigates, without the flag of the parliament, begins maneuvers in the immediate vicinity of the shore. He is fired from the port’s mole (according to one version, warning shots). Using this pretext, nine ships are on a raid in the harbor, subject the city and port to a large-scale bombardment. Rowboats, armed with small-caliber guns, almost approaching the shore, also take part in the bombardment. As a result, 250 city residents are dying, the buildings of the port and adjacent territories of Odessa are being destroyed, all Russian and neutral commercial vessels are sinking. The fire of coastal batteries damages 4 frigates, losses on them are 3—4 seamen.
In June 1854, allied forces – 34 battleships, 55 frigates (most of them – steam) block the Russian fleet – 14 linear sailing ships, 6 frigates and 6 steam-ship frigates in the bay of Sevastopol. Simultaneously, a landing of 62,000 landing troops is carried out, on 350 ships, in Evpatoria. Halfway to Sevastopol, he is welcomed by the 35,000-strong Russian army. The commander-in-chief, A. Menshikov, the great-grandson of Peter the Great’s companion, expresses the phrase becoming the common name – «We throw the hats off» and invites the inhabitants, as to the performance, to contemplate the forthcoming battle.
The French and the British advance separately, seeking to embrace the positions of Russian troops from the flanks. The first one is luckier – Menshikov’s regiments located near the sea fall under the crushing fire of ship artillery, and, having lost their losses, depart. British parts are mixed during the movement, however, hiding in the folds of the terrain, practically do not bear damage from the canister. Most Russian officers in the old manner are building their subordinates in, representing an excellent target, a dense square. Soldiers, now obeying the voice of their reason, are scattered from the columns, in some cases the pitying allies give them a close fight. The battle is now a series of random
