The diaries of Leo Tolstoy Volume 1

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 Excerpt: ...take part in the winter campaign, which was my sole reason for entering the army...." "Tiflis, Nov. 12, 1851...." 2. Later (on June 26th, 1852), in a letter to Mme. T. A. Ergolsky, Tolstoy wrote: "From Tiflis I wrote you that my discharge from the Civil Service was not yet come to hand, but that I had donned military uniform, and was about to depart for my battery. General Wolf arranged it: he caused a paper to be sent to the battery stating that Count Tolstoy has intimated to me a desire to join the Service; but inasmuch as his discharge is not yet arrived, and he cannot be gazetted subaltern, I request of you to make such use of him that, on receipt of the discharge, he may be posted to actual duty, with seniority from the day of first employment in the battery.' This paper in my pocket, I set out for Starogladovskaya, but failed to find Nikolay there, since he had departed with the expedition. Hence, getting myself into uniform, I set forth after him, that is to say, I was used for service, though I had not yet been gazetted. The missing document arrived at Tiflis in January, and at Starogladovskaya only in March--i.e. after we had returned from the expedition"... (vide entry for Feb. 28, 1852, concerning this " expedition)." 3. From a letter to Count S. N. Tolstoy: "... If I attain my wish, I shall, on the day of my appointment, set out for Starogladovskaya, and thence, immediately, join the expedition, where I shall ride and march in a sheepskin or a Circassian coat, and, to the best of my ability, help, with the aid of my gun, to exterminate these brigands, these insolent Asiatics.... "... Probably you would like to know who have been, and who are, my acquaintances, and in what relation I stand towards them...