The history of the Patriotic War of 1812 is known to most Russians only in general terms. Moreover, the names of many of its heroes, especially people from the people, are undeservedly forgotten or are known only to specialists. Although Gerasim Kurin is not one of the unknown patriots who fought for the freedom of the Motherland, and his name is included in school textbooks, a detailed biography of the famous partisan will certainly be of interest to everyone who is not indifferent to the history of their country.
Origin
Kurin Gerasim Matveevich was born in the village of Pavlovo, Vokhonskaya volost, not far from Moscow, in 1777. His father and mother, and therefore he himself, were not serfs. The fact is that even under Ivan the Terrible, Pavlovo became the property of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, and after the secularization of church lands carried out by Catherine the Second, it passed into the category of state ones. Thus, Gerasim Kurin was the so-called economic peasant. People with this status were rarely involved in agriculture, as the land was mostly owned by landowners. Their occupations were crafts, trade andcrafts.
Biography of Kurin Gerasim Matveyevich (briefly) until 1812
There is almost no information about what exactly the partisan hero did before Napoleon's campaign in Russia. The researchers suggest that he worked in his father's shop, who most likely had a good income, and his family was respected by his fellow villagers.
Gerasim Matveyevich was married to Anna Savina, who came from a merchant family. In marriage, they had 2 children: Terenty and Anton. The boys were 13 and 8 years old at the start of the war, respectively.
The situation in the occupied territories
The entry of Napoleon's troops into Moscow in the autumn of 1812 did not lead to the capitulation of Russia, as the French emperor had hoped. On the contrary, partisan detachments began to spontaneously organize in all the occupied lands, thanks to which his army began to feel a great lack of food. This forced the French command to equip detachments of foragers in all directions from the capital. Since they were often attacked, Napoleon assigned Marshal Ney 4,000 infantry and cavalry soldiers, as well as several artillery batteries. The famous French commander placed his headquarters in Borovsk, from where he commanded the actions of the foragers and the units protecting them. One of these groups of "food hunters" reached the village of Pavlovo, where Gerasim Kurin lived with his family.
Organization of the squad
Having learned that the French foragers were on the way to the village, he organized a group of 200 peasants and began fightingactions. Soon residents of neighboring villages began to join them, and the number of partisans reached 5800 people, including 500 horsemen. The main reason forcing people to take up arms was the cruel behavior of the French, who, being embittered by the protracted military campaign and malnutrition, often engaged in ordinary robbery and looting. In addition, Gerasim Kurin had the gift of persuasion and was an authority for fellow villagers.
Operations
From September 23 to October 2, 1812, Kurin Gerasim, together with his detachment, participated 7 times in clashes with French troops. In one of the battles, his people managed to recapture a convoy with weapons, capturing about 200 rifles and pistols, as well as 400 cartridge bags. This allowed the partisans to provide themselves with ammunition for a long time and make more daring sorties into the camp of the enemy.
Marshal Ney was enraged by the "uncivilized" behavior of Russian peasants and sent 2 squadrons of dragoons to fight Kurin's detachment. Apparently, the French had no idea about the number of partisans, because otherwise they would not have limited themselves to such a small detachment.
The commander of the detachment decided to try to solve the matter peacefully and "condescended" to the point that he sent a truce - a former tutor - to the "savages". He began to convince the partisans not to interfere with the foragers from doing their duties, apparently meaning by this the robbery of the peasants.
While negotiations were going on, Kurin was preparing to attack. First of all, he directedtowards Bogorodsk, a detachment of peasant cavalry, commanded by the volost head Yegor Stulov. Then Kurin used a military trick, leaving most of his "troop" in ambush and getting involved in a battle with the French with several dozen partisans. When the battle was in full swing, he gave the order to retreat, dragging along the dragoons, intoxicated with an easy victory over the Russian peasant. Unexpectedly, dashing French warriors were surrounded, as Stulov's horsemen arrived in time. As a result of the battle, 2 French squadrons were defeated, and part of the dragoons were captured.
Last transactions
Furious Ney sent regular troops against the partisans. Learning about the advance of the French columns, Kurin decided to give them a fight in his native village. He placed the main part of his forces in peasant households, which he personally led. At the same time, Gerasim Matveyevich sent Stulov's horsemen into an ambush near the village of Melenki, located next to the Pavlovo-Borovsk road, and placed the reserve behind the river in the Yudinsky ravine, entrusting command to Ivan Pushkin.
When the French entered Pavlovo, there was no one to be seen. However, after some time, a deputation consisting of sedate peasants came out to them. They entered into negotiations with the military, who this time politely asked the peasants to sell them food, after allowing them to inspect the warehouse. The men agreed to see off the foragers, who had no idea that Kurin himself was the most imposing and personable negotiator.
Worthy of special mention
Severalsuccessful raids made the partisans more confident in their abilities, and they decided to attack the occupied Bogorodsk. However, by that time, Ney had already received an order to return to Moscow. Kurin Gerasim with his detachment missed his corps for only a few hours and continued to defend his native village and its environs from French marauders.
Awarding
The exploits of the partisan commander and his partisans did not go unnoticed by the Russian command. Many military leaders were surprised that a peasant, without any idea of the tactics and rules of warfare, acted so successfully that he put to flight and destroyed detachments of the regular French army, while his detachment suffered minimal losses.
In 1813 Kurin Gerasim Matveyevich (1777-1850) was awarded the St. George Cross, 1st class. This order was established specifically for the lower ranks and civilians, and it was supposed to be worn on a black and orange ribbon. Although it is often mentioned in the literature that Gerasim Kurin also received the title of honorary citizen, this information cannot be considered reliable, since honorary citizenship was not awarded to representatives of the peasant class. Moreover, it was established only in 1832. Thus, due to his origin, Gerasim Matveyevich could not have such a title, despite the fact that he really deserved it.
In peacetime
When the Patriotic War of 1812 ended, Gerasim Kurin returned to his normal life. However, fellow villagers and residentsthe surrounding villages did not forget about his exploits, and he was for them an indisputable authority on many issues.
It is also known that in 1844 he participated as an honored guest in the opening of Pavlovsky Posad - a city formed as a result of the merger of Pavlov and 4 surrounding villages.
The hero died in 1850 at the age of 73. He was buried at the Pavlovsky cemetery.
Now you know that Gerasim Matveyevich Kurin is a partisan who organized his own detachment in 1812 and successfully defended his native village and its environs from the French invaders. His name is on a par with the names of such folk heroes as Vasilisa Kozhina, Semyon Shubin, Yermolai Chetvertakov, who proved that in a time of trials for their native country, the Russian people can unite and organize themselves, contributing to victory over the enemy.
