Repeated Query: Evening march (?) in Kapitanskaya dochka

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

It is so unusual to receive no response at all from the multitude of erudite
and helpful people that constitutes the SEELANGS list that I am repeating
this question.  Perhaps some of you know a C18 Russian military historian
somewhere??

Can anyone explain why, towards the end of Kapitanskaya dochka, Zurin¹s
detachment, after being quartered for some time in a town, appears to march
off on campaign in the EVENING, in February?(!) Surely soldiers do not do
night marches in Russia, in winter, unless things are very desperate indeed?
(Of which, in this passage, there is absolutely no indication.)

Here are the relevant lines in my draft translation: Œ  Zurin¹s detachment
was to leave the town (vystupit¹ iz goroda v tot zhe den¹) that same day;
having little time to spare, I said goodbye to Maria Ivanovna there and then
(...)  I returned to Zurin¹s quarters, silent and downcast. He wanted to
cheer me up and I was glad to be distracted; after a day of riotous gaiety,
we set out in the evening.

The last words of the original, which is from shortly before the end of
chapter 13, are Œvystupili v pokhod¹.

This is so odd that I keep wondering if I have failed to understand
something obvious.

Best wtishes,

Robert
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------