Across Siberia to America.
A Serial in an as yet undetermined number of parts.
In my post on my reading for 2023, I cited two books, Michael Strogoff and Into Siberia, that recounted journeys from European Russia into and across Siberia. Those travels reminded me of two young Russian Navy officers in the early 19th Century.
On April 19, 1802, Lieutenant Nikolai Aleksandrovich Khvostov and Midshipman Gavriil Ivanovich Davydov, departed St Petersburg on a remarkable journey. Stuck on shore duty, and on half-pay, the two officers had accepted the offer of an assignment from Count Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, shareholder and Trustee of the Russian-American Company, and Chamberlain to the Tsar. The Company held under an Imperial charter the Russian monopoly on the fur trade in America. Their trappers and traders obtained furs – especially those of the North Pacific sea otter – in Alaska, transported them back to Siberia by sea, and then overland to a place called Kyakhta, a trading post on the frontier between Siberia and Mongolia. At Kyakhta merchants traded the furs with their Chinese counterparts for porcelains, textiles, and especially tea, which they then took to markets like Moscow and St Petersburg.
The assignment Rezanov offered Khvostov and Davydov was to travel overland from St Petersburg to the port of Okhotsk, on the Sea of Okhotsk in the Russian Far East. They were not explorers after the fashion of their contemporaries, Lewis and Clark (although they would eventually miss by just a few days meeting the American captains at the mouth of the Columbia River). What made the journey so remarkable was that at Okhotsk they were to pick up a ship and crew that would be ready for them, and sail across the North Pacific to the Company’s American headquarters on Kodiak Island, perhaps 250 miles southwest of present Anchorage, Alaska. There they were to deliver supplies and render whatever assistance they could to the General Manager there, Aleksandr Andreevich Baranov.
In 1810, after the pair had made two round-trips to America and served in the Baltic Fleet as well, Vice-Admiral Aleksandr Semenovich Shishkov took Davydov into his home, intending for him to spend the winter compiling a journal of their travels for publication. As you will see, Davydov had a talent for observation and sense of humor so deadpan that in case of official objection, he could pass his jokes off as straight reportage. The result of his work is a publication with a classic 19th-Century title, which translates roughly as
AN ACCOUNT OF A DOUBLE JOURNEY TO AMERICA BY NAVAL OFFICERS KHVOSTOV AND DAVYDOV
WRITTEN BY THE LATTER
Printed by the Naval Printing Office, 1810
Fortunately, this volume is available, digitized, online at the Library of Congress:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.ndlpcoop/mtfxtx.s00030a
https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdclccn.2018694170v2
https://www.loc.gov/item/2018694170/
Khvostov and Davydov died by misadventure before Davydov was able to complete the journal, but he had written enough, and his notes were complete enough, that Shishkov was able to bring the journal to publication. The deaths obviously affected him, however, and he prepended to the publication a frontispiece giving a version of the lives of the officers. In its way, it is as remarkable as Davydov’s main narrative, as a brief work of Russian tragic romanticism.
Literature has, in a way, remembered Rezanov, Khvostov, and Davydov. In 1806, they voyaged from Alaska to San Francisco to buy supplies from the padres at Mission Dolores. Bret Harte tells the story of Rezanov’s visit in his poem, "Concepcion de Arguello" Harte’s poem also provided inspiration for the Russian rock opera Yunona i Avos, which premiered in Moscow in 1981. Rezanov is the protagonist in the rock opera, and Khvostov and Davydov appear in supporting roles.
A word on Russian names: Russians commonly have three names – given name, patronymic, and family name. The middle, or patronymic, name, is essentially the person’s father’s given name, with a suffix: -ovich or -evich for sons and -ovna or -evna for daughters. Thus we know that the given name of Nikolai Aleksandrovich Khvostov’s father was Alexsandr. The respectful form of address in Russian uses the given name and patronymic. Khvostov and Davydov would have addressed Baranov as Aleksandr Andreevich. Russian surnames also often have masculine and feminine forms.
A word on dates: Russia did not adopt the Gregorian calendar until after the Revolution. Accordingly, the dates in these accounts rely on the Julian calendar. In the 19th Century, the discrepancy between the two was 12 days, so a date recorded as July 1 in this journal would have been July 13 in London or Paris. It gets worse once we reach Alaska, since there was no International Date Line. Suppose a Russian from St Petersburg met Yankee trader from Boston on Kodiak. If the Russian thought it was Tuesday, the Bostonian would think it was Monday.
A word on the translation: I have not attempted to translate literally, but I have tried to translate faithfully to what I conceive as the authors’ intended meaning. I have chosen the transliterations of Russian names that I like best.
Finally, the Text.
Installment 1. The start of Vice-Admiral Shishkov’s frontispiece, in which Khvostov distinguishes himself in the Navy, showing uncommon fortitude; petitions the Tsar for relief for his father; meets Chamberlain Rezanov and signs on to travel to America for the Russian-American Company; recruits Davydov; returns from the journey (we’ll see all the details of the journey when we get to Davydov’s narrative); and accepts an assignment to travel again to America, while finding an unusual way to show his continuing loyalty to his parents.
NOTICE FROM VICE-ADMIRAL SHISHKOV
The printing of this travel journal began during the life of these Officers, but before the second part was completed an unhappy accident suddenly ended both their lives. For this reason, I feel it is necessary to inform readers about the lives of the two mariners, whose memory is truly worthy of preservation, and about the state in which Lt Davydov left the unfinished travel journal.
[Biographies of Khvostov and Davydov]
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Khvostov, son of State Councilor Aleksandr Ivanovich Khvostov and Katerina Alexeevna Khvostova, neé Shelting, was born 28 July 1776, and joined the Naval cadet corps in 1783. His first service at sea in the rank of Marine Guards was against the Swedes. By age 14 he had already fought in two fierce naval battles and received a gold medal. In 1791, upon peace with Sweden, he was promoted to Officer. In 1795, after several voyages in the Baltic Sea, he set off for England in the squadron sent to guard the English coast under the command of Vice-Admiral Khanykov. After a year the squadron was to return to Russia, but upon its arrival in Copenhagen, part of it, under the command of Vice-Admiral Makarov, returned to England, so Khvostov went there for a second time. After a year, this part of the squadron returned to Kronstadt, the port of St Petersburg.
The next summer, that is in 1798, the squadron re-armed for joint action with the English fleet against our common enemies, the French and their allies, again under Vice-Admiral Makarov. Khvostov did not miss the opportunity to return for a third time to England. This campaign lasted about 3 years. Two of our ships, Mstislav and Retvizan, were with the English squadron under the command of Vice-Admiral Mitchell, which took on the Dutch fleet under Vice Admiral Storr, lying near the Texel. Khvostov, by now a Lieutenant, sailed on the Retvizan. The terrible and disastrous misadventure that befell several English ships and our Retvizan is known. Khvostov took part in the rescue at sea. At the same time, when they were about to sink, he wrote to one of his friends:
Our condition is completely unbearable; all the ships pass us by; we have run aground and are begging for help. All our hope to be in battle and join in the capture of the Dutch fleet has vanished. In our utter chagrin we were all angry with the Leadsman and showered him with reprisals, but he was already half dead. The English ship America ran aground; this brought us some comfort. Although we should not rejoice in someone else’s misfortune, at least now the British will not say that a Russian ship ran aground, and maybe Mitchell, short two ships, will not dare to give battle. In the meantime we can regroup and will hasten to share glory with them.
And truly, disregarding the terrible conditions they endured that night, the next morning they managed, despite having run aground, to stand alongside the others in battle formation, and were ready to fight the enemy in their half-crushed ship. From this one incident it is possible to see what firmness of spirit in the midst of fear and confusion that young man mastered, and the fearlessness and love of glory that burned in his soul.
On his return to Russia, he was forced to spend almost a year and a half ashore, because there were no billets anywhere. No matter how much he loved his father, mother, brothers, and sister; no matter how he delighted in the joys of home; he was not born to spend his life in peace and idleness. He was dissatisfied with the routine of the shore service, and impatiently awaited the opening of an opportunity for some daring enterprise. Deep affection for family and boundless love for fame were the two main characteristics of his soul. We shall see to what deeds they drove him and to what sacrifices they brought him.
His father, through litigation lasting twenty years, lost his modest property and was left destitute, with a large family. This son, without telling anyone of his intention, found an opportunity to meet with the Sovereign Emperor. He desperately threw himself to his knees before him and asked the Tsar to turn his attention to his ruined parents. The Sovereign Emperor was surprised to see an Officer in this position before him, and thinking he was asking out of poverty for his own need, ordered him to rise and stand at ease. A few hours later they brought him a grant in his name of 1000 rubles. Khvostov did not accept the money, but asked the messenger to tell the Emperor that his salary was sufficient for his own needs, and he would not for his own sake have dared to trouble His Majesty, but did so for his father and mother, ruined by litigation. They reported this to the Emperor. The Sovereign ordered him to accept the original 1000 rubles, and after discussing the business and the state of his father, he settled on him a thousand-ruble annual pension. The overjoyed son sent the thousand rubles immediately granted to his mother, who was then in their village, and soon had the joy of notifying his father of the pension he had been granted.
Having thus satisfied one side of his soul, soon afterwards he satisfied the other. Chamberlain Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, Shareholder and Trustee of the Russian-American Company, (later plenipotentiary ambassador to Japan) knew Khvostov personally, and having heard about his skill and courage, invited him to travel overland to Okhotsk, and from there by Company ship to America. He did not have ask Khvostov twice. He agreed that very moment and only begged for five days’ leave to go to his village to say goodbye to his father and mother.
That very day he went to see some of his friends, and met Midshipman Davydov, who, though still young, was a very good Officer. He told them about his enterprise to go to America, and this ignited in midshipman Davydov (who was not yet 18) a desire to join with him. Davydov’s decisiveness and courage impressed Khvostov. He took him to Rezanov, and both entered the American company. A recent ukase (a special Imperial decree) allowed naval officers, without leaving military service, to join the service of the commercial company, freeing the officers to do so.
Khvostov drove immediately to his village. One can imagine the surprise and grief of his family, especially his mother, who loved him with great fervor. Their parting was heavy and tearful. He himself, loving his parents deeply, felt grief rending his soul, but sparing the tenderness of his mother, he joked, pretending to be cheerful, and did not allow the tears and sighs he held in his chest to appear outwardly. Finally, breaking free from their embraces and kisses, he spurred his horse and rode away. As soon as he was left alone, nature punished him for the duress to which he had put his mother. He fainted, and when he came to his senses he paid her due tribute with bitter sobs. Returning to St. Petersburg, Khvostov and Davydov did not hesitate for long, and after a few days they set off for America. The reader of this book will see their first journey.
After the passage of two years they returned from America. It seemed that their desire was satisfied; they made a long journey overland, sailed on seas rarely visited, saw many different cities, countries, and peoples; brought to the American company no small service and benefit; and returned safely. Never concerned with the acquisition of wealth, they came back exactly as they left, that is, having no wealth but the clothes on their shoulders. Khvostov however had saved up 800 rubles, which he wanted to give to his mother, but she did not agree to accept them.
All expected that the officers would leave the American company and rejoin their fleet: Khvostov’s father and mother hoped so, but not wanting to make his choice for him, they did not dare advise him. Meanwhile, the American company, being very pleased with them, invited them to go again to America, promising to double their salaries to 4000 rubles per year each. They passed two or three months in uncertainty and doubt. Finally the time came to decide whether to stay or to go. Khostov went with the same vigor as before, without showing the slightest reluctance; however, in his great delicacy toward his father and mother, it was sometimes noticeable that he had to force himself to appear calm. But the second journey was burdensome to his soul. He could not hide those feelings from the discerning eyes of his mother and other close relatives. The attempted to dissuade him from his intention, which was not yet fully confirmed, but he immediately assumed a cheerful visage, and he showed himself irresistible in that firmness.
His action seemed to be a kind of mystery, for there was no sufficient reason him to assert such unshakable determination. Curiosity to see distant countries could not induce him, since he had already been there; the hope for glory was slight; the salary assigned him by the American company was not small for someone of his station, but wealth did not concern him; and the direct experience of the first journey did not recommend a second. He could not be prompted by these reasons. And so he struggled with contradictory feelings. But he concealed a certain secret which no one could penetrate, and which was not revealed until he had firmly confirmed his undertaking with the American company. Two or three days before his departure Khvostov went to his father and mother, took them the money we previously mentioned, which his mother did not want to take it from him, and on top of that he presented them some papers, asking them to accept them. They took the papers and read them. They contained an undertaking to the American company, that for his whole time in America, of his salary of 4000 rubles, half annually would be issued in St. Petersburg to his father and mother. His mother, on reading the paper wanted in the first moment of her feelings to tear it up, and shedding bitter tears, cried, “How? You sacrifice yourself for us!” But he, without letting her finish her words, threw himself on his knees before her and kissed her hands and said, “Listen to me, Mama! The business is already done; I can remain here no longer; for this I sob and ask you, do not take away my only consolation. It will comfort me in our separation and remind me hourly to have regard for my life, because it is useful to you.” With this and other similar arguments, he convinced his mother and father to accept the allowance he offered. And so here is the revelation of the secret reason that prompted him to go to America! Here is a rare and amazing example of filial love! What did he do to ease the plight of his parents? Not only did he go from them to throw himself at the feet of the Emperor, and by the mercy he sought by this means in some measure ease their want — moreover, he devoted his life to patience, toil, and danger, and for the sake of his family he condemned himself to wander for a long time in the most distant countries among untamed peoples! As hard as it is to believe such a thing, however, to the honor of mankind, this is not a fairy tale, but an exact reality.
In the next installment: Vice-Admiral Shishkov’s narrative continues – Khvostov and Davydov go back to America. On the way they rendezvous with Rezanov, fresh from his unsuccessful embassy to Japan. They finally arrive at the Company’s new American headquarters at Novo Arkhangelsk (current Sitka, Alaska). Rezanov buys a ship from a Yankee trader, which he wants to use for a wildcat raid on Sakhalin Island (then under Japanese control) to repay his insult from the Shogun. But conditions at Sitka are dire, and Rezanov first has to commandeer the Yankee ship for a voyage to San Francisco to buy supplies. Khvostov and Davydov are sailing commanders for this voyage.