Alexandra's letters to Nicholas, dated October 22, 1914, and his telegrams, dated October 22 and 23, 1914

Alexandra wrote both of these letters to her husband on October 22, 1914. He sent her a telegram that same day and made another in reply to her letter on the 23rd.

Sources:

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/letterstsaritsa/october14.html

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/october14.html

The letters:

22-nd. Good morning my treasure. I prayed so much for you in the little Church this morning — I came for the last 20 min; — it was so sad kneeling there all alone without my treasure, that I could not help crying. But then I thought of how glad you must be to get nearer to the front and how eagerly the wounded will have awaited your arrival this morning at Minsk.

We bound up the officers from 10-11 and then went to the big hospital for three operations — serious ones rather, 3 fingers were taken off as blood poisoning had set in, and they were quite rotten. Another had an "oskolok" taken out of his — another lots of fragments (bones) out of his leg. I went through several wards. Service was going on in the big hospital-church and we just knelt down on the top balkony during the prayer to the Kazan Virgin's Image. Your Rifles feel sad with you away. — Now I must be off to my supply train No. 4.

Goodbye My Nicky love, I bless and kiss you over and over again. Slept badly, kissed your cushion and thought much of you.

Ever your very own little
Wify

I bow to all and specially to N. P. whom I am glad you have with you — more warmth near you.

--

Tsarskoe Selo, Oct. 22-nd 1914

My own beloved One,
It is 7 o'clock and as yet no news from you. Well, I went to see my supply train No. 4 with Mekk — they leave to-night for Radom I think and from there Mekk will go to see Nikolasha, as he must ask him some questions. He told me privately from Ella that she wants to go and see my store at Lvov, without anybody knowing about it — she will come here so as that the Moscou public should know nothing, the first days of November! We envy her and Ducky fearfully — but still hope you will send for us to meet you.

It will be hard leaving Baby, whom I have never been long away from, but whilst he is well and M. and A. are there to keep him company, I could get away. Of course I should like it to be a useful journey — best if I could have gone with my train, one of the sanitary ones out to their destination to see how they take in the wounded and bring them back again and look after them. Or meet you at Grodno, Vilna, Bielostok where there are hospitals. But that I all leave in your hands, you will tell me what to do, where to meet you — or to Rovno or Kharkhov — whatever suits you — the less one knows I come, the better. —

I received Schulenburg who leaves tomorrow, (my train which Loman and Co. arrange) leaves the 1-st I think. Then we had the Pss. for our lecture. We have finished a full surgical course, with more things than usual, and now shall go through anatomy and interior illnesses as it's good to know that all for the girls too. —

I have been sorting out warm things for the wounded returning home — and going back to the army again. Ressin has been to me and we have settled to go to Luga to-morrow afternoon to my "Svietelka". It was a country house, given to Alexei which I took and arranged as a "dependence of my school of popular art," the girls work, make carpets there and teach the village women how to make them then they get their cows and poultry and vegetables, and will be taught housekeeping. Now they have arranged 20 beds and look after the wounded. — We have to take a short train, as the ordinary ones go slower and at inconvenient hours. Ania, Nastinka and Ressin will accompany us three — nobody is to know anything about it. M-elle Schneider only knows A. and N. are coming, — otherwise she might just be away. —

We shall take simple cabs and go in our nurses' dresses to attract less attention and as it's a hospital we visit. — Mme Becker is a bore, should be much freer without her. How vile one having thrown bombs from aeroplanes on to King Albert's villa in which he just now lives — thank God no harm was done but I have never known one trying to kill a sovereign because he is one's enemy during the war!

I must rest a ¼ of an hour before dinner with shut eyes — shall continue tonight. —

What good news! Sandomir ours again and masses of prisoners heavy guns and quick-firing ones — your journey has brought blessings and good luck again. — Baby love came down to say prayers again, as I felt so tired in every sense. My Image was in Church this morning and hangs now in its place again. —

It is warmer this evening so I have opened the window. — Ania is in splendid spirits and enjoys her young operated friend — she brought him your "Skopin S." to read. — Agooweeone wrote out for me during dinner on the menu j'ai, tu as etc. so nicely; how you must miss the little man! Such a blessing when he is well!! I gave my good night kiss to your cushion and longed to have you near me — in thoughts I see you lying in your compartment, bend over you, bless you and gently kiss your sweet face all over. — oh, my Darling, how intensely dear you are to me; — could I but help you carrying your heavy burdens, there are so many that weigh upon you. But I am sure all looks and feels different now you are out there, it will freshen you up, and you will hear lots of interesting things. —

What is our Black Sea fleet doing? The wife of my former "Crimean" A Lichatchev wrote to Ania from Hotel Kist, that a shell had burst quite near on the place there. She pretends the German ship got one shot from us, but that he was not blown up by our mines, over which she went, because Eberh. had them (how does one say it? ausgeschaltet, I can't find the word, my brain is cretinised.) Probably our squadron was intending to go out, she said they were heating the boilers when the shots flew — well, this is lady's talk, may or may not be true.

I enclose a telegram from Keller sent through Ivanov to Fredericks for me — an answer to mine probably of congratulations for his St. George's Cross. In what a state of nervousness Botkin must be, now that Sandomir is taken; — wonder whether his poor son is yet alive. — Ania sends you rusks, a letter and newspapers open. — I shall have no time to write to-morrow in the day, as we go for half an hour to Church, then to the hospital, and at on to Luga, back by 7 — shall lie in the train, takes 2 hours there and 2 back. —

Goodnight my sunshine, my very Own one, sleep well, holy Angels guard your bed and the blessed Virgin keeps watch over you. My very tenderest thoughts and prayers hover ever around you — yearning and longing, feeling your moments of loneliness acutely. Bless you.

Nicholas's telegrams:

Stavka. 22 October, 1914
Have arrived safely. In the morning inspected two hospitals in Minsk; found them in splendid order. It is not cold, foggy...

--

Stavka. 23 October, 1914
Tender thanks for news. The weather is milder than at home. There is no snow. Petia is here. He has become much quieter since having been under heavy fire in Galicia. He and Kostia's boys have meals with me. Hearty greetings.
Nicky

Above: Nicholas and Alexandra.

Above: Alexei.