PICTURE GALLERY "RUSSIAN CAMPAIGN OF 1812"

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In 1812 (The picture by Priashnikov) The Great Army became like an eagle with two broken wings, it was a very sad picture! Its thorny path stretched for hudreds miles and the glorious warriors that had been conspicuous in all Europe so not long ago walked along it in shabby uniforms, being hardly able to drag their legs along, trembling with cold and unable to find any protection from this terrible frost. These torn uniforms, scraps of blankets, horse-clothes and chasubles on their shoulders and rags on their legs instead of boots and on their heads instead of shakos were a bad protection from the Russian frost... And behind every bush the retribution was waiting for the French. Even Russian women took part in these partisan action. Perhaps on this picture artuct Priashnikov painted starosta (commander) Vasilisa that fought equally with men, and became famous in Russia after she with her men took prisoners a whole French detachment and escorted them to the Sichevka village.