Apollon Galafeyev Apollon Vasilyevich Galafeyev ( ) ( 1793 – 1853 ) was a decorated Russia n general . Apollon Galafeyev was born into a noble family in Tambov guberniya . After having received his education at the 1st Cadet Corps , he graduated in the rank of podporuchik on December 26 , 1811 , and was assigned to the Tula Infantry Regiment . In 1812 , Apollon Galafeyev served in Count Peter Wittgenstein ’ s unit and took part in the Battle of Sivoshino , Battle of Svolnya , First and Second Battle of Polotsk ( promoted to poruchik and awarded the Order of St . Anna , 4th Class ) , Battle of Czasniki , and Battle of Smolyanka ( promoted to staff captain ) . In 1813 , Apollon Galafeyev participated in the siege of Pillau and the Free City of Danzig , the blockade of Wittenberg , Battle of Luckau ( promoted to captain ) , Battle of Leipzig , capturing of Amsterdam and repelling of the enemy from Breda . In 1814 , Apollon Galafeyev took part in the blockade of Jülich , Battle of Craonne , Battle of Laon , and occupation of Paris . On April 23 , 1817 , Apollon Galafeyev was promoted to the rank of major and then lieutenant colonel ( September 15 , 1819 ) . On December 8 , 1820 , he was transferred to the Velikolutsky Infantry Regiment . On December 12 , 1823 , Galafeyev was appointed commander of the 20th Jaeger Regiment . On January 28 , 1828 , he was promoted to the rank of colonel and then sent to the Russo - Turkish War . For his performance in several battles , Apollon Galafeyev was awarded the Order of St . Vladimir ( 4th class ) , Order of St . Anna ( 2nd class ) , a gold sabre inscribed " For Bravery " , and another Order of Saint Anna with diamonds . Besides this , Galafeyev took part in the siege of Shumla and Varna . On October 23 , 1829 , he was also awarded the Order of St . George ( 4th class ) . In 1831 , Apollon Galafeyev participated in the Russo - Polish War , mainly fighting against the units of Brigadier Józef Dwernicki and General Samuel Różycki . For his service in Poland , he was awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir ( 3rd class ) , promoted to the rank of major general ( December 6 ) , and assigned to the commander - in - chief of the 1st Army . On August 19 , 1833 , Apollon Galafeyev was awarded the Order of Saint Stanislaus ( 1st class ) and then Order of Saint Anna ( 1st class ) a year later . On October 19 , 1834 , he was appointed chief - of - staff of a detached Siberian Corps . On December 6 , 1838 , Galafeyev was appointed commander of the 20th Infantry Division . Also , Apollon Galafeyev participated in the Caucasian War of 1817 - 1864 . As infantry commander , he took part in Adjutant General Pavel Grabbe ’ s Dagestan campaign against Imam Shamil from April to September 1839 . Galafeyev was awarded the imperial crown to his Order of Saint Anna ( 1st class ) for defeating Tashev - hadji ( Shamil ’ s associate ) and Order of Saint Vladimir ( 2nd class ) with a promotion to lieutenant general for capturing Shamil ’ s mountain stronghold of Akhoulgo . From March to December 1840 , Apollon Galafeyev participated in a military campaign against the mountaineers , commanding the so - called Chechen unit . On July 11 , the famous Battle of the Valerik River took place , in which Mikhail Lermontov took part ( later he would describe this event in his poem called " The Valerik " ) . In October 1841 , Galafeyev participated in military action in the Chechen unit under the command of Pavel Grabbe and was wounded in upper abdomen with a rifle bullet . On September 7 , 1842 , he was shell - shocked in his right shoulder by a cannonball . On November 3 , 1844 , Apollon Galafeyev was appointed governor of Sevastopol , but had to remain in the Caucasus due to his illness until 1846 . On October 1 , 1852 , he was removed from his post and court - martial ed for administrative abuses . On December 15 , 1853 , Apollon Galafeyev was dismissed from military service . He died later that same year .