The Wood-Felling (Tolstoy)

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The Wood-Felling
A Cadet's Story
rus. Рубка леса. Рассказ кадета · 1855
Summary of a Short Story
The original takes ~80 min to read
Microsummary
A young cadet led a wood-cutting party in the Caucasus. During an enemy attack, a humble veteran was fatally shot. Before dying, he settled his small debts, and his comrades quietly mourned him.

Short summary

The Caucasus, winter 1850s. A young cadet commanded a platoon during a wood-felling expedition against Chechen forces.

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The Narrator — narrator; young cadet commanding a platoon in the absence of officers, observant, thoughtful, experiences his first serious military action.

Before dawn, the soldiers prepared for the mission. Velenchuk, a simple-minded but honest Little-Russian soldier who had served fifteen years, was found missing at roll call. He had fallen asleep in the artillery park and barely caught up with the column.

As the detachment advanced through the misty morning, they engaged with Tartar forces. The narrator observed different types of soldiers: the submissive like Velenchuk, the domineering like Sergeant Maksimov, and the reckless like the joker Chikin. Each had their own way of facing danger. The wood-felling proceeded while artillery exchanged fire with the enemy. During the action, a bullet suddenly struck.

I'm hit, lads!...It was Velenchuk. He was lying on his back between the limbers and a cannon. His forehead was covered with blood, and a thick red stream was running down.

The wounded Velenchuk asked the narrator to take care of his money and reminded him about a cloak he was making for an officer. He was taken away in a cart, screaming in pain. Later, the soldiers learned he had died. That evening, the platoon stayed to build a redoubt. Around the campfire, soldiers told stories and sang songs, avoiding mention of their fallen comrade. The narrator reflected on Velenchuk's simple, honest life and calm acceptance of death, while observing how Russian soldiers faced danger with quiet dignity rather than bravado.

Detailed summary by chapters

Chapter titles are editorial.

A Cadets Story

This military tale unfolded during the winter of 1851 in the Caucasus, where Russian forces conducted operations against local tribes.

Chapter 1. Preparing for the wood-cutting expedition

On February 14th, a young cadet commanding an artillery platoon in the absence of officers received orders to join a wood-cutting expedition the following day. After completing his duties, he retired early to his tent.

I lay down without undressing on my bed...and fell into that peculiar, heavy, and deep sleep which comes at times of anxiety, and when one is awaiting danger.

At three in the morning, Dmitry woke him in the darkness. The infantry was already preparing to move. The cadet hurriedly drank tea, washed with icy water, and went to the artillery park where the cannons stood. In the impenetrable darkness, only the snorting of horses and fiery dots of linstocks revealed the location of guns and ammunition wagons. The column began moving with the traditional blessing, all soldiers removing their caps and crossing themselves.

Before departure, they discovered that soldier Velenchuk was missing. Corporal Antonov found him asleep in the park, though strangely, he had not been drinking. The column moved slowly through darkness for three hours over bare fields and low bushes until they reached a shallow but rapid stream, where rifle shots from the vanguard brought them to a halt.

Chapter 2. Types of Russian soldiers

The narrator reflected on three predominant types of Russian soldiers: the submissive (divided into calmly and bustlingly submissive), the domineering (sternly and diplomatically domineering), and the reckless (amusingly and viciously reckless). The submissive type, most common and lovable, possessed Christian virtues of meekness, piety, and patience. Velenchuk belonged to the bustlingly submissive category.

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Velenchuk — Little-Russian soldier, 15-16 years of service, bustlingly submissive type, simple-minded, kindly, extremely honest, zealous, gets wounded and dies.

His honesty had been proven the previous year when cloth worth seven rubles disappeared from under his pillow while making a coat for Sergeant-Major Michael Dorofeich. Despite suspicion falling on soldier Chernov, no proof was found. Velenchuk was devastated and eventually repaid the full amount, even borrowing money to do so.

Chapter 3. Around the campfire

As dawn broke and mist began to clear, the platoon took position near a Tartar cemetery. Five soldiers gathered around their fire: Maksimov the gun-sergeant sat on a butt smoking his pipe, displaying the dignity of command.

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Theodor Maksimov — gun-sergeant of the platoon, peasant-yeoman, diplomatic domineering type, educated, wealthy, speaks incomprehensibly with phrases like 'as it occurs'.

Nearby sat Corporal Antonov, a veteran who had distinguished himself in 1837 by continuing to serve his gun despite being wounded. His character was peculiar - calm and gentle when sober, but prone to fighting when drinking.

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Corporal Antonov — sternly domineering type, veteran of 1837, sturdy thickset figure on bandy legs, shiny moustached face, calm when sober but fights when drinking.

Artillery driver Chikin, known as "dear old Chikin," was the platoon's wit, always making jokes and entertaining his comrades regardless of hardship. A young recruit stood near the fire in his threadbare cloak, and Daddy Zhdanov sat apart, cutting a stick.

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Chikin — artillery driver, amusingly reckless type, earring in one ear, bristling moustaches, bird-like physiognomy, wit who makes everyone laugh with jokes.
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The Young Recruit — insignificant-looking boy recruited the year before, first campaign, wears threadbare cloak and absurd red cap, bends head at bullets, naive.
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Daddy Zhdanov — 25 years of service, never drinks or smokes, bombardier for 15 years, snow-white head, blackened moustaches, sunburnt wrinkled face, mild childlike eyes.

Zhdanov was respected by all as a capitalist with twenty-five rubles, always ready to help soldiers in need. He had helped many recruits over his twenty-five years of service, including Maksimov, who credited Zhdanov with making him into a proper soldier.

Chapter 4. Soldiers tales and conversations

Velenchuk complained about forgetting his pipe, prompting Chikin to joke about smoking cigars. Maksimov questioned Velenchuk about his mysterious sleeping episode, suspecting he had been drinking, though Velenchuk insisted he was sober. Velenchuk described the strange sensation that overcame him, calling it "the trances."

Chikin entertained the group with tales of his leave, describing how he told the folks back home about their life in the Caucasus. He invented fantastic stories about different types of Cherkeses: the "Wagabones" who lived in mountains and ate stones, and the "Mopingers" who were born as twins joined at the hand. The soldiers laughed at his creative fabrications about the enemy tribes.

Chapter 5. Morning engagement with the enemy

As the sun rose through the mist, the enemy placed two guns at the forest edge and began firing at the wood-cutting party. An infantry captain requested artillery support against mounted Tartars visible in the distance. The narrator ordered the second gun trained on the enemy group. Antonov directed the gun's positioning with professional pride, and they fired a shell that scattered the horsemen, though it struck slightly high of the target.

The wood-felling continued under intermittent enemy fire, with axes ringing through the forest and soldiers building large fires. The artillerymen behaved splendidly, loading quickly and joking with each other while the infantry lay in silent readiness.

Chapter 6. Conversation about service in the Caucasus

During a lull, the narrator joined Captain Bolhov for a meal. Bolhov, one of the "Bonjourists" in the regiment, was a man of means who had formerly served in the Guards and spoke French, yet maintained good relations with his fellow officers through tact and intelligence.

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Captain Bolhov — company commander, 'Bonjourist', man of means, formerly served in Guards, speaks French, clever with tact, admits to not being brave.

Their conversation turned to the question of why they served in the Caucasus. Bolhov explained his presence there with remarkable frankness.

Why are you here?...In obedience to tradition! You know there exists in Russia a most curious tradition about the Caucasus, making it out to be a 'promised land' for all unfortunates.

Bolhov confessed his disillusionment with the Caucasus, admitting that he was not brave and describing his terror the previous night when learning of the expedition. He revealed that he continued serving only to earn the Ann and Vladimir orders and the rank of major before returning to Russia, driven by ambition and social expectations rather than military calling.

Chapter 7. Artillery action and Velenchuks wounding

Enemy snipers began harassing them from the left flank, and bullets started flying more frequently. The retreat commenced, marking the serious part of the action. The narrator ordered case-shot loaded when suddenly he heard the dull thud of a bullet striking flesh, followed by a heavy fall and a heartrending groan. Velenchuk had been hit in the stomach and had injured his forehead falling against a log.

The soldiers continued loading the gun with grim efficiency, though the ammunition-bearer walked around the spot where Velenchuk lay groaning. Zhdanov angrily took charge of moving the wounded man to the cart, scolding the others for hesitating. Antonov roughly told Velenchuk to stop screaming like a hare, and the wounded man became quiet.

Chapter 8. Velenchuks final moments

Velenchuk's face had completely changed, growing thin and aged, with the impress of death already on his bloody forehead. Despite his pain, he asked for his money pouch and gave careful instructions about his debts and obligations.

Here are three rubles and a half...I was making a cloak for Lieutenant Sulimovsky. He gave me two rubles...Please let him have it.

As the cart started moving, Velenchuk began groaning and crying out terribly, having finished with the business of life and no longer restraining himself.

Chapter 9. End of the expedition

The young recruit, confused by the wounding, attempted to follow the cart carrying Velenchuk until ordered back to his position. The expedition proved successful overall: the Cossacks had made a fine charge, the infantry had gathered firewood with only half a dozen wounded, and the artillery lost only Velenchuk and two horses. Two miles of forest had been cleared beyond recognition.

Chapter 10. Evening in the redoubt

While most forces returned to camp, the narrator's platoon and the 3rd battalion remained to construct a redoubt by the river. As twilight set in with damp drizzle, the narrator felt increasingly gloomy, unable to forget Velenchuk and his simple, honest soldier's life. The physical discomfort and moral weariness of the day weighed heavily upon him. Captain Bolhov invited him for tea in a cozy maize hut, where they discussed the morning's conversation about frankness and service.

When a cannonball crashed nearby during their meal, both officers maintained their composure, though the narrator struggled to hide his excitement at the close call.

Chapter 11. Officers discussions

Three officers joined them in the hut: Major Kirsanov, the battalion adjutant, and Captain Trosenko. Major Kirsanov was a stout man with black moustaches and oily little eyes who behaved properly but was considered limited, though he was exact, zealous, and had ready money.

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Major Kirsanov — battalion commander, not tall but stout, black moustaches, rosy cheeks, oily little eyes, limited but exact and zealous, has money and carriage.

The adjutant was a young ensign, recently promoted from cadet, modest and quiet with a bashful, kindly face. He represented the type of poor Russian nobleman's son who chose military service as his only option and esteemed his officer's position above everything.

Captain Trosenko was a thoroughgoing old Caucasian for whom his company had become family and the fortress home. He was a man of steeled, calm courage, wonderfully kind to comrades and subordinates, but desperately frank and rude to aides-de-camp and "Bonjourists."

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Captain Trosenko — old Caucasian, 16 years of service, company is his family, steeled calm courage, wonderfully kind to comrades, desperately frank and rude to aides-de-camp.

The conversation turned to their reasons for serving in the Caucasus and their experiences in Russia. Major Kirsanov boasted about his reception in Tambov, where people examined his decorations and treated Caucasian officers as celebrities. Trosenko declared he would never return to Russia, having lost the habit of Russian ways, and predicted he would be shot in the Caucasus. Captain Kraft, a German staff officer, joined them and began telling elaborate stories about past battles, though Trosenko dismissed his tales as lies.

Chapter 12. War stories and reminiscences

The officers discussed pay and expenses, with the Major calculating that an ensign could live well on his salary, though the young adjutant disagreed, citing the costs of uniforms, boots, and equipment. Trosenko told embarrassing stories about the ensign's failed attempt to discipline his orderly, while Kraft continued his war stories about capturing barricades, struggling to find the right words and becoming increasingly frustrated with his poor Russian vocabulary.

Chapter 13. Final evening and Velenchuks death

The narrator returned to his platoon as darkness fell. Only three men sat around the smoldering fire: Antonov cooking, Zhdanov poking the embers, and Chikin with his pipe. The rest had gone to sleep. The camp was filled with the mysterious character of night, with watch-fires glowing and soldiers moving quietly in the darkness.

The soldiers displayed their characteristic tact in avoiding mention of anything that might depress their comrades' spirits.

Russian soldier's spirit does not rest on easily inflammable enthusiasm...he needs quiet, order, and an absence of any affectation.

Maksimov brought news that infantry messengers returning from camp had seen Velenchuk - he was dead. The young recruit suddenly raised his head at this news, then quickly buried himself in his cloak again. After evening prayers were sung, Antonov told stories of the 1845 Dargo expedition, where they had carried a wounded comrade for two days before leaving him under a tree to die. The conversation turned to those who had survived Dargo and to soldiers on leave.