Stepan Nikolayev - Ataman of the Cossack Host

Stepan Nikolayev is a well-known Lieutenant-General who devoted his whole life to the battles for Russia. After the war of 1812, he was appointed ataman of the Caucasian linear Cossack army.

Stepan Mykolaiv: biography

In 1789, in the village Skorodumovskaya, he was born. His father was a Cherkasy Cossack, commander of a military unit. And Stepan Nikolayev followed in the footsteps of his father. In 1803 he entered the service. At first he was an ordinary Cossack. A year has not passed since he was promoted to drummers.

In St. Petersburg, Stepan Nikolaev arrived in 1809. There he spent a year in military service. And then he was transferred to the troops that defended the shores of the Gulf of Finland. His promotion progressed quickly, and in 1811 he was promoted to cornet.

The War of 1812

Beginning in 1812, Stepan began active combat activity. Finally, his skills and abilities were useful at the front. Against the French, he participated in the following battles:

• Near Vilna;
• At the town of Troki;
• In Vilna;
• Near Smolensk;
• At Sventsinki;
• Near Vitebsk;
• In the battle of Borodino;
• At the village of Tarutine;
• At the village of Chirikov;
• At the village of Voronovoi, which is located not far from Vyazma.

This is not the whole list of battles and battles, where Stepan Nikolayev took part. He was under Lieutenant-General Orlov-Denisov. Personally, he participated in the complete extermination of the enemy regiments. One of them went to Lyakhov. He himself participated in the capture of General Augereau. It was here that the soldier got his wound.

In the summer of 1813 the emperor personally awarded Stepan Nikolayev with a golden saber. It was written "For Bravery". Since then, he was transferred to His Majesty's own convoy. However, this did not prevent him from taking part in some foreign battles. He fought against the French in Leipzig, Lucerne, Baytsen, actively participated and distinguished himself in the capture of Paris.

After the war

When Stepan Nikolayev returned to Russia, he did not give up military service, but continued it in the Don Cossack Host, which was based on the Caucasian line. In 1831 he received the rank of major general, and after another 4 years he was awarded the Order of St. George 4th degree.

Since 1833, Stepan Stepanovich was appointed Chief of Staff of the Don Army. And in 1836 he became ataman of all Cossack Don regiments, which were located on the Caucasian line. He held this position until his death.

According to recollections, he was an incredibly active administrator. Especially he cared about the internal improvement of the army. Therefore, I tried to establish the correct military organization of each military unit.

A family

Lieutenant-General Stepan Nikolaev was an incredibly seasoned and humble man. His photos are almost not preserved. And you can find out about his appearance from paintings that were written by his contemporaries.

Nikolayev had a family. His wife, Evdokia Petrovna, gave her son Peter. The boy also went on a military line and served in the Cossack regiment, continuing his father's business.

The lieutenant-general died in January 1849. He was buried in the church, which is in the village Mikhailovskaya. It was rumored that Stepan Stepanovich was a schismatic and secretly kept to the old faith.