Marine souvenirs, history of making ships in bottles, models of sailing ships, master Vsevolod Gladilin. The epic victory of the Russian brig "Mercury" or how our brig single-handedly defeated the Turkish squadron

The 20-gun brig Mercury was laid down in Sevastopol on January 28 (February 9), 1819. It was built from Crimean oak and launched on May 7 (19), 1820. The ship's master, Colonel I. Ya. Osminin, conceived the Mercury as a special ship to guard the Caucasian coast and perform patrol duty. Unlike other brigs of the Russian fleet, it had a shallow draft and was equipped with oars. The Mercury's shallow draft resulted in a shallower interior depth than other brigs and worsened its performance. At the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829. three Russian ships: the 44-gun frigate "Standart" (commander-lieutenant-commander P. Ya. Sakhnovsky), the 20-gun brig "Orpheus" (commander-lieutenant-commander E. I. Koltovsky), and the 20-gun brig "Mercury" (commander captain-lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky) received orders to cruise at the exit from the Bosporus Strait. Overall command of the detachment was entrusted to Lieutenant-Commander Sakhnovsky. On May 12 (24), 1829, the ships weighed anchor and headed for the Bosphorus.

At dawn on May 14 (26), 13 miles from the strait, the detachment noticed a Turkish squadron, among 14 ships, sailing from the shores of Anatolia. Sakhnovsky really wanted to take a closer look at the enemy in order to determine with what forces Kapudan Pasha came out this time. A signal fluttered on the halyards of the “Standart”: “Mercury” - to drift.” Sakhnovsky Coast is the slowest ship of its squadron. Having counted the Turkish pennants, “Standard” and “Orpheus” turned back. The enemy squadron rushed in pursuit of the Russian ships. Seeing the returning scouts, Kazarsky independently ordered to take off the drift and raise the sails. Very soon the high-speed "Standard" caught up with the "Mercury". A new signal went up on its mast: “Everyone should choose the course that the ship has a preferential course.”

Kazarsky chose NNW, "Standard" and "Orpheus", taking a course NW, sharply took the lead and quickly turned into two fluffy clouds on the horizon. And behind the stern of the Mercury, which carried all possible sails, a forest of masts grew inexorably Turkish ships. The wind was WSW; the enemy was moving due north. The best Turkish walkers - the 110-gun Selimiye under the flag of Kapudan Pasha and the 74-gun Real Bey under the flag of the junior flagship - gradually overtook the Mercury. The rest of the Turkish squadron drifted, waiting for the admirals to capture or drown the obstinate Russian brig. The Mercury's chances of salvation were negligible (184 guns versus 20, not even taking into account the calibers of the guns), leaving almost no hope for a successful outcome of the battle, the inevitability of which no one doubted.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon the wind died down and the speed of the pursuing ships decreased. Taking advantage of this circumstance, Kazarsky, using the oars of the brig, wanted to increase the distance separating him from the enemy, but less than half an hour had passed when the wind freshened again and the Turkish ships began to reduce the distance. At the end of the third hour of the day, the Turks opened fire from running guns.

After the first Turkish shots, a council of war took place on the brig.

According to a long-standing military tradition, the youngest in rank had the privilege of expressing his opinion first. “We cannot escape the enemy,” said Lieutenant of the Corps of Naval Navigators I.P. Prokofiev. “We will fight.” The Russian brig should not fall to the enemy. The last one alive will blow it up." The commander of the brig "Mercury", 28-year-old captain-lieutenant Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, who was awarded a golden saber for the battles near Varna in 1828 and was considered one of the bravest officers of the Black Sea Fleet, wrote in his report to Admiral A.S. Greig: “...We unanimously decided fight to the last extreme, and if the spar is knocked down or the water in the hold becomes impossible to pump out, then, having fallen with some ship, the one who is still alive among the officers must light the cruise chamber with a pistol shot.”

Having completed the officers' council, the brig commander addressed the sailors and gunners with an appeal not to disgrace the honor of St. Andrew's flag. Everyone unanimously declared that they would be faithful to their duty and oath to the end. The Turks faced an enemy who preferred death to surrender and battle to lowering the flag. Having stopped using the oars, the team quickly prepared the brig for battle: the gunners took their places at the guns; a sentry took up post at the flag halyard with Kazarsky’s categorical order to shoot at anyone who tried to lower the flag; the yawl hanging behind the stern was thrown into the sea and return fire was opened on the enemy from two 3-pound cannons, dragged to the retreat ports.

Kazarsky knew very well the weak and strengths his brig. Despite its nine-year age (not old, but respectable), the Mercury was strong, although a little heavy on the move. He handled the high waves perfectly, but in the calm he became completely overweight. Only the art of maneuver and the accuracy of the gunners could save him. The real battle began when the Selimiye tried to bypass the brig on the right and fired a salvo with its port side, which Kazarsky managed to successfully evade. Then, for half an hour, the Mercury, using oars and skillfully maneuvering, forced the enemy to act only with its guns, but was then placed between both ships. A dense swarm of cannonballs, nipples and firebrands flew into the Mercury. Kazarsky responded to demands to “surrender and remove sails” with volleys of carronades and friendly rifle fire.

Rigging and spars are the “Achilles heel” of even such giants as these multi-gun giants. Finally, the well-aimed 24-pound cannonballs of the Mercury broke the water stay and damaged the Selimiye's main topmast, which completely destroyed the ship's main mast and forced it to drift. But before that, he sent a farewell salvo into the brig from all over the board. “Real Bey” persistently continued the fight. For an hour, changing tacks, he hit the brig with brutal longitudinal salvos. "Mercury" stubbornly fought back until another successful shot broke the left leg of the fore-mars-yard of the Turkish ship, which, falling, carried the foxes with it. These damages deprived Real Bay of the opportunity to continue the pursuit and at half past five he stopped the fight.

Since the artillery cannonade coming from the south fell silent, the "Standard" and "Orpheus", considering the "Mercury" dead, lowered their flags as a sign of mourning for it. While the wounded brig was approaching Sizopol (Sozopol, Bulgaria), where the main forces of the Black Sea Fleet were based, shell-shocked, with a bandaged head, A. I. Kazarsky counted the losses: four killed, six wounded, 22 holes in the hull, 133 in the sails, 16 damage in the spars, 148 - in the rigging, all rowing ships were broken.

Brig "Mercury"

Brig "Mercury" is a Russian 18-gun two-masted sailing warship. In May 1829, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, the brig won a victory in a battle with two Turkish battleships, which immortalized its name and for which it was awarded the stern St. George's flag.
The victory of the brig "Mercury" in a battle with two Turkish battleships is one of the most striking episodes in the history of the Russian fleet, demonstrating the fortitude, courage and skill of Russian sailors. This episode received wide publicity, the crew and the ship itself were generously awarded.

Construction and description of the ship
The brig "Mercury" was built at the Sevastopol shipyard under the leadership of the later famous shipwright Ivan Yakovlevich Osminin. The brig with a displacement of 445 tons was laid down on January 28 (February 9), 1819 and launched on May 7 (19), 1820. The length of the ship on the upper deck was 29.4 m, width - 9.4 m, draft - 2.9 m.
The ship was intended specifically for protecting the Caucasian coast, performing patrol duty and reconnaissance. Crimean oak was chosen as the material for the construction of Mercury. After completion of construction, Mercury became part of the 32nd naval crew. The brig received its name in honor of the Mercury boat, which distinguished itself during the Russian-Swedish War of 1788-1790.
Being a brig, the Mercury had two masts (foresail and mainsail). Each mast carried four yards and, accordingly, four straight sails. There was also a gaff sail on the mainmast, which improved maneuverability. The stays and jib were located on the stays. In addition, there were foxes used in tailwinds. The total sail area is 856 m².
On the bow of the brig was the figure of the god Mercury. The figurehead was waist-length, although Osminin's original drawings suggested a full-length figure.
The brig's armament consisted of eighteen 24-pound carronades for close combat and two portable three-pounder cannons, which had a longer range. If necessary, the guns could be used both as retard guns in the tail ports and as running guns in the bow ports; thus, they could be used both during retreat and when pursuing the enemy. The carronades were installed on the upper deck, and the gun ports were not closed, since water flowing onto the deck was drained through them. The power of the Mercury's broadside was 216 pounds of cast iron.
“Mercury” differed from other brigs of the Russian fleet in having a smaller draft and being equipped with oars (seven oars on each side). Row with these oars while standing. The brig was stable and held high waves well, but in calm weather it became heavier.

Service history
In 1820-1827, "Mercury" was on voyages in the Black Sea, engaged in combat training and carrying out individual orders from the command. In the campaign of 1827, the brig cruised off the coast of Abkhazia and successfully fought smuggler ships. With the beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-1829, "Mercury" took part in the capture of the fortresses of Anapa, Varna, Inada, Burgas, and Sizopol by the Black Sea Fleet. In the first half of May 1828, "Mercury" took part in the capture of two Turkish transports with landing forces. Also in 1828, the brig Mercury took part in escorting Russian transports. On May 14 (26), 1829, the brig Mercury, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, took on an unequal battle with two Turkish battleships, from which he emerged victorious - the brig managed to inflict damage on the Turkish ships, forcing them to withdraw from the battle and stop the pursuit.
Having received severe damage, the Mercury did not take part in further military campaigns of 1830-1831, and from 1832 to 1836 it was in the Sevastopol Admiralty for major repairs. In the campaigns of 1837-1839, the brig took part in landings on the Caucasian coast, and in 1840-1843 it cruised off the coast of the Caucasus.
In 1851-1852, the Mercury was on a practical voyage as part of the first squadron of the 4th naval division. In 1853, the brig again cruised off the eastern shores of the Black Sea as part of the detachment of Rear Admiral Fyodor Mikhailovich Novosilsky, who in his youth, with the rank of lieutenant, took part in the battle of the brig with Turkish ships, and from 1835 to 1838 he himself commanded the Mercury.
During the defense of Sevastopol in 1855, the hull of the Mercury was used as a pontoon to build a bridge across the Southern Bay, and in 1856 it was towed to Nikolaev, where for some time it was used as a floating warehouse. On November 9 (21), 1857, by order of Admiral General No. 180, the brig Mercury was excluded from the lists of the fleet due to extreme disrepair and was soon dismantled.

The crew of the brig as of May 1829
As of May 1829, the crew of the brig Mercury was 115 people.
Officers - 5
Quartermasters - 5
Sailors 1 article - 24
Sailors 2 articles - 12
Senior cabin boys - 43
Drummers - 2
Flute player - 1
Bombers and gunners - 9
The rest - 14
Full list of brig officers:
Captain - Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, captain-lieutenant
Fedor Mikhailovich Novosilsky, lieutenant
Sergei Iosifovich Skaryatin, lieutenant
Dmitry Petrovich Pritupov, midshipman
Ivan Petrovich Prokofiev, lieutenant of the navigator corps

Chronology of the battle
Three Russian warships - the frigate "Standart" and the brigs "Orpheus" and "Mercury" - were cruising abeam Penderaklia when they saw a Turkish squadron approaching them on the horizon, significantly superior in strength. Since there was no need to accept an unequal battle, the commander of the Shtandart, Lieutenant Commander P.Ya. Sakhnovsky gave the signal to go towards Sevastopol. However, that day at sea the low wind was weak, and therefore the Mercury, which had the worst sailing performance, was unable to escape pursuit: despite the fact that all the sails were set and the oars were used, it was overtaken by two of the largest and high-speed ships in the Turkish squadron - the 110-gun Selimiye and the 74-gun Real Bey (10-fold superiority in artillery over the Mercury!). On one ship there was an admiral (kapudan pasha) of the Turkish fleet, and the other was sailing under the pennant of the rear admiral.
The Mercury commander, having gone through all the officers in turn, became convinced of their unanimous desire to take the fight, despite the obvious inequality of forces. According to tradition, the first to speak was the youngest in rank - navigator lieutenant I. Prokofiev. He proposed to engage in battle with the enemy, and when the brig was deprived of the opportunity to resist, to blow up the Mercury, grappling with one of the enemy ships. As a result, all officers unanimously accepted this proposal. To carry out this decision, the captain of the brig Kazarsky placed a loaded pistol on the capstan in front of the entrance to the kruyt chamber (powder warehouse), so that the last surviving officer would destroy the ship with a pistol shot.
At half past three in the afternoon the Turks approached within shooting distance, and their shells began to hit the Mercury's sails and rigging, and one hit the oars, knocking the oarsmen off the boats. At this time, Kazarsky still did not allow shooting, so as not to waste charges. This caused confusion for the team. Kazarsky, seeing this, said encouraging words to the sailors: “What are you guys? It’s okay, let them scare us - they are bringing us Georgiy...” Then the captain ordered the retreat ports to be opened and he himself, together with other officers, so as not to remove the oars and not distract the sailors from work, opened fire from the retreat gun.
The first to attack was the three-deck Selimiye, which had 110 guns. The Turkish ship tried to enter the stern of the brig to fire a longitudinal salvo. Only then did Kazarsky sound the combat alarm and the Mercury, dodging the first salvo, itself fired a full salvo with its starboard side at the enemy.
A few minutes later, the two-deck Real Bay approached the port side of the Mercury, and the Russian brig found itself sandwiched between two enemy ships. Then the Selimiye crew shouted in Russian: “Surrender, remove the sails!” In response to this, the brig shouted “hurray” and opened fire from all guns and rifles. As a result of Russian fire, the Turks had to remove ready-made boarding teams from the tops and yards. In addition to the cannonballs, knipples and firebrands flew into the brig. However, the masts remained intact and the Mercury remained mobile. Due to the shelling, fires periodically broke out on the brig, which, however, were quickly extinguished by the sailors.
At the beginning of the sixth hour, the successful shots of gunner Ivan Lisenko managed to damage the water stay and the mainsail mainsail of the Selimiye, after which its topsail and topsail were washed out and hung. Thanks to this hit, the enemy ship drifted for repairs. However, a full salvo was fired after the Mercury, knocking one of the cannons off the machine. About six o'clock, serious damage was inflicted on the second enemy ship - the Mercury managed to destroy its fore-frame and fore-mars-yard, which, falling, carried away the foxes with it. Having fallen, the foxes closed the ports of the bow guns, and the collapse of the topsail deprived the ship of the ability to maneuver. "Real Bay" came into close-hauled position and began to drift.
"Mercury", which received very serious damage, continued its voyage and at about 17:00 the next day joined the fleet that left Sizopol.

Loss and damage
According to Kazarsky’s report, as a result of the battle, “Mercury” lost 4 people killed, 6 lower ranks wounded, and Kazarsky himself received a head concussion.
The ship received the following damage:
22 holes in the hull
133 holes in the sails
16 damage to spar
148 damage to rigging
all rowing ships on the rostra were broken
one carronade was damaged.
According to official data, there were no casualties on the Turkish side - the Mercury team set as its main goal damage to the enemy's mast and rigging, where the shots were aimed.

Reaction to the feat
The victory of a small ship in a battle with two large ships seemed so fantastic that some naval experts refused to believe in it. The English historian F. Jane, for example, said: “It is absolutely impossible to allow such a small ship as the Mercury to put two battleships out of action.”
The newspaper “Odessa Herald” wrote about the battle:
This feat is such that there is no other similar to it in the history of navigation; he is so amazing that one can hardly believe him. The courage, fearlessness and self-sacrifice shown by the commander and crew of the Mercury are more glorious than a thousand ordinary victories.
The navigator of the Real Bey, in his letter sent from Biyuliman on May 27, 1829, described the battle as follows:
On Tuesday at dawn, approaching the Bosphorus, we noticed three Russian ships. We chased them, but we could only catch up with one brig. Kapudan Pasha's ship and ours were discovered then strong fire... Unheard of! We couldn't make him give up. He fought, retreating and maneuvering according to all the rules of naval science so skillfully that it is a shame to say: we stopped the battle, and he continued his path with glory. If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should darken all of them, and the name of this hero is worthy of being inscribed in gold letters on the Temple of Glory: he is called captain-lieutenant Kazarsky, and the brig is “Mercury”.
Admiral Istomin said about the Mercury sailors: “Let them look for such selflessness, such heroic fortitude in other nations with a candle...”

Awards
The brig "Mercury", the second, after the battleship "Azov", was awarded the stern St. George's flag and pennant. In addition, the emperor's decree required that the Black Sea Fleet always have a brig built according to the drawings of the Mercury.
Captain Kazarsky and Lieutenant Prokofiev received the Order of St. George, IV class, the rest of the officers received the Order of St. Vladimir, IV class with a bow, and the lower ranks received insignia of the military order. All officers were promoted to the following ranks and received the right to add an image to their family coats of arms Tula pistol, the shot of which was supposed to explode the gunpowder in the hook chamber in the event that the brig lost the ability to resist.
According to the emperor's resolution, captain-lieutenant Kazarsky, among other things, was promoted to captain of the 2nd rank and appointed aide-de-camp.

Reasons for Mercury's victory
When numerically compared military power Turkish ships and the Russian brig - 184 guns versus 20, even not counting the difference in calibers - the victory of the Mercury seems completely impossible; however, a detailed analysis of the conditions of the battle can conclude that the victory of the brig is not an incredible event. Compared to Turkish ships, taking into account the battle conditions, the Mercury had the following advantages:
Each of the Turkish ships could fire only on one side, while the Mercury, having an enemy on both sides, could use all available guns. The carronades that the brig had in service were effective in close combat; being smaller, they allowed firing at a higher rate due to the relative ease of reloading.
Throughout the entire battle, the Turkish ships could not take a position abeam relative to the Mercury, both due to the brig’s competent maneuvering and because of the short distance - in order to avoid the cannonballs of one Turkish ship hitting another. In addition, at close combat range, Turkish ships could hit the lower side of the Mercury only with shots from the lower decks; all other guns could only fire at the sails and masts of the Mercury.

Perpetuation of memory
The commander of the Black Sea squadron, Admiral M.P. Lazarev, was the first to propose perpetuating the brig’s feat. On his initiative, funds were collected for the construction of the monument. The monument was founded on Matrossky Boulevard in 1834, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the feat, and opened in 1839. The author of the project is academician of architecture A.P. Bryullov, brother of the famous artist. The monument to A.I. Kazarsky and the feat of the brig "Mercury" became the first monument erected in Sevastopol. Its total height is 5.5 m. The pedestal is built from local Krymbal stone. The laconic inscription made on the pedestal reads: “To the Kazar. An example for posterity."
The monument looks like this. On a high rectangular pedestal, slightly tapering at the top, there is a symbolic warship of antiquity cast from metal - a trireme. Upper part the pedestals are decorated with bronze staffs of the god Mercury, after whom the brig is named. The cast-iron plinth is decorated with reliefs depicting in an allegorical form the event to which the monument is dedicated. On three sides of the plinth are depicted the god of the seas Neptune, the patron saint of navigation and trade Mercury, the winged goddess of victory Nike; on the western side there is a bas-relief portrait of the captain of the Mercury, Kazarsky.

The year was 1829. Russo-Turkish War was coming to an end. After the defeat of Turkey in the Battle of Navarino, the Ottoman fleet avoided open battle with Russian sailors, spending most of its time in the Bosphorus, under the cover of coastal batteries. On May 14, three Russian ships (the frigate "Standart", the brigs "Orpheus" and "Mercury"), while on patrol 13 miles from the entrance to the Bosphorus, unexpectedly collided with a Turkish squadron that had gone to sea. The forces were not equal. An order was received from the flagship ship "Standard" - to leave, choosing the optimal direction for better speed progress. It was necessary to urgently inform the command (the main forces of the Russian fleet were based in Sizopol - Bulgaria) about the presence of the Turkish fleet on the high seas. The high-speed "Standart" and "Orpheus" broke away from the pursuit. Mercury, which had a lower speed, had almost no chance to escape. It seemed that the fate of the brig, left alone against the Turkish squadron, was predetermined...

A little history "Mercury" was built at the Sevastopol shipyard and launched in May 1820. The construction was supervised by the famous shipbuilder Osminin. Material – Crimean oak. It was named after the Mercury boat, which became famous in the 1788-1790 war with the Swedes. The brig was intended to guard the coast and conduct reconnaissance operations. The bow of the ship was decorated with a waist-length figure of the fleet-footed Roman god of trade and travelers. It was a two-masted sailing ship, armed with 18 carronades (short-barreled close-quarters guns), there were also two longer-range portable cannons. The peculiarity of the ship was its low draft and the presence of oars - seven on each side. Standing rowing. Design features ports for onboard artillery and holes for oars did not allow rowing and shooting at the same time. The brig had good stability, but did not have a high speed. The number of crew in May 1829 was 115 people, of which only 5 officers along with the commander.

The collision of the Russian brig with two Turkish battleships, which were many times superior in firepower, ended with the Turks withdrawing from the battle, and the wounded brig continued sailing. This story seemed so incredible that it became overgrown with myths and legends. The most reliable source remains the report of the commander of the brig Kazarsky to Admiral Greig. This document served as the basis for subsequent descriptions of the feat of Russian sailors.

Ivan Aivazovsky. The brig Mercury, attacked by two Turkish ships. 1892

After the signal was received to evade pursuit on its own, the brig changed course, leaving two Turkish ships to the south of itself. In pursuit of the Russian ship, the 110-gun three-deck (three closed decks with ports for guns) “Selimiye” under the flag of Kapudan Pasha (commander of the Turkish fleet) and the two-deck ship of the junior flagship, equipped with 74 guns, went. 20 guns against 184! The best walkers of the Turkish fleet! The situation was hopeless. Kazarsky gathered the officers. The first to give the floor was to the youngest in rank - Lieutenant Ivan Prokofiev. He offered to take the fight, and if it was impossible to get close to one of the Turkish ships and blow up the brig. Whichever officer remains alive at this point must shoot into the kruyt chamber (powder magazine), for which a pistol was left on the spire. The rest of the officers supported the lieutenant. Kazarsky turned to the sailors, and they assured him that they would remain faithful to their duty and oath.

The ship's commander gives orders to put down the oars and prepare to fire the onboard guns. Fire was opened on the Turks who were overtaking the brig from the stern cannons. Soon the Selimiye made a maneuver, trying to come in from the right in order to fire a longitudinal salvo with its side guns. "Mercury" evaded, forcing the enemy to use only running (bow) guns. The moment came when the Turkish ships almost managed to take the brig in pincers, and they fired two salvos and, shouting in Russian, offered to lower the flag. The brig's sailors responded with artillery and rifle fire. Cannonballs, incendiary shells, and nipples fell on the Mercury. The latter are two cast iron cores or half-cores, fastened together, used to disable rigging (cables, ropes that control the sails). The brig continued to skillfully maneuver, Russian artillerymen fired at the Turkish ships. They managed to break the water stays (ropes holding the bowsprit - an inclined beam extended from the bow of the ship to improve maneuverability) and damage the main mast (horizontal yards of the tallest main mast on the ship) of one of them. "Selimiye" lost speed and left the battle. The second ship continued the pursuit until another accurate shot from the Russian sailors interrupted the knock-for-mars-yard (a horizontal log carrying a sail on the front mast), the fall of which led to the end of the chase...

Ivan Aivazovsky. The brig Mercury, after defeating two Turkish ships, meets with the Russian squadron (1848)

The Russian ship, which they had lost all hope of seeing, left the Turkish battleships idle, managed to break away from pursuit and return to base. Its losses were four killed, six wounded, 22 holes in the hull and numerous damage to the rigging.

***

In 12 years, the bicentenary of this memorable event will be celebrated. And all this time people are the most different professions are trying to find an answer to this question. The outcome of the confrontation looked too fantastic. Among the reasons, one can highlight the tactical skill of the brig commander Alexander Kazarsky, whose maneuvering of the Mercury deprived the Turks of the opportunity to take a position for delivering a decisive blow, and, of course, the high training, courage of the sailors and their determination to blow up the brig along with the Turks. The level of training and morale of the Turkish fleet at this moment was at a low level due to heavy defeats at sea. There were also suggestions that perhaps the Turks did not want to sink the ship, but to calmly capture it, like the Russian frigate Raphael three days earlier. This was natural in the current situation, and therefore they did not expect such courage from the Russian sailors.

Nikolai Krasovsky. Battle of the brig "Mercury"

The crew's feat was duly appreciated. All officers were awarded orders, the sailors were awarded awards for lower ranks - insignia of a military order. All were given a lifetime pension. The officers were given the right to include in the family coat of arms the image of a pistol, the purpose of which had already been mentioned. The brig received the St. George's flag. Nicholas I, by his decree, ordered that from now on the fleet would always have a ship "Mercury", similar to the legendary brig.

The brig's sailors became national heroes. Poems were written about the feat (Denis Davydov), books were written (Trenev, Cherkashin), films were made. Famous artists embodied various moments of the battle on their canvases. The most famous of them was the marine painter Aivazovsky, to whose painting “The Brig Mercury Attacked by Two Turkish Ships” some researchers even made “claims”. The artist was reproached for the unreliability of the location of the brig, sandwiched by Turkish ships. As this often happens (the storming of the Winter Palace, the uprising on the battleship Potemkin), “ great power art" leads to the fact that the event begins to be interpreted based on works of art...

Two ships, two destinies

Three days before the events described, the newest Russian frigate Rafail found itself in a similar situation. The Russian ship lowered its flag and surrendered to the enemy. It was commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Stroynikov. Strange zigzags of fate... Both commanders, Stroynikov and Kazarsky, knew each other, Kazarsky replaced Stroynikov on the Mercury, both were awarded for the courage shown in the current company. The officers competed with each other and even sought recognition of one woman. One covered himself with shame, the other became an example of courage for many generations.

Monument to the brig "Mercury" in Sevastopol |

The feat of the Russian sailors was that in a hopeless situation they made their choice - they preferred death to shameful captivity and thanks to “the spirit of the crew and the grace of God” (A.I. Kazarsky) they emerged from the battle as winners. Not everyone can do this - “Raphael” is proof of this. Mercury will forever remain a symbol of valor and glory Russian fleet.

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One of the most interesting episodes in the history of the sailing fleet is the battle of the Russian brig Mercury against the Turkish battleships Selimiye and Real Bay. Any theoretical analysis of the situation puts victory in the hands of the Turks, without any serious chance of saving the Russian ship. But reality often makes its own adjustments to theoretical scenarios.

The brig "Mercury" became part of the Black Sea Fleet in 1820. Built specifically for patrol duty, the ship was typical representative its class, except for two distinctive features- low draft and equipped with oars (7 on each side). The displacement was 445 tons; length 29.5 m, width 9.4. The crew consisted of 115 people (including 5 officers). The two-masted brig was armed with 18 24-pound caronades - smooth-bore guns adapted for short-range combat. In addition, the ship had 2 long-barreled 3-pounder cannons. "Mercury" was an ordinary patrol ship and it is unlikely that its creator, the famous shipwright I. Ya. Osminin, envisaged that his creation would have to withstand a serious battle against the most powerful ships sailing fleet.

On May 12, 1829, a detachment of Russian ships, consisting of the frigate "Standart" and the brigs "Orpheus" and "Mercury", went to sea to conduct patrol service. Two days later, on May 14, the formation discovered a large Turkish squadron (18 ships, including six battleships). Seeing the disproportionate superiority of the Turks, the Russian ships began to retreat. "Standard" and "Orpheus" managed to quickly escape, but "Mercury" could not break away from the pursuit of two Turkish battleships. "Selimiye" (110 guns) under the flag of Kapudan Pasha and "Real Bay" (74 guns) under the rear admiral's flag began to quickly catch up with the brig. The wind died down for a while and the Mercury tried to evade pursuit with oars, but the calm was short-lived - the Turks again began to close the distance.

Seeing the inevitability of battle, the officers gathered for a council and unanimously approved that the ship would not be surrendered to the enemy. Captain Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky, with the support of the entire team, decided to accept an unequal battle. A loaded pistol was left at the entrance to the cruise chamber so that the last survivor would blow up the ship.

By that time, the inspired Turks had already opened fire from the bow guns. Thanks to the oars, the brig skillfully maneuvered, preventing the Turks from taking an advantageous position. But after some time, the enemy flagships managed to enter from the opposite sides of the Mercury, putting the Russian ship under crossfire. An offer to surrender was made from the Turkish flagship, which was met with a friendly volley of cannons and rifles from the Mercury. Realizing that these crazy Russians would not surrender, both battleships began to frantically fire at the brig. The battle lasted for four hours, with every minute the Mercury received more and more hits. A fire broke out several times, but the well-coordinated work of the team made it possible to maintain the survivability of the ship at the highest level. The brig's constant maneuvers made it very difficult for the enemy to fire. Captain Kazarsky, who received a shell shock, inspired the team and did not leave command for a minute. Russian gunners fired aimed fire at the rigging and sails of the Turkish ships. And now “Selimiye” leaves the battle, having received critical damage to the mainsail gear. "Real Bay" fights desperately, but the skillful actions of the brig's crew take him out of the battle. "Mercury" triumphantly leaves the battlefield.

During the battle on the brig, four crew members were killed and six were wounded. We counted 22 holes in the ship's hull, more than 280 in the rigging and sails, and 16 in the mast. With difficulty, the Mercury reached the Bulgarian port of Sizopol, where the main forces of the Black Sea Fleet were based.

The feat of the sailors was appreciated, including by the Turks themselves: “If in the great deeds of ancient and modern times there are feats of courage, then this act should eclipse all others, and the name of the hero is worthy of being inscribed in golden letters in the temple of glory” - the words of one from the Real Bay navigators.

Emperor Nicholas I, by his decree of July 28, 1829, awarded the brig with the memorable St. George flag. Officers and soldiers were awarded orders and medals, and cash bonuses.

After repairs, the Mercury actively participated in cruising operations on the Black Sea and landing troops on the Turkish coast. The ship ended its glorious military career in 1857, when it was dismantled due to its extreme disrepair. But in memory of the brig’s feat, his name was preserved and several ships of the Black Sea Fleet in different time bore the proud name “Memory of Mercury”.

The article uses materials from the Black Sea Fleet Museum. Photo: dag.com.ua/nikolaev/

The brig "Mercury", attacked by two Turkish ships. Ivan Aivazovsky, 1892

It has been 180 years since the unprecedented battle, in which the unbending courage of the Russian sailors of the brig "Mercury", its commander, Lieutenant Commander A.I., was demonstrated. Kazarsky, who did not bow their heads and lower the St. Andrew’s flag in front of the enemy.

Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky was born on June 16, 1798 on Belarusian soil in the town of Dubrovno, Vitebsk province, in the family of a retired provincial secretary who managed the estate of Prince Lyubomirsky. Sasha's father is Ivan Kuzmich Kazarsky, mother is Tatyana Gavrilovna. There were five children in the Kazarsky family: Praskovya, Ekaterina, Matryona, Alexander and Ivan.

In 1811, Alexander became a cadet at the Nikolaev Navigation School.

On August 30, 1813, volunteer Alexander Kazarsky was enrolled in the Black Sea Fleet as a midshipman, and a year later he was promoted to the first officer rank and became a midshipman. He sailed on the brigantines Desna and Cleopatra, then was transferred to the Danube flotilla and appointed commander of a detachment of small rowing vessels in Izmail.

His service in the Danube Flotilla lasted five years. In 1819, he received the rank of lieutenant and in the same year was assigned to the frigate "Eustathius", which arrived in Sevastopol.

After "Eustathius" Kazarsky sailed on the schooner "Sevastopol", the transports "Ingul" and "Rival", commanded the boat "Falcon", served on the brig "Mercury", on a battleship and again on the brig "Mercury".

On July 9, 1828, for the distinction shown during the capture of Anapa, Kazarsky was promoted to lieutenant commander. In the same year, he was awarded a golden saber for his bravery during the storming of Varna.

In 1829 Kazarsky became the commander of the 18-gun brig Mercury.

The brig "Mercury" was laid down in January 1819 at the Sevastopol Admiralty (Southern Bay, between the Minna and Telefonnaya walls). Launched on May 7(19), 1820.

This ship was built by Ivan Yakovlevich Osminin, colonel of the corps of naval engineers.

The brig was intended for patrol and reconnaissance, cruising and messenger service. To enable movement in complete calm, the brig had 14 large oars. Row with these oars while standing. The ship's crew is 115 people.

The brig's artillery armament consisted of eighteen 24-pound carronades and two long-barreled 8-pound cannons, which had a greater firing range than carronades.

There was a Russian-Turkish war.

In May 1829, three Russian ships: the 44-gun frigate "Standart" (commander-lieutenant-commander P.Ya. Sakhnovsky), the 20-gun brig "Orpheus" (commander-lieutenant-commander E.I. Koltovsky), and the 20-gun The brig "Mercury" (commanded by captain-lieutenant A.I. Kazarsky) was cruising at the exit from the Bosphorus Strait. The detachment of ships was commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Sakhnovsky.

At dawn on May 14, 1829, the Turkish fleet consisting of 6 battleships, 2 frigates, 2 corvettes, 1 brig, 3 tenders departed from the Bosphorus. The enemy squadron, noticing the Russian ships, set off in pursuit of them.

A signal was raised on the “Standard”: “Everyone should choose the course that the ship has a preferential course,” after which the faster “Standart” and “Orpheus” quickly took the lead, and the slow-moving “Mercury” began to lag behind.

By 2 p.m., the enemy ships—the 110-gun battleship Selimiye and the 74-gun battleship Real Bay—had already begun to overtake the Mercury.

Seeing the impossibility of avoiding an unequal battle, Kazarsky assembled a council of officers.

The Mercury's chances of salvation were negligible (184 guns versus 20), leaving almost no hope for a successful outcome of the battle, the inevitability of which no one doubted.

As Kazarsky writes in his report to the commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral A.S. Greig dated May 14, 1829 No. 130 (KChF Museum Fund, GU-678), the first to speak was the lieutenant of the navigator corps Prokofiev, who suggested: “Blow up the brig when it is brought to the extreme.” Further, Kazansky continues: “As a result of this opinion, adopted unanimously by everyone, it was decided to defend to the last opportunity, and if the spar was knocked down, or a large leak opened, then grapple with the nearest enemy ship, and the officer who remained alive should light the hook - camera, for which purpose the pistol was placed on the spire."

Kazarsky also addressed the lower ranks and explained to them “what the Sovereign expects from them and what the honor of the imperial flag requires; he found the same feelings in the team as in the officers: everyone unanimously declared that they would be faithful to their duty and oath to the end.”

Calmed by such general unanimity, he orders: “Stop the action with the oars, put people at the guns, throw the yawl hanging astern into the sea, and open fire from the retreat ports.”

Kazarsky knew perfectly well the strengths and weaknesses of his ship; the brig was very heavy on the move; only skillful maneuvering and accuracy of the gunners could save it.

For half an hour, "Mercury", maneuvering, skillfully dodged the volleys of enemy ships, but then was placed between both ships, and from the battleship Kapudan Pasha "Selimiye" shouted in Russian: "Surrender! And remove the sails."

The response to this from the Mercury was a salvo of all artillery and friendly rifle fire.

Both Turkish ships, surrendering to the stern of the brig, opened a continuous cannonade on it with cannonballs, cannonballs and cannonballs. A fire broke out on the Mercury, which, fortunately, was extinguished.

The well-aimed fire of the brig's gunners damaged the main spar of the stop-cannon Turkish ship "Selimiye" under the flag of Kapudan Pasha, which forced it to drift.

Another ship, the 74-gun Real Bay, flying the flag of the junior flagship, continued the battle, changing tacks under the stern of the brig, and hit it with longitudinal shots, which could not be avoided by any movements.

"Mercury" fired back, and with a lucky shot they managed to kill the enemy's knock-for-mars-yard, the fall of which carried away the foxes.

These damages deprived Real Bay of the opportunity to continue the battle and at half past six he stopped the fight.

As Kazarsky wrote in his report: “The damage to the brig’s crew consisted of four killed and six wounded lower ranks. There were 22 holes in the hull, 16 damage to the spars, 133 to the sails and 148 to the rigging; in addition, the rowing vessels were broken and the carronade was damaged.” .

Kazarsky himself received a head concussion during the battle, but despite this, he remained on the bridge and led the battle.

In conclusion, he writes that “there are no words to describe the courage, dedication and accuracy in the performance of their duties, which were shown by all officers and lower ranks during this three-hour battle, which presented absolutely no hope of salvation, and that only such a worthy Amazement to the spirit of the crew and the mercy of God must be attributed to the salvation of the ship and the flag of His Imperial Majesty."

May 14, 1829 A.I. Kazarsky and the crew of the brig forever inscribed their names in the history of the Russian fleet.

They were going to obvious death, but did not bow their heads to the enemy, as the former commander of the brig "Mercury" (1826-1828), captain 2nd rank Semyon Mikhailovich Stroynikov, did shortly before this battle.

Commanding the 36-gun frigate "Raphael", literally two days before the heroic battle of the "Mercury", finding himself in the fog in the thick of the Turkish squadron, he lowered the ship's flag and surrendered to the Turks.

For the first time since the approval of the Naval Charter by Peter I, a Russian ship lowered its flag to the enemy. The Turks renamed the frigate "Fazli-Allah" (given by God).

At the time of the battle, Stroynikov was on board the battleship Real Bay. Thus the fates of the two commanders of the brig Mercury converged. One is inglorious, and the other is immortal.

The angry Emperor Nicholas I issues a decree that says: “Trusting in the help of the Almighty, I remain in the hope that the intrepid Black Sea Fleet, eager to wash away the ignominy of the frigate Raphael, will not leave it in the hands of the enemy. But when it is returned to our power , then, considering this frigate henceforth unworthy to bear the Flag of Russia and serve along with other ships of our fleet, I command you to put it on fire.”

The emperor's will was carried out.

After the defeat of the Turkish squadron in the Battle of Sinop, when Admiral P.S. Nakhimov burned the Ottoman squadron in Sinop Bay; he began his report to the emperor with the words: “The will of Your Imperial Majesty has been fulfilled - the frigate Raphael does not exist.”

After the Battle of Sinop, the flagship of Nakhimov’s squadron, the Empress Maria, smashed the former frigate Raphael to pieces with salvos of one hundred cannons.

Even the enemy appreciated the courage of the commander and crew of the brig Mercury.

“If there are heroes in the world whose name is worthy of being inscribed in golden letters on the Temple of Glory, then it is he, and he is called Captain Kazarsky, and the brig is called Mercury. With 20 guns, no more, he fought against 220 in view of the enemy fleet , which was in his wind."

The Mercury crew was generously rewarded.

“In reward for the brilliant feat of the brig “Mercury”, which emerged victorious from the unprecedented battle on May 14 against two Turkish ships, the Sovereign Emperor most graciously deigned to welcome: commander lieutenant commander Kazarsky to captain of the 2nd rank, with the appointment of aide-de-camp to His Imperial Majesty, and in addition, a holder of the Order of St. George, 4th class; lieutenants Skoryatin and Novosilsky, midshipman Pritupov and lieutenant of the corps of naval navigators Prokofiev with the following ranks, and the first Order of St. Vladimir, 4th class, and Prokofiev, as having proposed courageous advice to blow up the brig, the Order of St. George 4 classes. All lower ranks received insignia of a military order. All in general, both officers and lower ranks, received a lifetime pension of double the salary they received up to the present time. At the same time, His Imperial Majesty deigned to recognize the brig himself, by granting the flag of St. George. And in order to perpetuate in the ranks of these officers the memory of their exemplary bravery and courageous determination to obvious death, the Sovereign Emperor deigned to command that the pistol, as the weapon chosen by them for exploding into the air if it was impossible to continue the defense, was included in their coats of arms ". (“Sea collection” No. 6-1850, pp. 493-494).

The brig "Mercury" was awarded the stern St. George flag and pennant (the second award after the battleship "Azov").

In addition to awards, the decree of Emperor Nicholas 1 commanded “... We wish that the memory of this unparalleled deed be preserved until later times, therefore we command you to order: when this brig becomes unable to continue serving at sea any longer, build according to the same drawing and perfect similar to it in everything, another similar ship, assigned to the same crew, name it “Mercury”, to which the awarded flag with a pennant will be transferred; when this ship also begins to fall into disrepair, replace it with another new one, according to the same drawing "built, continuing this way until later times. We wish that the memory of the famous merits of the crew of the brig "Mercury" and it never disappears in the fleet and, passing from generation to generation for eternity, serves as an example to posterity."

This is where the words on the pedestal of the monument to the brig "Mercury" and its commander, performed by Bryullov, come from: "TO DESCENDANTS AS AN EXAMPLE."

The brig "Mercury" served on the Black Sea until November 9, 1857, then was dismantled due to "complete disrepair."

But the name of the brig was retained in the Russian fleet with the transfer of the stern St. George flag to the newly named ship. Three ships of the Black Sea Fleet alternately bore the name "Memory of Mercury": in 1865 - a corvette, and in 1883 and 1907 - cruisers. The Baltic brig "Kazarsky" sailed under the St. Andrew's flag.

Unfortunately, there is currently no warship with this name in the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

In 1834, on Matrossky Boulevard, on the initiative of Admiral M.P. Lazarev, with funds raised by the sailors, a monument to the brig "Mercury" was laid. It was opened in 1839. The author of the project is academician of architecture A.P. Bryullov.

The high pedestal, on which is engraved the inscription: “To the Kazars. As an example to posterity,” is crowned by a bronze trireme.

Monument to A.I. Kazarsky and the feat of the brig "Mercury" became the first monument erected in Sevastopol.

Monument to A.N. Kazarsky and the brig "Mercury" on Matrossky Boulevard in Sevastopol. (After the reconstruction of Matrossky Boulevard and the monument dedicated to the 225th anniversary of the city and the Black Sea Fleet. The reconstruction was financed by the Moscow region)

Having recovered from the shell shock, Captain 2nd Rank Kazarsky was appointed commander of the 44-gun frigate Pospeshny, and at the beginning of 1830 - commander of the battleship Tenedos.

In 1831, for distinguished service, Captain 2nd Rank Kazarsky was promoted to Captain 1st Rank and came under the full command of Nicholas I, becoming an officer in the Emperor’s retinue.

At the end of 1832, the Black Sea squadron under the command of Vice Admiral M.P. Lazareva was preparing for a trip to the Bosphorus. Russia intended to take the side of Turkey in its conflict with the Egyptian Pasha. Kazarsky was entrusted with equipping and loading a large group of troops onto landing craft, which he successfully completed.

In 1833, Kazarsky inspected the rear offices of the fleet and quartermaster warehouses in Odessa. From Odessa he moved to Nikolaev to check the quartermasters.

But on July 16, 1833, a few days after arriving in the city, the captain of the 1st rank, adjutant of the Emperor Kazarsky, suddenly died.

The investigation into the mysterious circumstances of the death was unsuccessful for several years. There is reason to believe that the Mercury commander became a victim of a criminal conspiracy by thieving officials and was poisoned.

The mystery of his death has not yet been revealed.

Alexander Ivanovich Kazarsky was buried in Nikolaev, in the city cemetery near the Church of All Saints.

Project of a monument at the grave of A.N. Kazarsky was designed by architect A.A. Avdeev. It was built by the forces and means of the Black Sea Fleet.

It is made of black polished granite in the form of a vertical slab about 3 meters high. On front side, facing the church, at the top of the round medallion, surrounded by a laurel wreath, is engraved the inscription: “May 14, 1829.” Below on the pedestal under glass is a relief image of the brig "Mercury" sailing under full sail. In the middle there is a laconic inscription in bronze letters: “Kazarsky”. On opposite side At the top of the monument is a relief bronze medallion with a portrait of Kazarsky, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Below is the bronze Kazarsky coat of arms in the form of a brig and a pistol, which serves as the emblem of the famous council on board the Mercury, when it was decided to blow up the brig along with the Turkish ships.

These attributes were granted to the Kazar coat of arms by the Decree of Nicholas I.

Very close to A.N. Kazarsky buried former Mercury navigator I.P. Prokofiev, but the old modest tombstone for him disappeared, and in its place was erected a pompous marble monument with an angel, which was taken from someone else’s grave. (In the photo on the left is a monument at the grave of I.P. Prokofiev) Some other members of the brig's crew are also buried at the Nikolaevskoe cemetery, who willed to be buried next to their commander. However, now traces of these burials have been lost, only a monument remains, erected in our time on the grave of Fyodor Spiridonov, who was a first-class navigator student on board the Mercury during the battle. (See photo on the right).

In addition to these memorial burials for Russian sailors, the following are buried at the Nikolaev necropolis: Admiral N.A. Arkas (Chief Commander of the Black Sea Fleet and ports in 1871-1881, military governor of Nikolaev), Admiral M.P. Manganari and many others, including the first commander of the battleship "Novorossiysk", captain 1st rank Yu.K. Zinoviev. The heroes of the First Sevastopol Defense, who died of wounds in Nikolaev hospitals, are also buried here.

But in this historical necropolis, discord and desolation are clearly not visible, as he said great poet, "love for fathers' tombs."

But Russian national heroes and famous ancestors are buried there. Respect for their ashes should be sacred to us.

But, alas, the memory of generations is being erased.

We, descendants, must remember and honor the memory and graves of our glorious ancestors.

We should be grateful descendants.