Alexander Vasilievich Vereshchagin

May 10, 1850 (age 58)

Pertovka, Cherepovets Region, Russian Federation

After graduating from the Nikolaev Cavalry College, Alexander Vasilievich served as the cornet of the 9th Lancer Bug Regiment. In 1874, he retired. With the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), Alexander Vasilievich returned to service and was assigned to the Vladikavkaz Regiment of the Terek Cossack Army to serve as an orderly of M.D. Skobelev. On August 30, near Plevna, he was shot in the leg. He was later awarded a Golden Weapon for Bravery. At the war's end, Alexander Vasilievich remained living in Bulgaria and became an honorary citizen of Sevlievo. Then he served in the Caucasus, and since April 1880, he was the head army officer under General M.D. Skobelev. Alexander Vasilievich also participated in the Akhal-Teke expedition of the Russian troops. In 1881, he left for Paris, where he soon retired with the rank of colonel. Alexander Vasilievich helped his brother, Vasily Vereshchagin, in arranging exhibitions in European capitals. Abroad, he began a literary career. His first war story was The Lovchinsky Battle on August 22, 1877. Returning to Russia in 1883, he entered the Ministry of Finance and served as an appraiser for the Noble’s Land Bank. In the fall of 1883, thanks to V.V. Stasov, Alexander Vasilievich met L.N. Tolstoy and twice read his stories in Khamovniki. Tolstoy praised Vereshchagin’s work. Vereshchagin's stories appeared in the Vestnik Evropy magazine (1885, No. 1-3). Soon he published his first book, At Home and in War. 1853-1881. Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg, 1885). Vereshchagin’s style is characterized by a simple but fascinating narrative, full of lively details and inspiring confidence in the author, an old soldier who was able to see and appreciate the rare and funny moments of life. In 1896, a new book by Alexander Vasilievich In Bulgaria and Abroad. 1881-1893. Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg) was published. It describes the author's service in Bulgaria, traveling with the exhibitions of his brother and meeting with F. Liszt. Then a new book, New Stories... (Saint Petersburg, 1900), was published. In 1894, Alexander Vasilievich returned to service for the third time and was appointed headquarters officer for assignments under the secretary of War A.N. Kuropatkin. In 1900, with the beginning of the Boxer Uprising in China, he was sent to the Far East at the disposal of General Grodekov, where he remained until 1902. In 1906, Alexander Vasilievich retired with the rank of Major General. His latest books are valuable material for the history of the so-called Boxer Uprising in China. These include At War. Eyewitness Accounts. 1900-1901 (Saint Petersburg, 1902), In Manchuria (1900-1901). Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg, 1902), In China. Reminiscences and Anecdotes. 1901-1902. (Saint Petersburg, 1903), Russians in Manchuria. Tales of the Last Chinese Campaign in 1900 (Saint Petersburg, 1904). In 1909, Alexander Vasilievich shot himself dead.

Alexander Vasilievich Vereshchagin Edit Profile

memoirist Lieutenant General prose writer

Background

Alexander Vasilievich Vereshchagin was born on May 10, 1850, in the village of Pertovka of the Cherepovets district of the Novgorod Governorate (now Pertovka, Cherepovets Region, Russian Federation). He was the son of the Marshal of the Nobility of Cherepovets. Vereshchagin’s brother, Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin, was a Russian painter and writer and considered to be one of the most famous battle painters.

Education

Alexander Vasilievich was educated at the Vologda Gymnasium, where he studied not very diligently and even failed the final exam. He was a student of the Nikolaev Cavalry College, after which in 1873, he was assigned as an officer in the Lancer Bug Regiment.

Education period of Alexander Vasilievich Vereshchagin in Nikolaev Cavalry College

Career

After graduating from the Nikolaev Cavalry College, Alexander Vasilievich served as the cornet of the 9th Lancer Bug Regiment. In 1874, he retired.

With the outbreak of the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), Alexander Vasilievich returned to service and was assigned to the Vladikavkaz Regiment of the Terek Cossack Army to serve as an orderly of M.D. Skobelev. On August 30, near Plevna, he was shot in the leg. He was later awarded a Golden Weapon for Bravery. At the war's end, Alexander Vasilievich remained living in Bulgaria and became an honorary citizen of Sevlievo. Then he served in the Caucasus, and since April 1880, he was the head army officer under General M.D. Skobelev. Alexander Vasilievich also participated in the Akhal-Teke expedition of the Russian troops. In 1881, he left for Paris, where he soon retired with the rank of colonel.

Alexander Vasilievich helped his brother, Vasily Vereshchagin, in arranging exhibitions in European capitals. Abroad, he began a literary career. His first war story was The Lovchinsky Battle on August 22, 1877. Returning to Russia in 1883, he entered the Ministry of Finance and served as an appraiser for the Noble’s Land Bank.

In the fall of 1883, thanks to V.V. Stasov, Alexander Vasilievich met L.N. Tolstoy and twice read his stories in Khamovniki. Tolstoy praised Vereshchagin’s work.

Vereshchagin's stories appeared in the Vestnik Evropy magazine (1885, No. 1-3). Soon he published his first book, At Home and in War. 1853-1881. Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg, 1885). Vereshchagin’s style is characterized by a simple but fascinating narrative, full of lively details and inspiring confidence in the author, an old soldier who was able to see and appreciate the rare and funny moments of life.

In 1896, a new book by Alexander Vasilievich In Bulgaria and Abroad. 1881-1893. Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg) was published. It describes the author's service in Bulgaria, traveling with the exhibitions of his brother and meeting with F. Liszt. Then a new book, New Stories... (Saint Petersburg, 1900), was published.

In 1894, Alexander Vasilievich returned to service for the third time and was appointed headquarters officer for assignments under the secretary of War A.N. Kuropatkin. In 1900, with the beginning of the Boxer Uprising in China, he was sent to the Far East at the disposal of General Grodekov, where he remained until 1902.

In 1906, Alexander Vasilievich retired with the rank of Major General. His latest books are valuable material for the history of the so-called Boxer Uprising in China. These include At War. Eyewitness Accounts. 1900-1901 (Saint Petersburg, 1902), In Manchuria (1900-1901). Reminiscences and Anecdotes (Saint Petersburg, 1902), In China. Reminiscences and Anecdotes. 1901-1902. (Saint Petersburg, 1903), Russians in Manchuria. Tales of the Last Chinese Campaign in 1900 (Saint Petersburg, 1904).

In 1909, Alexander Vasilievich shot himself dead.

Achievements

Based on his military experience, Alexander Vasilievich wrote many books that can serve as sources of reliable information about historical events such as the Russo-Turkish War and the Boxer Uprising.