Still in the shadow of the figure is one out of three (Barclay, Bagration and Tormasov) commanders West Russian armies - General Alexander Petrovich tormasow, although he only for the Patriotic war of 1812 was given the highest award of the Russian Empire - the order of St. Andrew the first-called. His name is not called the streets of Russian cities. Even on the pedestal of the monument to Kutuzov at Borodino panorama in Moscow among the figures commanders not seen tormasow.

Few memoirists left on the General of his memories. However, in the Military gallery of the Winter Palace, his portrait of George Dawe there. The reason lies in the complex character tormasow, his unpopularity in the army and the absence of a brilliant military genius, which he replaced zeal in the service and conscientious performance of their duties.

However, military bone, campaigner Tormasov, was "hard nut" for Napoleon's marshals. It is under the leadership tormasow was won first indisputable victory of Russian army over Grande Arm?e of Napoleon Bonaparte. It happened on the Western outskirts of the Russian Empire in the battle of Kobrin. There, as he wrote military theorist von Clausewitz, occurred "brilliant capture teams of Klingele in Kobrin Tormasova", a military maneuver which "made a strong impression". You have to think on their own and the enemy.

Alexander Tormasov began his military service as a Lieutenant in the Vyatka infantry regiment. A few weeks later with the rank of captain, he was the adjutant of count AA Bruce. In 1774 Tormasov receives the title of Prime Minister-major and three years later - the Lieutenant-Colonel with the appointment of the commander of accumulated Finnish Jaeger battalion. Soon explanatory Colonel noticed Potemkin and appointed his serene Highness Prince commander of Alexandria legalnogo regiment with the rank of Colonel, he had begun to kick in Crimea local Tatars, showing the latter, an unusual step. The brigade commander major-General Tormasov was Ishmael, the commandant of which was the General-Lieutenant, M.I. Kutuzov. During the Russo-Turkish war of Tormasov received its first award - the order of St. George of the 3rd degree.

In the Polish town of Motor shelves tormasow has udarili on poles. Led by column stormed the Prague suburb of Warsaw. In the autumn of 1794 Tormasov captured Kosciuszko. Polish king Stanislaw II August Poniatowski sent him the order of the White eagle and of St. Stanislav, and the Russian Empress was awarded the order of St. Vladimir of the 2nd degree and Golden sword with the diamonds and the inscription"For bravery". Thus, the future commander of the third observational army in 1812 belonged to the pleiad of famous Catherine Orlov.

Military career of General after 35 years of blameless service could end on 11 December 1807, when Emperor Alexander I fired tormasow with the right to wear a uniform and a full pension. However, followed the unexpected death of his wife, and Alexander Petrovich reiterated its request to take him to the military. 9 June 1808 he was appointed chief in Georgia. In 1809-1811 count Tormasov was military Governor of Astrakhan and the Caucasus. Therefore, the predecessor of another hero of 1812, General of infantry Alexei p. Yermolov.

Alexander Petrovich not only fought, but contributed to the development of barter in the North Caucasus. In 1810 on the funds allocated from the Treasury, the commander of a Separate Caucasus corps and superintendent in Georgia, General of cavalry Tormasova established four salt store and six exchange yards for merchants (Russian, Armenian, and later also of Nakhichevan and Tiflis), the Cossacks and highlanders - prohladnenskiy, Naursky, Lauriski, Prochnookopskaya, Ust-Labinsk and Konstantinogorskoj.

Dropping further details of the service on the Caucasian line, where Tormasov suppressed the uprising in Imereti and Abkhazia, we note that by the beginning of the invasion of the French Emperor to Russia, Alexander Petrovich was the commander of the Third backup observational army.

The General of cavalry Tormasova in 1812 opposed the Austrian and Saxon corps, respectively Schwarzenberg (Karl Philipp F?rst zu Schwarzenberg) and Rainier (Jean-Louis ?b?n?zer Reynier). By the way, Austrian field Marshal Prince Schwarzenberg compatriots put in Vienna equestrian monument. However, to give them credit, not for the Russian campaign.

Recall that in July-August Schwarzenberg and Rainier was situated in southern Lithuania with 51 thousand people against tormasow, which was 35 thousand. And only in September, when the Danube army 35 thousand people arrived Admiral Chichagov, the correlation of forces has changed dramatically. While commander of the United army was appointed P.V. Chichagov. By the time it is roughly coincided with the occupation of Moscow. About the defeat of the Saxon brigade General, Kh. of Klingele under the Kobrin, which occurred 15 (27), July 1812, Voice" already in detail told earlier.

The same autumn the Emperor Alexander Pavlovich commanded Tormasova to go to the main apartment M.I. Kutuzov and instead of a mortally wounded Prince Bagration accepts the beginning of the 2nd Western army. While in the main rate Tormasov together with the Russian army entered the overseas campaign. Whether as compensation for the fact that his army passed Chichagova, whether remembering him not only of military merit in the Caucasus, and perhaps for all put together, Emperor Alexander 30 August, appointed tormasow commander-in-chief of Moscow instead of count Rostopchin. Field General managed to show up on the peaceful field, restoring burned ancient Russian capital. Many contemporaries appreciated the activity tormasow on revival of the mother see. In vain did not put in Moscow the monument to Alexander Petrovich.