Alexander Korsakov Alexander Mikhailovich Rimsky - Korsakov ( Russian : Александр Михайлович Римский - Корсаков ) ( August 24 , 1753May 25 , 1840 ) was a Russia n general remembered as an unlucky assistant to Alexander Suvorov during his Swiss expedition of 1799 – 1800 . Early career . Korsakov entered military service as a cadet in the Preobrazhinski Guard Regiment , and was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Tchernigov Musketeer Regiment at age 25 . He fought in the Russo - Turkish War in 1788 and 1789 , and in the Russo - Swedish War . He subsequently became a major - general of the Semenovsky Regiment of the Leib Guard , assigned to accompany the Count of Artois to England . From there he went to Flanders as Russian observer to the army commanded by Prince Josias of Coburg . His account of the Battle of Fleurus ( 1794 ) to the tsarina won him favour , on returning to St . Petersburg , he was dispatched to serve under Count Valerian Zubov in an ill - fated expedition against Persia , which Emperor Paul I recalled in 1799 in order to deal with the . In 1797 , Korsakov was elevated to inspector general of Iifantry , and the following year , general lieutenant . 1799 Campaign in Switzerland . In 1798 , Paul I gave Korsakov command of an expeditionary force of 30 , 000 men sent to Germany to join Austria in the fight against the French Republic . At the beginning of 1799 , the force was diverted to drive the French out of Switzerland . Leaving Russia in May , Korsakov reached Stockach in 90 days . With 29 , 463 men , his command then marched to Zürich to join up with the 25 , 000 - man corps of Austrian general Friedrich von Hotze . It was expected that Alexander Suvorov ' s army would join them from Italy after marching through the Alps , but terrain and enemy action held up Suvorov ' s advance . In the meantime , Korsakov waited around Zurich in a relaxed state of over - confidence . Taking full advantage of this , the French under André Masséna attacked on September 25 , 1799 , in the Second Battle of Zürich , winning a signal victory and forcing Korsakov to withdraw rapidly to Schaffhausen , despite almost no pursuit by the French and orders to hold his ground from Suvorov . Korsakov then took position on the east of the Rhine in the Dorflingen Camp between Schaffhausen and Constance , remaining there untroubled while Masséna was left free to deal with Suvorov . His left under Condé was driven from Constance on 7 October , on the same day he advanced from Büsingen against Schlatt , but was eventually driven back by Masséna , abandoning all hold on the left bank of the Rhine . He joined with Suvorov ’ s survivors at Lindau on 18 October , and was shortly after relieved of command . Soon after he was dismissed as colonel - in - chief of the Rostov Musketeer Regiment and disgraced . The combined army turned towards Bohemia , from which Paul I recalled it to Russia for the winter . Later career . With the accession of Emperor Alexander I in 1801 , Korsakov was re - appointed as a GvC cavalry general . He was Governor of Lithuania from 1806 to 1809 , based at Vilna , and again from April to June , 1812 . On the approach of the French he was ordered to withdraw by Barclay de Tolly on 28 June , but returned to serve for a third term as Governor - General of Lithuania from 8 December 1812 until 1830 . During this time he ordered the reconstruction of the Tuskulėnai Manor in Vilnius , where he lived . Recalled to St . Petersberg after the Polish insurrection of 1830 - 31 , Korsakov was made member of the State Council of Imperial Russia . He died in 1840 .