Seslavin, Aleksandr Nikitich

Born 1780 in the village of Esemovo, Rzhev District, Tver’ Province; died April 1858. Hero of the Patriotic War of 1812. Lieutenant general (1814).

Seslavin graduated from the Second Cadet Corps and served in the guards horse-drawn artillery. He fought in the wars against France (1805–07) and Turkey (1806–12). At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, he was adjutant to General M. B. Barclay de Tolly. In September 1812 he was made commander of a cavalry partisan detachment. He detected the movement of Napoleon’s army from Moscow to Maloiarosla-vets, which he reported to General D. S. Dokhturov. Seslavin made bold raids in the enemy’s rear and helped liberate Viaz’-ma, Borisov, and Vil’no. On Oct. 28, 1812, partisan detachments led by Seslavin encircled and captured 2,000 Frenchmen at Liakhov, for which Seslavin was promoted to colonel. Seslavin was promoted to major general for distinction in the battle of Leipzig of 1813. He retired in 1814.