she supposes me capable of guiding them to victory; and how can she pretend to know better than an old soldier like myself, who am on the spot, the road which leads to it?  So, whenever her orders are in opposition to her true interests, I take it for granted that they are suggested by the enmity of her courtiers, and I act in conformity to what appears to me most conducive to her glory.”  On some occasions he acted in accordance with this declaration, and on a very remarkable one showed that he was justified in the dependence which he had on his own judgment; but whether his acting on it was defensible, must be left to the martinets to determine.  In the year 1771, during the campaign, when he held the rank of major-general, he found that the Grand Marshal of Lithuania was assembling the Poles at Halowitz, of which he directly apprised the commander-in-chief, Marshal Boutourlin, and demanded leave to attack them.  Boutourlin, who was a cautious man, thought such a risk should not be attempted, as Suwarrow had but a few hundred men under him, and therefore decidedly forbade any attack.  At the same time, an account reached Suwarrow that the Regiment of Petersburgh had just been beaten by the Poles, whose numbers amounted to five thousand men, and were increasing every day.  Fired by the intelligence, he at once determined on action, and advanced at the head of a thousand men to the attack.  Every danger but excited him to additional exertion.  In four days he marched fifty leagues, surprised the Poles at dead of night, and beat and dispersed them.  He took the town of Halowitz and twelve pieces of cannon.  His victory was complete, but he had disobeyed orders; and according to all rules of military discipline he deserved punishment.  It was thus he announced his success to the commander of the army: 

“As a soldier I have disobeyed—­I ought to be punished—­I have sent you my sword; but as a Russian I have done my duty in destroying the Confederate forces, which we could not have resisted had they been left time to unite.”

Boutourlin was in the utmost astonishment, and quite at a loss what steps he should take.  He laid Suwarrow’s extraordinary dispatch before the Empress, and requested her orders as to the manner in which he should act.  Catharine lost no time in addressing Suwarrow: 

“Your commander, Marshal Boutourlin, ought to put you under arrest, to punish military insubordination.  As your sovereign, I reserve to myself the pleasure of rewarding a faithful subject, who by a splendid action has well served his country.”

The Order of St. Alexander accompanied this gracious letter.  Never was commander more loved by his soldiers than Suwarrow.  Like Napoleon, he shared their hardships and privations as well as their dangers.  He would often pass the cold winter nights in their bivouac and partake of their humble fare.  In every difficulty he kept up their spirits by his alacrity