Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 112.
Tsarskoje Selo, Sept. 4-th 1915
My very own Sweetheart,
I have remained in bed this morning, feeling deadtired, & having slept badly. My brain continued working & talking — I had spoken so much yesterday & always upon the same subject until I became cretinized; & this morning I continued to Botkin, as its good for him & helps him put his thoughts to right, as they also did not grasp things as they were. One has to be the medicine to the muddled minds after the microbes from town — ouff! She got his telegram yesterday, perhaps you will copy it out & mark the date Sept. 3-rd on the paper I gave you when you left with his telegr. written down: "Remember the promise of the meeting, this was the Lord showing the banner of victory, the children or those near to the heart should say, set us go along the ladder of the banner, our spirit has nothing to fear."
And your spirit is up so is mine & I feel enterprising & ready to talk away. It must be alright & will be — only patience & trust in God. Certainly, our losses are colossal, the guard had dwindled away, but the spirits are unflinchingly brave. All that is easier to hear than the rottenness here. I know nothing about the strikes as the papers (luckily) don't say a word about them. —
Ania sends her love — wont you wire to me to, "thank for letters, Image, toffee" — it would make her happy.
Aunt Olga was suddenly announced to me yesterday evening at 10½ — my heart nearly stood still, I thought already one of the boys was killed — thank God it was nothing, she only wanted to know whether I knew what was going on in town & then I had to let forth again, for the fourth time in one day, & put things clearer to her, as she could not grasp some things & did not know what to believe.
She was very sweet, dear Woman. — Here is a paper for Alexeiev, you will remember the same officer asked some time ago about forming a legion; well, you will think about it — perhaps it would do no harm to form it & keep it in reserve in case of disorders or let it replace another regiment wh. might come more back as a rest. — The legion of Letts, are you having it disbanded into other existing regiments, as you had intended & wh. would be safer in all respects & more correct.
The Children have begun their winter-lessons, Marie & Anastasia are not contented, but Baby does not mind & is ready for more, so I said the lessons were to last all 50 instead of 40 minutes, as now, thank God, he is so much stronger. — All day long letters & telegrams come — but its yours I await all day with intense longing. —
I want to go to Church this evening. — Ania sends you her fondest love. Got finer after luncheon & we drove. The girls had a concert. — So anxious for news. — Kiss you endlessly, my love & long for you. When you come, I suppose it will only be for a few days? — Have nothing interesting to tell you, alas. All my thoughts incessantly with you. Send you some flowers, cut the stalks a little, then they will last longer.
God bless you
Ever yr. very own old
Wify.
Love to Kirill & Dmitri & Boris. —
Nicholas's telegram:
Telegram. Stavka. 4 September, 1915.
I thank you for your dear letter; Tatiana as well. I have made arrangements about a motor car for Ella. She will receive it in a week's time. It is cooler after the rain. Greetings to you from the cousins who are here. I kiss all tenderly.
NICKY.
I thank you for your dear letter; Tatiana as well. I have made arrangements about a motor car for Ella. She will receive it in a week's time. It is cooler after the rain. Greetings to you from the cousins who are here. I kiss all tenderly.
NICKY.
Nicholas's letter:
Uglich. 4 September, 1915.
MY OWN DARLING,
I kiss you countless times for your dear letters; the last two smelt delightfully of your scent, which has come through — even through the envelope, in the form of a greasy patch! When you see Paul, tell him that I intend to send him later on to the armies. George is now transferring from one army to another. He telegraphed that, on the 1st of September, his train was bombed at Lida by Zepp. and aeroplanes, and that about 20 people were killed! Boris arrived yesterday with interesting papers for me from Gen. Olokhov — he has replaced Besobrazov. It is pleasant to hear from all sides such praise of Boris, and of how he is loved, not only by his regiment, but by others as well. I have had the idea of appointing him Field Hetman in place of the excellent Gen. Pokotilo, who has gone back about a fortnight ago to the Don. I am sure that you will ask me: why not Misha? — but I want to try keeping him with me; and later on we will see. Perhaps he can get the command of the Cavalry Corps of Khan-Nakhichevansky.
A few days ago I received a request from Yussoupov, asking me to release him from Moscow, and I have agreed to it, all the more readily as the very good and energetic Gen. Mrosovsky has only just been appointed Commandant of the troops of the Moscow military district.
He commanded a grenadier corps there, and in the war, knows the town and will prove his worth, I hope, when the moment comes.
You ask me about the reception of the 3 German sisters. I think, of course, yes — especially as Mamma is receiving them. Here such things seem very much simpler and clearer. My darling, I miss you so terribly at times, and I feel so lonely!!! The Germans are pouring into the gap between our troops at Dvinsk, and through others at Vilna; this causes great anxiety to Alexeiev, as there are no details and no information. Their cavalry patrols, with the infantry following behind, have come up to the railway line at Polotzk! This movement upsets our plans of bringing up reserves to the two [...] mentioned. It is enough to make one desperate when one is unable to move and concentrate troops as quickly as one would desire.
He (Alex.) told me to-day that he considers it imperative to move the Stavka, and he thinks Kalouga a suitable place for it. This vexes me very much, as I shall again feel myself far away from the army. He has sent someone, as well as Voeikov, to select a suitable locality. Perhaps he is right, but I do not like the idea at all. If God will again vouchsafe us His blessing, we shall be able to stop this advance of the enemy — then, of course, the Stavka will remain at Mogilev, which is both convenient and expedient — everything is near at hand here.
My friend, Gen. Williams, has shown me a telegram telling me of the safe arrival of two new submarines in the Baltic Sea. We have now five English submarines in our fleet. That, if you remember, is the result of my telegram to Georgie — the one I sent him before my departure. Have you seen in the newspapers the speeches by Kitchener and Lloyd George on the war, and on the part played in it by Russia? It is very true. If only God would grant that they and the French began now — it is long overdue!
I have just received your dear, letter with two newspaper cuttings and Marie's letter. I thank you with all my heart for all that you write to me, and for the box of sweets, which are delicious. Tomorrow I shall receive Shcherbatov, who is coming here, and also Polivanov. Dimka C. Golytzin has asked permission to go later to Tiflis — he will make a good assistant to Nicol., as he knows the local society and people well — and I have allowed him to follow N. It is better for him to be surrounded by good men!
Well, I must finish; it is already late. Good-night, sleep well, my precious Wify.
5 September.
Good-morning, my beloved Sunny. It is dull and cold and looks like rain. I have now to receive two deputations, and afterwards I am going to the usual Report. It is Ella's namesday to-day. God bless you, my precious Wify, you and the children! I kiss you all tenderly.
Please give this little note to A.
NICKY.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev.
Above: Maria and Anastasia.
Above: Alexei.
Notes: "She got his telegram yesterday" = Anna (Ania) Vyrubova had received a telegram from Grigori Rasputin.
Letts = Latvians.
