Edward F. Kessler (Kesseler) (1814–1878) - a Russian general, an outstanding military engineer, a participant in the conquest of the Caucasus , the brother of Karl F. Kessler .
| Edward Kessler Fedorovich | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 16, 1812 | ||
| Date of death | December 7, 1878 (66 years) | ||
| Place of death | Pyatigorsk | ||
| Affiliation |  Russian empire | ||
| Type of army | engineering troops, infantry | ||
| Rank | lieutenant general | ||
| Commanded | Samursky Infantry Regiment | ||
| Battles / Wars | Caucasian hikes | ||
| Awards and prizes |
| ||
Biography
Born March 15, 1812.
He graduated from the course at the Main School of Engineering , from which in 1830 he was released as an ensign.
In the years 1835-1838, Kessler studied engineering in Prussia and the Netherlands . In 1842, with the rank of captain Kessler was transferred to the Georgian Engineering District and in the same year he laid the Kura fortification . During the whole of 1843, Kessler spent his campaigns, participating in the battle at the high places of Gozatl, in the revenues of Khunzach and in the siege of Timitl. In 1844, he made a number of outstanding feats during the movement of the main detachment to Cherkei, and on June 11, under heavy fire, he personally made a reconnaissance on the r. Sulak , hastily restored the crossing over the destroyed bridge, quickly ran across with the battalion to the other side, which occupied, and fixed the bridge overnight, for which he was awarded the Order of St. George 4th degree. In 1845 he participated in the Darginsky expedition.
In 1846, Kessler made an exceptional feat: despite the many unsuccessful attempts of predecessors to arrange a permanent bridge across the wide and fast Sulak, he studied the properties of this mountain river and achieved that he managed to arrange the first bridge in the Caucasus.
In 1847, Kessler, directing the siege work under Gergebil and Saltami, especially distinguished himself not only as a skilled engineer, but also as a combat administrative officer. Being made for distinction in the colonels, he soon received the Samursky infantry regiment , commanded by 7 years, participating in all the campaigns, and even the wounded (during the siege of the village Chokh bullet crushed his lower jaw) did not leave the regiment.
In 1855, Kessler was promoted to major general, and in 1857 he was appointed chief of engineers of a separate Caucasian corps. In 1859, he was given the command of all the forces that blocked Gunib (see Gunib's capture ), which was taken thanks to the special scrupulousness of Kessler, who was awarded the Order of St. Sept. 8, 1859. St. George 3rd Degree № 506
| During the occupation on August 25 of the aul of Gunib, he commanded the troops who blocked the aul, which was the last refuge of Shamil. By prudent orders, the aul Gunib was brilliantly taken by our troops with all the defenders and the guns in it. |
In subsequent years, Kessler participated in the conquest of the Western Caucasus, after which he was appointed to be with the troops of the Caucasian army in the rank of lieutenant general.
He died on December 7, 1878 in Pyatigorsk . The grave of Edward Fedorovich Kessler is located in the village of Fersmanovo, Simferopol District, Crimea, in the former estate of his daughter Maria Eduardovna Fersman (nee Kessler).
Literature
- Military Encyclopedia / Ed. V.F. Novitsky and others. - SPb. : t. in. V. Sytin, 1911-1915.