Aleksandr Tuchkov 4

Aleksandr Alekseyevich Tuchkov (Александр Алексеевич Тучков), “Tuchkov 4th” (7 March 1778 – 7 September 1812) was an Imperial Russian officer who rose to the rank of general-mayor and was killed at Borodino while commanding on the army’s left flank.

Tuchkov was born into a long-established service family; to distinguish the brothers in contemporary usage, they were often numbered (hence “Tuchkov 4th”). He entered the army in artillery, being enrolled in the Bombardirsky polk and later attached to staff duties, before receiving active postings in field artillery. He reached captain in 1794 and advanced through field-grade ranks to Colonel in 1799, with successive transfers among artillery battalions and regiments and a period of regimental command.

In the War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807), Tuchkov served against the French in East Prussia and Poland. Accounts of his service place him and his regiment in the series of actions associated with the winter and spring fighting—operations around the Passarge, the engagement at Heilsberg, and the battle of Friedland—after which he is recorded as receiving the Order of St George, 4th class.

During the Finnish War (1808–1809), serving in a corps under Barclay de Tolly, he took part in operations that included actions at Rantasalmi and Kuopio and fighting around Iisalmi (Idensalmi). He was promoted general-mayor in December 1808 and received additional imperial orders in connection with that campaign. By 1809–1811 he held brigade command within an infantry division, while retaining association with his line regiment.

In 1812 Tuchkov commanded the 1st brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division in the 3rd Infantry Corps of the 1st Western Army. He fought in the retreat actions and Major engagements leading to Moscow, including combat near Vitebsk, the defense and fighting around Smolensk, and the battle at Valutino (Lubino). At Borodino (7 September 1812) his corps held the far left of the Russian position near Utitsa, covering the Old Smolensk road. During the struggle for that sector he led forward elements of his command and was mortally wounded (commonly described as struck in the chest by canister while rallying troops). He died on the field, and later accounts note that his body was not recovered.

Sources

• Wikipedia (Russian): “Тучков, Александр Алексеевич”
• State Hermitage Museum: “Portrait of Alexander A. Tuchkov (1777/78–1812) (4th)”
• Wikimedia Commons: “File:Tuchkov-4th A A by Daw.jpg”
• Wikipedia: “Battle of Borodino”
• The Napoleon Series: “The Battle of Borodino: Order of Battle of the Russian Army”