IRKUTSK, the capital of Eastern Siberia, is a populous town,
containing, in ordinary times, thirty thousand inhabitants.
On the right side of the Angara rises a hill, on which are built
numerous churches, a lofty cathedral, and dwellings disposed
in picturesque disorder.
Seen at a distance, from the top of the mountain which rises
at about twenty versts off along the Siberian highroad,
this town, with its cupolas, its bell-towers, its steeples
slender as minarets, its domes like pot-bellied Chinese jars,
presents something of an oriental aspect. But this similarity
vanishes as the traveler enters.
The town, half Byzantine, half Chinese, becomes European as soon
as he sees its macadamized roads, bordered with pavements,
traversed by canals, planted with gigantic birches, its houses
of brick and wood, some of which have several stories,
the numerous equipages which drive along, not only tarantasses
but broughams and coaches; lastly, its numerous inhabitants far
advanced in civilization, to whom the latest Paris fashions
are not unknown.
Being the refuge for all the Siberians of the province, Irkutsk was
at this time very full. Stores of every kind had been collected
in abundance. Irkutsk is the emporium of the innumerable kinds
of merchandise which are exchanged between China, Central Asia,
and Europe. The authorities had therefore no fear with regard
to admitting the peasants of the valley of the Angara, and leaving
a desert between the invaders and the town.
Irkutsk is the residence of the governor-general of
Eastern Siberia. Below him acts a civil governor, in whose hands
is the administration of the province; a head of police, who has
much to do in a town where exiles abound; and, lastly, a mayor,
chief of the merchants, and a person of some importance,
from his immense fortune and the influence which he exercises
over the people.
The garrison of Irkutsk was at that time composed of an infantry
regiment of Cossacks, consisting of two thousand men, and a body
of police wearing helmets and blue uniforms laced with silver.
Besides, as has been said, in consequence of the events which
had occurred, the brother of the Czar had been shut up in the town
since the beginning of the invasion.
A journey of political importance had taken the Grand Duke
to these distant provinces of Central Asia. After passing
through the principal Siberian cities, the Grand Duke,
who traveled en militaire rather than en prince, without any parade,
accompanied by his officers, and escorted by a regiment
of Cossacks, arrived in the Trans-Baikalcine provinces.
Nikolaevsk, the last Russian town situated on the shore
of the Sea of Okhotsk, had been honored by a visit from him.
Arrived on the confines of the immense Muscovite Empire,
the Grand Duke was returning towards Irkutsk, from which place
he intended to retake the road to Moscow, when, sudden as a
thunder clap, came the news of the invasion.
He hastened to the capital, but only reached it just before
communication with Russia had been interrupted. There was time
to receive only a few telegrams from St. Petersburg and Moscow,
and with difficulty to answer them before the wire was cut.
Irkutsk was isolated from the rest of the world.
The Grand Duke had now only to prepare for resistance,
and this he did with that determination and coolness of which,
under other circumstances, he had given incontestable proofs.
The news of the taking of Ichim, Omsk, and Tomsk,
successively reached Irkutsk. It was necessary at any price
to save the capital of Siberia. Reinforcements could not
be expected for some time. The few troops scattered about
in the provinces of Siberia could not arrive in sufficiently
large numbers to arrest the progress of the Tartar columns.
Since therefore it was impossible for Irkutsk to escape attack,
the most important thing to be done was to put the town in a state
to sustain a siege of some duration.
The preparations were begun on the day Tomsk fell into the hands
of the Tartars. At the same time with this last news,
the Grand Duke heard that the Emir of Bokhara and the allied Khans
were directing the invasion in person, but what he did not know was,
that the lieutenant of these barbarous chiefs was Ivan Ogareff,
a Russian officer whom he had himself reduced to the ranks,
but with whose person he was not acquainted.
First of all, as we have seen, the inhabitants of the province of Irkutsk
were compelled to abandon the towns and villages. Those who did
not take refuge in the capital had to retire beyond Lake Baikal,
a district to which the invasion would probably not extend its ravages.
The harvests of corn and fodder were collected and stored up in the town,
and Irkutsk, the last bulwark of the Muscovite power in the Far East,
was put in a condition to resist the enemy for a lengthened period.
Irkutsk, founded in 1611, is situated at the confluence of
the Irkut and the Angara, on the right bank of the latter river.
Two wooden draw-bridges, built on piles, connected the town with
its suburbs on the left bank. On this side, defence was easy.
The suburbs were abandoned, the bridges destroyed.
The Angara being here very wide, it would not be possible
to pass it under the fire of the besieged.
But the river might be crossed both above and below the town,
and consequently, Irkutsk ran a risk of being attacked on its
east side, on which there was no wall to protect it.
The whole population were immediately set to work on the fortifications.
They labored day and night. The Grand Duke observed with satisfaction
the zeal exhibited by the people in the work, whom ere long he would
find equally courageous in the defense. Soldiers, merchants, exiles,
peasants, all devoted themselves to the common safety. A week before
the Tartars appeared on the Angara, earth-works had been raised.
A fosse, flooded by the waters of the Angara, was dug between the scarp
and counterscarp. The town could not now be taken by a coup de main.
It must be invested and besieged.
The third Tartar column--the one which came up the valley of the Yenisei
on the 24th of September--appeared in sight of Irkutsk. It immediately
occupied the deserted suburbs, every building in which had been
destroyed so as not to impede the fire of the Grand Duke's guns,
unfortunately but few in number and of small caliber.
The Tartar troops as they arrived organized a camp on the bank
of the Angara, whilst waiting the arrival of the two other columns,
commanded by the Emir and his allies.
The junction of these different bodies was effected on the 25th
of September, in the Angara camp, and the whole of the invading army,
except the garrisons left in the principal conquered towns,
was concentrated under the command of Feofar-Khan.
The passage of the Angara in front of Irkutsk having been regarded
by Ogareff as impracticable, a strong body of troops crossed,
several versts up the river, by means of bridges formed with boats.
The Grand Duke did not attempt to oppose the enemy in their passage.
He could only impede, not prevent it, having no field-artillery
at his disposal, and he therefore remained in Irkutsk.
The Tartars now occupied the right bank of the river;
then, advancing towards the town, they burnt, in passing,
the summer-house of the governor-general, and at last having
entirely invested Irkutsk, took up their positions for the siege.
Ivan Ogareff, who was a clever engineer, was perfectly competent
to direct a regular siege; but he did not possess the materials
for operating rapidly. He was disappointed too in the chief
object of all his efforts--the surprise of Irkutsk. Things had
not turned out as he hoped. First, the march of the Tartar
army was delayed by the battle of Tomsk; and secondly,
the preparations for the defense were made far more rapidly than
he had supposed possible; these two things had balked his plans.
He was now under the necessity of instituting a regular siege
of the town.
However, by his suggestion, the Emir twice attempted the capture
of the place, at the cost of a large sacrifice of men.
He threw soldiers on the earth-works which presented any weak point;
but these two assaults were repulsed with the greatest courage.
The Grand Duke and his officers did not spare themselves on
this occasion. They appeared in person; they led the civil population
to the ramparts. Citizens and peasants both did their duty.
At the second attack, the Tartars managed to force one of the gates.
A fight took place at the head of Bolchaia Street, two versts long,
on the banks of the Angara. But the Cossacks, the police, the citizens,
united in so fierce a resistance that the Tartars were driven out.
Ivan Ogareff then thought of obtaining by stratagem what he could
not gain by force. We have said that his plan was to penetrate into
the town, make his way to the Grand Duke, gain his confidence, and,
when the time came, give up the gates to the besiegers; and, that done,
wreak his vengeance on the brother of the Czar. The Tsigane Sangarre,
who had accompanied him to the Angara, urged him to put this
plan in execution.
Indeed, it was necessary to act without delay.
The Russian troops from the government of Yakutsk were
advancing towards Irkutsk. They had concentrated along
the upper course of the Lena. In six days they would arrive.
Therefore, before six days had passed, Irkutsk must be betrayed.
Ogareff hesitated no longer.
One evening, the 2d of October, a council of war was held in the
grand saloon of the palace of the governor-general. This palace,
standing at the end of Bolchaia Street, overlooked the river.
From its windows could be seen the camp of the Tartars,
and had the invaders possessed guns of wider range, they would
have rendered the palace uninhabitable.
The Grand Duke, General Voranzoff, the governor of the town,
and the chief of the merchants, with several officers,
had collected to determine upon various proposals.
"Gentlemen," said the Grand Duke, "you know our situation exactly.
I have the firm hope that we shall be able to hold out until
the arrival of the Yakutsk troops. We shall then be able to drive
off these barbarian hordes, and it will not be my fault if they
do not pay dearly for this invasion of the Muscovite territory."
"Your Highness knows that all the population of Irkutsk may be relied on,"
said General Voranzoff.
"Yes, general," replied the Grand Duke, "and I do justice
to their patriotism. Thanks to God, they have not yet
been subjected to the horrors of epidemic and famine,
and I have reason to hope that they will escape them;
but I cannot admire their courage on the ramparts enough.
You hear my words, Sir Merchant, and I beg you to repeat
such to them."
"I thank your Highness in the name of the town," answered the
merchant chief. "May I ask you what is the most distant date
when we may expect the relieving army?"
"Six days at most, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "A brave and clever
messenger managed this morning to get into the town, and he told me
that fifty thousand Russians under General Kisselef, are advancing
by forced marches. Two days ago, they were on the banks of the Lena,
at Kirensk, and now, neither frost nor snow will keep them back.
Fifty thousand good men, taking the Tartars on the flank, will soon
set us free."
"I will add," said the chief of the merchants, "that we shall
be ready to execute your orders, any day that your Highness
may command a sortie."
"Good, sir," replied the Grand Duke. "Wait till the heads
of the relieving columns appear on the heights, and we will
speedily crush these invaders."
Then turning to General Voranzoff, "To-morrow," said he, "we will
visit the works on the right bank. Ice is drifting down the Angara,
which will not be long in freezing, and in that case the Tartars
might perhaps cross."
"Will your Highness allow me to make an observation?"
said the chief of the merchants.
"Do so, sir."
"I have more than once seen the temperature fall to thirty
and forty degrees below zero, and the Angara has still
carried down drifting ice without entirely freezing.
This is no doubt owing to the swiftness of its current.
If therefore the Tartars have no other means of crossing the river,
I can assure your Highness that they will not enter Irkutsk
in that way."
The governor-general confirmed this assertion.
"It is a fortunate circumstance," responded the Grand Duke.
"Nevertheless, we must hold ourselves ready for any emergency."
He then, turning towards the head of the police, asked, "Have you
nothing to say to me, sir?"
"I have your Highness," answered the head of police, "a petition
which is addressed to you through me."
"Addressed by whom?"
"By the Siberian exiles, whom, as your Highness knows, are in the town
to the number of five hundred."
The political exiles, distributed over the province, had been
collected in Irkutsk, from the beginning of the invasion.
They had obeyed the order to rally in the town, and leave
the villages where they exercised their different professions,
some doctors, some professors, either at the Gymnasium, or at
the Japanese School, or at the School of Navigation. The Grand Duke,
trusting like the Czar in their patriotism, had armed them,
and they had thoroughly proved their bravery.
"What do the exiles ask?" said the Grand Duke.
"They ask the consent of your Highness," answered the head of police,
"to their forming a special corps and being placed in the front
of the first sortie."
"Yes," replied the Grand Duke with an emotion which he did not seek
to hide, "these exiles are Russians, and it is their right to fight
for their country!"
"I believe I may assure your Highness," said the governor-general,
"you will have no better soldiers."
"But they must have a chief," said the Grand Duke, "who will he be?"
"They wish to recommend to your Highness," said the head of police,
"one of their number, who has distinguished himself on several occasions."
"Is he a Russian?"
"Yes, a Russian from the Baltic provinces."
"His name?"
"Is Wassili Fedor."
This exile was Nadia's father. Wassili Fedor, as we have already said,
followed his profession of a medical man in Irkutsk. He was
clever and charitable, and also possessed the greatest courage
and most sincere patriotism. All the time which he did not
devote to the sick he employed in organizing the defense.
It was he who had united his companions in exile in the common cause.
The exiles, till then mingled with the population, had behaved
in such a way as to draw on themselves the attention of the
Grand Duke. In several sorties, they had paid with their blood their
debt to holy Russia--holy as they believe, and adored by her children!
Wassili Fedor had behaved heroically; his name had been mentioned
several times, but he never asked either thanks or favors,
and when the exiles of Irkutsk thought of forming themselves into
a special corps, he was ignorant of their intention of choosing
him for their captain.
When the head of police mentioned this name, the Grand Duke answered
that it was not unknown to him.
"Indeed," remarked General Voranzoff, "Wassili Fedor is a man
of worth and courage. His influence over his companions has
always been very great."
"How long has he been at Irkutsk?" asked the Duke.
"For two years."
"And his conduct?"
"His conduct," answered the head of police, "is that of a man
obedient to the special laws which govern him."
"General," said the Grand Duke, "General, be good enough to present
him to me immediately."
The orders of the Grand Duke were obeyed, and before half
an hour had passed, Fedor was introduced into his presence.
He was a man over forty, tall, of a stern and sad countenance.
One felt that his whole life was summed up in a single word--
strife--he had striven and suffered. His features bore a marked
resemblance to those of his daughter, Nadia Fedor.
This Tartar invasion had severely wounded him in his tenderest affections,
and ruined the hope of the father, exiled eight thousand versts from
his native town. A letter had apprised him of the death of his wife,
and at the same time of the departure of his daughter, who had obtained
from the government an authorization to join him at Irkutsk. Nadia must
have left Riga on the 10th of July. The invasion had begun on
the 15th of July; if at that time Nadia had passed the frontier,
what could have become of her in the midst of the invaders?
The anxiety of the unhappy father may be supposed when, from that time,
he had no further news of his daughter.
Wassili Fedor entered the presence of the Grand Duke, bowed, and waited
to be questioned.
"Wassili Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "your companions
in exile have asked to be allowed to form a select corps.
They are not ignorant that in this corps they must make up
their minds to be killed to the last man?"
"They are not ignorant of it," replied Fedor.
"They wish to have you for their captain."
"I, your Highness?"
"Do you consent to be placed at their head?"
"Yes, if it is for the good of Russia."
"Captain Fedor," said the Grand Duke, "you are no longer an exile."
"Thanks, your Highness, but can I command those who are so still?"
"They are so no longer!" The brother of the Czar had granted a pardon
to all Fedor's companions in exile, now his companions in arms!
Wassili Fedor wrung, with emotion, the hand which the Grand Duke held
out to him, and retired.
The latter, turned to his officers, "The Czar will not refuse to ratify
that pardon," said he, smiling; "we need heroes to defend the capital
of Siberia, and I have just made some."
This pardon, so generously accorded to the exiles of Irkutsk,
was indeed an act of real justice and sound policy.
It was now night. Through the windows of the palace burned the fires
of the Tartar camp, flickering beyond the Angara. Down the river
drifted numerous blocks of ice, some of which stuck on the piles
of the old bridges; others were swept along by the current with
great rapidity. It was evident, as the merchant had observed,
that it would be very difficult for the Angara to freeze all over.
The defenders of Irkutsk had not to dread being attacked on that side.
Ten o'clock had just struck. The Grand Duke was about to dismiss
his officers and retire to his apartments, when a tumult was heard
outside the palace.
Almost immediately the door was thrown open, an aide-de-camp appeared,
and advanced rapidly towards the Grand Duke.
"Your Highness," said he, "a courier from the Czar!"
