Dasha Sevastopolskaya is the heroine of the Crimean War

Dasha of Sevastopol - this name was worn by one of the sisters of mercy during the Crimean War. Like the names of other participants in the Crimean War, her surname was undeservedly forgotten by our contemporaries. Meanwhile, this woman was one of the first Russian nurses of mercy. She owed her life to many soldiers who took part in the Crimean War. Contemporaries highly appreciated her work: she was introduced to the royal family and received several high awards. We will try to follow the life of this amazing woman, whose name is Dasha Sevastopolskaya.

short biography

The real name of Dasha Sevastopolskaya is Daria Lavrentyevna Mikhailova. She was born in 1836 on the outskirts of Sevastopol in the family of a sailor. She lost her mother early and earned her living by washing laundry. With the money she earned, she was able to buy a cow, which was her only wealth.

At that time, the united Anglo-French troops landed on the territory of the Crimea. There was a Sinope battle, in which her father was killed. Dasha was left alone. "How can you survive a round orphan?" - the neighbors were saying. And then Dasha decided on a desperate act. She sold the cow-wet nurse, her dilapidated house and bought a horse with a cart, vinegar, wine and dressings for the money she had collected. She cut off her braid and, changing into a man's dress, went to the front, where the most fierce battles were going on.

Defense of Sevastopol

During the defense of Sevastopol , a volunteer movement of the "Sevastopol patriot" was formed. Its main participants were sisters, wives and mothers of fighters defending the Crimean frontier. Dasha Sevastopolskaya along with other sisters of mercy helped the wounded on the battlefield, pulled them out of the fire, rendered emergency help. Her "carriage of sorrow" - the so-called "Dasha's convoy" -a friend of her acquaintances was the first in the history of a medical combat mobile unit, and she herself deserved the title of the first Russian nurse of mercy. According to the recollections of the great surgeon Nikolai Pirogov, the sanitary situation and medical care were extremely unsatisfactory, the wounded often lay for several days on the battlefield, and many died not so much from wounds as from the inadequate medical care. To them, lying on the bare ground, Dasha Sevastopolskaya guided her convoy. As an angel of mercy, she found wounded soldiers, disinfected their wounds, consoled them with warm words. She had no medical education, she was helped by natural wit and folk experience. She spread her mercy to all the wounded, both her own and those of strangers: she did not deprive by her participation either the English, the Turks or the French. Few people knew her middle name and surname - among the wounded she was known as Dasha Sevastopolskaya. The Nurse of Mercy not only performed her direct duties, but also proved to be an excellent scout: she changed into a man's suit, went to reconnaissance and took part in battles.

After the war

Various sources say that after the Crimean events, Dasha Sevastopolskaya was able to buy a tavern on the Black Sea coast, in Belbek settlement. From archival documents it became known that in 1855 she married the sailor Maxim Khvorostov and became known as Daria Hvorostova. After the end of hostilities, the couple left the Crimea and lived for some time in Mykolayiv. In history, the names of the children of this couple have not been preserved. Soon Daria Sevastopolskaya left her husband and, after leaving the mainland, again returned to Sevastopol. According to one version, the reason for parting was Khvorostov's drunken drunkenness, on the other - his death.

End of life

In Sevastopol, the life of the great ascetic, the sisters of mercy, ended here, she died in 1910 and was buried in the cemetery in the Dock ravine. Unfortunately, the wars of the twentieth century did not preserve the places where Dasha of Sevastopol was buried. Biography of this woman in the twentieth century, no one was interested, and in place of the ancient cemetery was defeated city park.

Awards

The feat of Dasha Sevastopolskaya was highly appreciated by contemporaries. Seeing the zeal and humanism of the young sister of mercy, Nikolai Pirogov took her into his submission. At this time, the Emperor's brothers came to Crimea to strengthen the spirit of the Russian army. They personally wrote about Dasha to the emperor, highly appreciating her courage and mercy. On the personal initiative of the emperor, she was the only one of her class who was awarded a gold medal on the Vladimir tape "For zeal". You should know that only those who already had similar three silver medals could receive such a reward . But an exception was made for Dasha Sevastopolskaya. In addition to this medal, she received another - "For the Defense of Sevastopol," which was given to active combatants. By the highest order of the tsar herself, she was given 500 rubles in silver and promised another 1,000 rubles - after Dasha Sevastopolskaya, the sister of mercy, will marry. The award was presented to her by representatives of the Romanov family - the Grand Dukes Michael and Constantine. For her selfless work she was revered by representatives of various social strata, she was remembered and respected by all those she saved.

Monuments

In the panorama building dedicated to the defense of Sevastopol, the bust of Dasha occupies one of the central places. The third city hospital of this city bears her name, and in the village of Shelanga a memorial created in her honor was opened.