Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914 to 1916, published by Duckworth & Co., London, 1923
Alexandra wrote this letter to Nicholas on October 23, 1914. He sent his second telegram that day and another in reply to the letter on October 24.
The letter:
Tsarskoje Selo, Oct. 23-rd 1914
My sweetest Love,
Thank God for the good news that the Austrian army is in full retreat from the river San, and what good news in Turkey — Endigarov is wild with joy and my »Crimeans«. — I beg your pardon for having forgotten to send Ania's rusks, but I had to seal up my letter in such a hurry before we left, that I forgot sending them, but I shall forward them to-morrow. Our expedition to Luga was most successful. When we arrived at the station we were met by old Mlle Sheremetiev (sister of Mme Timashev) who told me that there were two hospitals, and she thought I had come on purpose — so I told her we should go there after the »Svietelka«. We went off in three cabs, with the chief of police in front in a charming cart. The 3 hospitals were very far from each other, but we enjoyed the primitive drive through the streets and sandy roads into the pinewood — quite near the place where we took a walk then near a lake years ago ... Mlle Schneider got an awful shock when she saw us, as she never received Ania's telegram, and laughed nervously, excitedly the whole 20 m. we were there. 20 men lie in the little country house — they had been wounded near Suvalki end of Sept., but light wounds — they were evacuated from Grodno. They all came by the same train, 80 men on the whole, mostly regiments from the Caucasus. One »Erivanetz« who had seen us at Livadia. — One Timashev daugther was in one hospital as nurse and a younger sister M-lle Sheremetiev at the head of another near the Artillery barracks. — Friede I suddenly discovered there. Many of the men were soon going off again to the army. They have a Kitchen at the station since 2 months and not one sanitary or military train has stopped there. On our way back we took tea. We knitted a lot and Ressin kept us company. — The weather was fine and not too cold. It is nearly 1. I think I ought to try and sleep. — I had very little sleep these nights, tho' I kept the window open till 3 o'clock in the night. — Baby sweet motored in the garden, M. and A. drove with Isa, went to their hospital and then worked in the supply store. I received Alia who accompanys her husband on Sunday till where Misha is. — Goodnight my Sunshine, my huzy sweet, sleep peacefully and feel wify's presence ever near you full of love.
Thank God for the good news that the Austrian army is in full retreat from the river San, and what good news in Turkey — Endigarov is wild with joy and my »Crimeans«. — I beg your pardon for having forgotten to send Ania's rusks, but I had to seal up my letter in such a hurry before we left, that I forgot sending them, but I shall forward them to-morrow. Our expedition to Luga was most successful. When we arrived at the station we were met by old Mlle Sheremetiev (sister of Mme Timashev) who told me that there were two hospitals, and she thought I had come on purpose — so I told her we should go there after the »Svietelka«. We went off in three cabs, with the chief of police in front in a charming cart. The 3 hospitals were very far from each other, but we enjoyed the primitive drive through the streets and sandy roads into the pinewood — quite near the place where we took a walk then near a lake years ago ... Mlle Schneider got an awful shock when she saw us, as she never received Ania's telegram, and laughed nervously, excitedly the whole 20 m. we were there. 20 men lie in the little country house — they had been wounded near Suvalki end of Sept., but light wounds — they were evacuated from Grodno. They all came by the same train, 80 men on the whole, mostly regiments from the Caucasus. One »Erivanetz« who had seen us at Livadia. — One Timashev daugther was in one hospital as nurse and a younger sister M-lle Sheremetiev at the head of another near the Artillery barracks. — Friede I suddenly discovered there. Many of the men were soon going off again to the army. They have a Kitchen at the station since 2 months and not one sanitary or military train has stopped there. On our way back we took tea. We knitted a lot and Ressin kept us company. — The weather was fine and not too cold. It is nearly 1. I think I ought to try and sleep. — I had very little sleep these nights, tho' I kept the window open till 3 o'clock in the night. — Baby sweet motored in the garden, M. and A. drove with Isa, went to their hospital and then worked in the supply store. I received Alia who accompanys her husband on Sunday till where Misha is. — Goodnight my Sunshine, my huzy sweet, sleep peacefully and feel wify's presence ever near you full of love.
24-th. I must finish my letter, then lunch, change and be off to town to my store and if headache not much worse, then to my Krestov. Red Cross Station. — We worked all the morning and were very sad to bid goodbye to my 5 Crimeans, and lancer Ellis who are off with 3 others in a waggon with a nurse and 1 sanitary to Simferopol and Kutchuk-Lambat. — Mme Muftizade returned from the Crimea and brought me roses and apples. — God bless you my Angel love.
I kiss you ever so tenderly,
your very own
Sunny.
your very own
Sunny.
Thank God my Alexander squadron has turned up. I was so anxious about them. Our love to N. P.
Nicholas's telegrams:
Telegram.
Stavka 23 October, 1914
The joyful news has been received that the Austrian army is in full retreat from Sanok. Am going to a moleben now. Embrace you closely.
Nicky
Stavka 23 October, 1914
The joyful news has been received that the Austrian army is in full retreat from Sanok. Am going to a moleben now. Embrace you closely.
Nicky
...
Telegram.
Stavka. 24 October. 1914
Sincerest thanks to you and the children for letters. I am very glad that you have been to Louga. Yesterday your squadron of the Alexandriisky Hussars joined our troops after an absence of four weeks in the extreme rear of the enemy with very few losses. I embrace you all tenderly.
NICOLAI.
Stavka. 24 October. 1914
Sincerest thanks to you and the children for letters. I am very glad that you have been to Louga. Yesterday your squadron of the Alexandriisky Hussars joined our troops after an absence of four weeks in the extreme rear of the enemy with very few losses. I embrace you all tenderly.
NICOLAI.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
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