History has not preserved many names of ordinary soldiers of the Russian army of the times Peter I, Elizabeth Petrovna, Catherine the Great, Alexander I... Heroes who bore the hardships of battle on their shoulders most often remained unknown to posterity, unlike their generals. All the more valuable are the names of those ordinary soldiers whose memory has been preserved.
Russian feat grenadier Leonty Korenny, committed in 1813 during the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig, was a legend in the Russian army in the 19th century. In the Finnish Life Guards Regiment, where Korennaya served, a song about him was popular for many years:
We remember Uncle Korenny,
He lives in our memory
It happened, against some enemy
He'll fight with the guys.
Then the damask steel will move,
Hand-to-hand combat will begin to boil.
The blood of the enemy will flow like a stream,
And Root rushes forward;
And the enemy troops were all amazed,
Like a Russian private in Gosse
He saved the bosses heroically.
He saved everyone and gave up with his head.
Bonaparte himself glorified him,
I sent an order to the army,
He set the Russian as an example to everyone,
So that everyone knows the Root...
At the time of this glorious feat, Leonty Korenny had many years of military service behind him. His colleagues in the Finnish regiment respectfully called him uncle.
"Egory" for Borodino
Until the second half of the 19th century, the Russian army was formed through recruitment. Young boys were selected by lot from peasant families to go to military service. Few returned to their native villages - those who were not overtaken by enemy bullets and were not destroyed by disease settled after service in new places, one way or another remaining connected with the army. This is not surprising, because before retiring, the soldiers had to serve for 25 years - a whole life, during which barracks life became closer and dearer than a distant village.
Soldiers had the right to start a family, but only with the permission of the regimental command. The go-ahead was given to experienced veterans whose service life was nearing the end. Such was Leonty Korennoy, who married the girl Praskovya, who was almost twenty years younger than him. Such a marriage was not something surprising - experienced 40-year-old soldiers at that time were considered eligible bachelors.
Leonty Korenny began his service in the Kronstadt garrison battalion, then served in the Imperial Militia Battalion, which in 1808 was renamed the Finnish Life Guards Regiment.
By the time World War II began, Leonty Korennaya served in the 3rd Grenadier Company. The best, most experienced and honored soldiers were gathered in the grenadier companies.
In the Battle of Borodino, the grenadiers of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment showed their best side, for which two of them were awarded the insignia established in 1807 for lower ranks - the Military Order, later better known as “Egory” or the Cross of St. George.
One of the two particularly distinguished grenadiers was Leonty Korennaya, awarded with award number 16,970.
Uncle Korenny was tall, had great physical strength, and enjoyed great authority among his comrades. During the Battle of Borodino, he managed to rally the soldiers around him when almost all the officers were out of action, thanks to which the Finnish regiment, bristling with bayonets, was able to withstand the attack of the heavy French cavalry.
Reproduction of the painting “Battle of Borodino. August 26, 1812" by Peter von Hess. Photo: www.russianlook.com
"Battle of the Nations"
But the main battle of his life did not happen at Borodino, but in October 1813, during the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig.
Emperor Napoleon, within a few months after the disaster that befell his army in Russia, managed to create a new one, albeit inferior to the previous one in experience. In October 1813, the French army clashed in battle with a coalition of allies, which included Russia.The grandiose battle, in which about half a million people took part on both sides, lasted for several days. Its outcome largely determined the future of Europe.
The battle was fierce and bloody. The Finnish Life Guards Regiment, initially in reserve, was ordered to attack the village of Gossu, which was key to the outcome of the battle. In a fierce battle, Russian units managed to take possession of the northern part of Gossa, but the French gained a foothold in the southern part. The elite of Napoleon’s army, the Old Guard, fought against the Finnish regiment.
3rd Battalion of the Finnish Regiment, commanded by Colonel Alexandre Gervais, walked around the village, going to the rear of the French. Having climbed over the high stone fence surrounding the village, the Russian soldiers attacked the enemy, beginning to push him back.
The French, having discovered the Russians in their rear, pulled up all available reserves and fiercely counterattacked Gervais' battalion. A fierce hand-to-hand battle ensued, in which the numerical superiority was on the side of the French. The Russian battalion, cut off from the main forces, found itself backed up against the wall, literally and figuratively. Fewer and fewer fighters remained in the ranks. Some of the battalion's soldiers managed to retreat, but many of the wounded were unable to overcome the wall. The battalion commander, Colonel Gervais, was also wounded.
Battle of Leipzig, A. N. Sauerweid. Photo: Public Domain
"Don't give up, guys!"
Soon there was not a single officer left in the ranks, and at that moment Uncle Korennoy took command. "Don't give up, guys!" — the loud cry of the grenadier made the fallen spirits perk up.
The patch near the wall that the Russians held was becoming smaller and smaller. And then Leonty Korennoy picked up the wounded Colonel Gervais on his shoulders and literally threw him over the wall. Then, in the same way, he evacuated several more officers, who were received on the other side of the wall by those who managed to get there earlier. Thus, continuing the battle, the soldiers were able to save the wounded.
But the forces were too unequal, and finally only Leonty Korenny remained at the wall. The French offered him to surrender, but in response they heard only selective Russian abuse.The grenadier was bleeding from numerous wounds, his bayonet was broken, but Korennoy grabbed the gun by the barrel and furiously swung the butt of the French at him.
He looked like an angry bear scattering the dogs that surrounded his den. Finally, under the blows of enemy bayonets, Leonty Korennoy, losing consciousness, collapsed to the ground.
The soldiers of the French Imperial Guard were skilled and brave warriors and respected enemies who showed courage. They did not finish off the stubborn Russian, who sent many Frenchmen to another world and crippled them. He was placed on a stretcher and taken to a dressing station, where doctors counted 18 bayonet wounds on the Russian soldier’s body. French doctors noted the amazing strength of Leonty Korenny’s body - not a single wound was fatal for him. The Russian grenadier himself later said that the reason for this was the respect of the French - they did not inflict deep wounds on the soldier fighting alone, trying to save his life. Still, the concepts of honor in war at the beginning of the 19th century were very different from those that would reign a century later!
Attack of the Life Cossacks near Leipzig on October 4, 1813. Karl Rechlin. Photo: Public Domain
Order of Napoleon and medal of Alexander I
The unprecedented heroism of the Russian soldier was reported to Napoleon himself. The Emperor, having listened to the report, ordered his army to set the courage and fortitude of the Russian grenadier of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment as an example to the soldiers.
French doctors were ordered to do everything to quickly restore the health of the Russian hero. When Leonty got to his feet, the French, despite the fact that he was in the status of a prisoner, allowed him to return to their own.
In the Finnish regiment at this time, the officers and soldiers saved by Korenny mourned the death of the hero. But a few days later, Uncle Korennoy appeared before them, in bandages, but ready, if necessary, to rush into battle again.
For his courage, grenadier Leonty Korennoy was promoted to ensign and appointed standard bearer of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment, and was also awarded by Emperor Alexander I a personalized silver medal with the inscription “For love of the Fatherland.”
Monument to the "Battle of the Nations" in Leipzig. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
“We remember Uncle Korenny”
After the battle of Leipzig, Leonty Korennaya was sent home to heal his wounds. After the end of the Napoleonic wars, the battalion commander Alexandre Gervais, who he saved, secured a decent pension for him.
And until his last days, Alexander Karlovich Gervais, who rose to the rank of lieutenant general and the position of commandant of Tobolsk, when visiting the temple, invariably remembered the servant of God Leonty, who saved him in the bloody “Battle of the Nations”.
How and where Uncle Korenny ended his earthly days is not known for certain, but the glory of his feat in the Russian army lived on for many years, and not only in the songs of his native Finnish regiment.
In 1846 battle painter Polydor Babaev, a former second lieutenant artilleryman, painted the painting “The Feat of the Grenadier of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment Leonty Korenny in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813,” now stored in the State Russian Museum.
Later, the feat of Leonty Korenny was captured in the form of gilded decorations on revolvers, which were awarded to officers who distinguished themselves during the defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War.
Hero of the Battle of Borodino and the "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig.
In any war, many exploits and heroic deeds are performed. They do not always become “name” for history. Looking back into the distant past, you see that only those who were great personalities significant for their time, generals or naval commanders, military leaders or statesmen, became true heroes. The names of ordinary warriors inevitably fall into oblivion
But if ordinary war heroes remain in history thanks to the statements of some truly great person or, say, a song was composed about them, then they are remembered to this day. One of these names is Leonty Korenny, a corporal of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment, who flashed his soldierly valor on the Borodino field and in the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig.
...Guardsman Leonty Korenny received his first soldier's Cross of St. George - "Egory" - for the Battle of Borodino, which was glorious for Russian weapons.
In the thick of the battle was the Finnish Life Guards infantry regiment. He came to the defense of Moscow from St. Petersburg, where he graced royal parades and reviews. And here, on the Borodino field, he had to confirm the honorary title of the Life Guards with fearlessness and fortitude. Confirm under a hail of bullets and buckshot.
In this fierce battle, the Finns more than once repulsed enemy attacks and themselves launched decisive bayonet counterattacks, pushing the French back from their position. The 3rd Grenadier Company was especially distinguished in hand-to-hand combat, where, according to tradition, the best and most honored soldiers were gathered. And the right-flank company, Corporal Leonty Korenny, was especially noticeable in the battle.
By 1812 he was already an old soldier. He began his service in the Kronstadt garrison battalion, then he was transferred to the Imperial Militia Battalion, which later became the basis of the newly created Finnish Infantry Regiment, which soon joined the ranks of the Russian Guard. The indigenous man was highly respected among his colleagues for the strength that nature generously endowed him with, his courage and fearlessness in battle, his rare height and good-natured character. In the guards regiment, the right-flank grenadier was respectfully called “Uncle Korennaya.”
Life Guards The Finnish regiment became famous at Borodino for withstanding the furious onslaught of the attacking heavy French cavalry. His column, bristling with hundreds of bayonets at such moments of battle, stood like a wall. And when the Finns fought with hostility, one of the most noticeable was Leonty Korennaya from the 3rd Grenadier Company. There were only four grenadier companies in the regiment at that time, all the rest were musketeer companies. During the battle, the regiment lost many officers, and then junior commanders took command.
In the Battle of Borodino, an episode occurred when the Finns needed to retain the edge of the forest at all costs. In such a situation, Corporal Korenny took the initiative. He gathered around him five fellow soldiers - one grenadier and four musketeers - and sat down on the edge of the forest in a dangerous place. Six heroes fought off the enemies. All six received the most coveted soldier's award for their feat - the Insignia of the Military Order - the St. George Cross.
The regimental clerk wrote this (it must be said - not particularly intelligibly) in presenting those who distinguished themselves for awards:
“During the entire battle with the enemy, they were in the arrows and repeatedly refuted his strengthening chains, striking hard, and each step was marked by courage and bravery, which, having overthrown the enemy, put him to flight and, driving him out of the forest with bayonets, took the place where They stubbornly defended themselves for several hours."
Corporal Leonty Korenny received George for number 16970.
Grenadier Korenny repeated his feat accomplished on the Borodino field on the field of the “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig in the October days of 1813.
...The Finnish Life Guards Infantry Regiment received orders to attack the village of Gossu. In a fierce battle, the French were knocked out of its southern part, but they gained a foothold in the northern part and stubbornly fought off the Russians. Then the 3rd battalion of the regiment, under the command of Colonel Gervais, went around the village. There, the battalion commander and his officers were the first to climb over the high stone fence, followed by their subordinates. In hand-to-hand combat, the French were driven away, but then numerous help arrived to the defenders.
The battalion was surrounded by many times superior enemy forces. The battle area near the stone fence turned out to be cramped. Russian infantrymen fought to the death. It was necessary to retreat, and Colonel Gervais ordered the drummers to beat the end. Most of the battalion's soldiers quickly climbed over the wall. But almost all the officers were wounded in the battle and were unable to overcome the stone barrier against which the French pressed the remnants of the battalion.
And suddenly the French, already triumphant in victory, saw how a tall, broad-shouldered guardsman, decorated with a white cross, took wounded officers in his arms one after another and lifted them to the crest of the wall. From there they fell down into a safe place, into the garden. When Korennoy saved all the wounded commanders in this way, the enemy came to his senses from his momentary confusion.
But it was too late. The Knight of St. George has already gathered the last Finns around him. There were very few of them left. Hand-to-hand combat resumed, and after some time Leonty Korennoy was alone fighting against the wall: all his comrades fell under the blows of enemy bayonets. The fearless guardsman, wounded many times already, pressed himself against the wall. He not only parried the blows, but also delivered them himself. When the bayonet broke, the corporal grabbed the barrel and fought back with the butt.
The French, amazed at the Russian's courage, shouted at him to surrender. But he didn’t even think about throwing down his weapons. The fight continued. When several enemy bayonets put Korenny to the ground, there were many enemy soldiers around the hero who had been defeated by him. And he inspired such respect in the enemy with his courage that in the crowd of Frenchmen standing over the fallen hero there was not a person who could finish him off.
On the contrary, having counted 18 bayonet wounds on the Russian soldier’s body, his recent enemies laid him on a stretcher and took him to a dressing station. There, the French doctors, amazed at the strength of the brave man’s muscles, came to the conclusion that of all the wounds he received, not a single one was life-threatening. And indeed, after the bandage, Leonty Korennoy was able to get to his feet.
Emperor Napoleon visited the dressing station with his retinue; he made it a rule for himself to visit his wounded soldiers, caring for his popularity in the army. Here he saw Korenny, and after listening to the report on the circumstances under which he was captured, he was amazed.
Peering into the guardsman's face, Napoleon asked through an interpreter:
For what battle did you receive the cross?
The root answered briefly:
For Borodino.
The emperor did not need to translate this word. The terrible battle near Moscow, as Napoleon later wrote while in exile on the island of St. Helena, was the most terrible of all 50 he fought. It was on the Borodino field that the decline of Bonaparte's star began. And as if a living reminder of the day of Borodin, this completely wounded, but not defeated Russian guardsman, who saved all his officers, stood in front of the “little corporal”. A real grenadier.
Napoleon patted Korenny on the shoulder and, turning, said to his adjutants:
In tomorrow's order to the army, announce the feat of this Russian hero... I set him as an example to all my soldiers... Release him from captivity as soon as he is able to reach his own...
And the next day, corporal of the Life Guards Finnish Infantry Regiment Leonty Korenny was assigned to the French army. The order was signed by Napoleon himself. The Knight of St. George was called a hero, a role model even for the French grenadiers, who more than once surprised their opponents with their heroism on the battlefields.
A few days later, to the great joy of the entire regiment, “Uncle Root” returned from captivity. He appeared before his colleagues with his head bandaged and his left hand tied to his neck.
Perhaps it was then that his comrades in arms composed a song about the hero Korenny. And it went down in the glorious history of the Life Guards Finnish Infantry Regiment:
We remember Uncle Korennov,
He lives in our memory,
It happened that the enemy
He'll fight with the guys.
Then the damask steel will move,
Hand-to-hand combat will begin to boil.
The blood of the enemy will flow like a stream,
And Korennoy rushes forward;
And the enemy troops were all amazed,
Like a Russian private in Gosse
He saved the bosses heroically.
Saved everyone - and gave up with his head.
Bonaparte himself glorified him,
So that everyone knows Korennov.
Here was a small miracle hero,
Dashing flank grenadier,
Everywhere, always, daring in battles,
An example of heroic courage.
The entire Russian army learned about the feat of the Cavalier of St. George Leonty Korenny. After the Leipzig “Battle of the Nations,” his name began to be called along with the famous generals. This is how a simple Russian soldier immortalized himself.
For his feat, Leonty Korennoy was immediately promoted to ensign - a rare case not only in the Russian army. And he became the standard bearer of his native guards regiment.
In 1813
Biography
Having begun service in the Kronstadt garrison battalion, in January 1808 he was transferred by Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich to the Imperial Militia Battalion, later the Life Guards Finnish Regiment. When setting out on the campaign in 1812, Korenny was in the 3rd Grenadier Company, where, like other grenadier companies, the best and most honored soldiers were transferred. In 1812, at the Battle of Borodino, Korennaya received the insignia of the Military Order (No. 16970). 2 grenadiers and 4 riflemen, among whom Korennaya is shown as having distinguished himself, according to the official description of their exploits, showed their distinction as follows:
“During the entire battle (Borodinsky) with the enemy, they were in the arrows and repeatedly refuted his strengthening chains, hitting hard, and every step was marked by courage and bravery, which, having overthrown the enemy, put him to flight and, driving him out of the forest with bayonets, occupied the a place that they stubbornly defended for several hours.”
In 1813, Korennoy was already an old serviceman. During the Battle of the Nations, he performed a feat so outstanding that it became known to the entire army, and it was brought to the attention of Napoleon. The story of Korennoy’s feat is recorded as follows [ Where?] according to eyewitnesses:
“In the battle of Leipzig, when the Finnish regiment was pushing the French out of the village of Gossy, and the 3rd battalion of the regiment went around the village, the battalion commander, Colonel Gervais, and his officers were the first to climb over the stone fence, and the rangers rushed after them, driving the French away; but, being surrounded by numerous enemies, they firmly defended their place; many officers were wounded; then Korennoy, having transferred the battalion commander and his wounded commanders across the fence, himself gathered the daring, desperate rangers and began to defend while other rangers rescued the wounded officers from the battlefield. The indigenous man with a handful of dashing riflemen stood strong and held the battlefield, shouting: “don’t give up, guys.” At first they fired back, but the large number of the enemy constrained ours so much that they fought back with bayonets... everyone fell, some killed and others wounded, and Korennoy was left alone. The French, surprised by the brave huntsman, shouted for him to surrender, but Korennoy responded by turning the gun, taking it by the barrel and fighting back with the butt. Then several enemy bayonets laid him down on the spot, and all around this hero lay all our people desperately defending themselves, with heaps of the French they had killed. We all mourned,” the narrator adds [ Who?], - the brave “Uncle Root”. A few days later, to the great joy of the entire regiment, “Uncle Root” emerged from captivity, covered with wounds; but, fortunately, the wounds were not serious. This honors the French, who inflicted only light wounds on him, respecting his exemplary courage.” Covered with 18 wounds, Korennoy, returning to the regiment, spoke about his time in captivity, where the fame of his outstanding courage spread throughout all French troops, and he himself was introduced to Napoleon, who was interested in seeing the Russian miracle hero. The act of Korenny so delighted the great commander that in an order for his army, he set the Finnish grenadier as an example to all his soldiers.
For his courage, Leonty Korenny was immediately promoted to lieutenant officer - the highest non-commissioned officer rank (a rare occurrence in the Russian army) and became the standard bearer of the regiment. He was also awarded a special silver medal around his neck with the inscription “For love of the Fatherland.”
Memory
In 1903, when the Finnish Life Guards Regiment celebrated its centenary, the regiment's officers celebrated it by installing a bronze monument to Korenny, which was presented at the entrance to the front building of the officers' meeting.
The monument was created according to the project of academician of architecture I. S. Kitner, with the participation of sculptor E. I. Malyshev and foundry worker K. A. Robecki. The monument depicted the feat of Korenny in the “Battle of the Nations” at Leipzig in 1813.
The monument has been lost, only its pedestal has survived. Currently, the pedestal is located behind the building of the Suvorov Museum.
In the history of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment, the following song about Korenny, composed by his comrades, is given:
We remember Uncle Korenny,
He lives in our memory,
It happened, against some enemy
He'll fight with the guys.
Then the damask steel will move,
Hand-to-hand combat will begin to boil.
The blood of the enemy will flow like a stream,
And Korennoy rushes forward;
And the enemy troops were all amazed,
Like a Russian private in Gosse
He saved the bosses heroically.
Saved everyone - and gave up with his head.
Bonaparte himself glorified him,
I sent an order to the army,
He set the Russian as an example to everyone,
So that everyone knows the Root.
Here was a small miracle hero,
Dashing flank grenadier,
Everywhere, always, daring in battles,
An example of heroic courage.
There is another popular soldier’s song, given in the collection of M.K. Lipkin:
He's covered in blood, he's all wounded,
But the spirit in him is strong and strong,
And the glory of Mother Russia
He did not disgrace himself in battle.
In front of the French bayonets
He did not lose his Russian heart
To die for the Motherland, for the brothers
He looked with secret pride.
Also, the feat of Leonty Korenny was described by Valentin Pikul in the story “Eighteen Bayonet Wounds.”
On October 4, 1813, during the famous Leipzig “Battle of the Nations,” the grenadier of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment Leonty Korenny accomplished his feat, glorifying the hero throughout Russia.
On October 4, 1813, during the famous Leipzig “Battle of the Nations,” a grenadier of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment accomplished his feat, which glorified the hero throughout Russia Leonty Korenny.
By this time he was already an experienced soldier. Among his colleagues, Korenny enjoyed great respect and authority for the strength that the Lord generously awarded him, courage and fearlessness in battle, rare height and good-natured character. In the guards regiment, the grenadier was respectfully called “Uncle Korennaya.” The Russian hero deserved his first “George” for the courage shown in the Battle of Borodino. At one of the critical moments of the battle, the Finns had to hold their position at the edge of the forest at all costs for several hours until help arrived. Then Korennoy gathered five fellow soldiers around him and sat down at the edge of the forest, managing to defend his position. All six received the most coveted soldier's award - the insignia of the Military Order.
And on October 4, 1813, in the famous “Battle of the Nations” near Leipzig, the 3rd Root had the opportunity to accomplish an even more glorious feat. When the battalion of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment was attacked by significantly superior enemy forces and began to fight back, part of the battalion found itself pressed against a high stone fence. The battle area near the stone wall turned out to be cramped. Most of the battalion's soldiers quickly scrambled back over the wall. But almost all the officers were wounded in the battle and were unable to overcome the stone barrier against which the French pressed the remnants of the battalion. Then Leonty Korennoy helped the battalion commander and wounded officers cross it, while he and a handful of brave men remained to cover his retreating comrades.
Soon he was left alone and furiously fought off the advancing enemies with a bayonet and butt. The fearless guardsman had already received several bayonet wounds, his uniform was covered in blood. Pressed against the wall, Korennoy not only parried the blows, but also inflicted them himself. When the bayonet broke, the soldier took the gun by the muzzle and began to fight back with the butt.
The French, amazed at the Russian's courage, shouted at him to surrender. But he didn’t even think about throwing down his weapon. The fight continued. When, after all, the Russian hero was defeated, having received 18 bayonet wounds, the French soldiers standing over the fallen hero, out of respect for the brave man, did not dare to finish him off.
On the contrary, his recent enemies put him on a stretcher and took him to a dressing station. Emperor Napoleon, who visited the wounded, learned about Korenny’s feat and was amazed. And the next day the name of the Russian guardsman was included in the order for the French army, issued under the signature of Napoleon. In it, Korennoy was called a hero and a role model and example to French soldiers. And after the soldier was able to get back on his feet, again on Napoleon’s personal order, he was released from captivity.
Leonty Korennoy appeared before his colleagues with his head bandaged and his left hand tied to his neck. He could barely move his wounded legs. The guardsman, however, amid the enthusiastic cries of his comrades, bravely reported to the company commander: “Your board, I have the honor to appear: I have arrived from captivity. I was released on the orders of Bonaparte himself...”
For his courage, Korenny was promoted to lieutenant and became the standard bearer of the regiment. He was also awarded a special silver medal around his neck with the inscription “For love of the Fatherland.”
Later, a song was composed about the hero Leonty Korenny, which went down in the glorious history of the Life Guards Finnish Infantry Regiment. And in 1903, when the Finnish Life Guards Regiment celebrated its centenary, the regiment’s officers celebrated it by installing a bronze monument to Korenny, which was presented at the entrance to the front building of the officers’ meeting. And all the officers, right up to the revolution itself, entering the assembly, took off their caps in front of him and saluted the soldier... The Bolsheviks, having come to power, destroyed this monument, because... the heroic feat of the brave Russian soldier-hero did not in any way reflect the “issues of the class struggle of the proletariat”...
Today we bring to your attention the second video from the series “Russian Heroes”, created by the efforts of the staff of the “Russian People's Line” and dedicated to the brave guardsman-grenadier Leonty Korenny, whose feat was once known throughout Russia.
As we continue to work on new stories in the series, we encourage everyone who could offer interesting information about Russian heroes forgotten by our history to join our common cause. Together we will continue our work.
On October 4 (18), 1813, during the famous Leipzig “Battle of the Nations”, the grenadier of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment Leonty Korenny accomplished his feat, glorifying the hero throughout Russia and in two armies, Russian and French.
Representatives of the most famous Russian families considered it an honor to serve in the Finnish Life Guards Regiment. Princes and counts were not uncommon among the regiment's officers. And all of them, climbing the main staircase to the officers' meeting of the regiment, saluted the monument depicting a simple soldier. What did the grenadier Leonty Korenny do so that the officers, at their own expense, would erect a monument to him and begin to salute him?
By this time, Korennoy was already an experienced fighter, who was treated with great respect not only by young soldiers, but also by gray-haired regimental veterans. His chest was decorated with the St. George Cross, received for Borodino, where he and his five colleagues managed to knock the French out of the forest. This is how their feat was described in the History of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment: “During the entire battle with the enemy, they were in the arrows and repeatedly refuted his strengthening chains, striking hard, and every step was marked by courage and bravery, which, having overthrown the enemy, put him to flight and , having driven him out of the forest with bayonets, they occupied the place that they had stubbornly defended for several hours.”
But what Leonty Korennoy did near Leipzig caused surprise even in the Russian army, what can we say about the French. And the following happened. The attacking Finnish battalion found itself cut off from the main forces and was forced to fight in a semi-encirclement, pressed against a high stone wall. Many soldiers and most officers were wounded and could not overcome the wall on their own under enemy fire. Then Korennoy helped the wounded battalion commander and several officers get over the wall, and then with a handful of soldiers began to cover the retreat of his colleagues. Soon he was the only one left alive. The cartridges ran out, and the soldier fought off the advancing French with a bayonet and butt. The French at first wanted to capture him. But the Russian soldier is furious in hand-to-hand combat; you just can’t take him down. The enemy had to use bayonets. Apparently shocked by the courage of the Russian grenadier, the French took pity on the soldier: among the 18 bayonet wounds he received there were no fatal ones.
The French did not finish off the seriously wounded soldier, but carried him to a dressing station. Napoleon learned about the amazing resilience of the Russian soldier. There are two versions of how this happened. According to the first, one of the officers reported on command about a soldier who single-handedly opposed an entire platoon. The information reached Napoleon, and he wanted to look at such a hero himself. According to another version, Bonaparte was told about the amazing Russian wounded when the emperor visited the field hospital.
How Napoleon found out about Korennoy is not so important. The main thing is how the emperor acted. After talking with the soldier, he ordered him to be treated and released to his unit. Bonaparte, who himself was known as a desperate brave man from his youth, knew how to respect the courage of others. And then something completely amazing happened. Napoleon ordered the preparation of an order for the troops about the feat of the Russian grenadier Root, in which he called the Russian guardsman a hero, a role model and an example for French soldiers.
When Leonty Korenny's wounds healed a little, the French escorted him to the outposts and wished him a good journey. Soon Leonty found his regiment. Imagine the surprise of the soldiers, who considered him killed, to see Korenny badly wounded, but alive. One can imagine the commander’s amazement when the soldier reported that he had arrived from captivity on the orders of Bonaparte himself. The soldier’s words were checked through the captured French, everything turned out to be true. The amazing feat of the grenadier was reported to the commander-in-chief and the emperor.
The courageous soldier was promoted to lieutenant officer (the highest non-commissioned officer rank) and appointed regimental standard bearer. And from the emperor he was awarded a special silver medal to wear around his neck with the laconic inscription “For love of the Fatherland.” The most amazing thing about this award is not that it was personal. Personal medals have been established more than once in Russia, although not for ordinary soldiers. It is surprising that it was supposed to be worn around the neck; at that time only high degrees of orders were worn. Even this fact emphasized the peculiarity of the soldier’s feat.
It is surprising that in those days when there were practically no newspapers, Korennoy’s feat became widely known in Russia. The artist Polidor Babaev, born in the year of the Battle of Leipzig, painted the painting “The Feat of the Grenadier Leonty Korenny.” For officers who distinguished themselves during the Crimean War during the defense of Sevastopol, revolvers were made in Tula, decorated with gilding and etched drawings depicting the feat of Korenny.
In 1903, when the centenary of the Life Guards of the Finnish Regiment was celebrated, at the expense of the officers, a bronze monument to Leonty Korenny was erected at the entrance to the officers' meeting, which was depicted at the moment of the feat. Four bas-reliefs located on the pedestal of the monument depicted episodes from the history of the regiment. Unfortunately, in the 1930s the monument was dismantled. But its pedestal has survived to this day and is located in St. Petersburg in the park near the A.V. Museum. Suvorov.
Eternal memory to the hero!